mp3

Sony's latest Walkman lineup sizzles

Editor's note: For CNET's initial impressions of the F800 and E470 please see our First Take.

Sony, as is typical for this time of year, has refreshed its Walkman lineup for the fall. Take a look at our breakdown of the new devices:

Sony F800 series Android Walkman At first glance, Sony's F800 Walkman, due in the U.S. this August, looks uninspiring, but it actually packs a feature never before seen in a Walkman. We'll discuss that later.

First, the basics. The Walkman F series features a 3.5-inch multitouch-capable LCD screen and a Tegra 2 (dual-core) processor running Android 4.0. In its press release, the company wastes no time mentioning Google Play and Music Unlimited support. Unfortunately, it appears Sony decided to play capacities conservatively with 16GB ($269) and 32GB ($299) options (Europe gets an additional 8GB model). CNET queried Sony as to why it didn't go with a 64GB option F series for music aficionados, and a representative said that "if there was expressed demand for it, we could consider it, but it was not offered at this time due to current demand statistics."

The F's aesthetics look typical for Sony's current design mantra: minimalism across the board, thin profile (2.23 inches wide by 4.5 inches high by 0.3 inches deep), and a thoughtful throwback Walkman logo to please the reminiscent. … Read more

Get a free $3 credit to Amazon MP3

I'm not sure what's "local" about this deal, but I don't care. AmazonLocal is giving away free music from Amazon's MP3 store -- which is decidedly global (or at least national).

Specifically, you can get a free $3 Amazon MP3 credit voucher to spend on any music. (The link takes you to Oakland County, which is local for me, but it should work for anyone.)

The only catch, if you can call it that, is that you have to use the voucher by July 12. Also, you'll need Amazon's MP3 Downloader utility … Read more

Lick this: Tongue-controlled Play-A-Grill MP3 player

Bone conduction audio, retainers, and shiny hip-hop teeth grills aren't new inventions, but tech hacker Aisen Caro Chacin had the clever idea to put them all together.

The Play-A-Grill MP3 player prototype fits in your mouth like a retainer, shines on the outside like a precious metal rap grill, and plays music through bone conduction through your teeth.

Some of the hardware actually sits outside the mouth, so you have to deal with wires extending from your teeth. It's not all self-contained. To get the best sound, you have to plug your ears, but video of test subjects shows them bopping along to the beat only they can hear.… Read more

Crave giveaway: Swann MP3 DJ Doorbell

First off, congrats to Harold M. of Charlotte, N.C., for winning a pair of San Francisco-themed V-Moda Crossfade LP headphones in last week's Crave giveaway. And now... ding-dong! Who's that at the door? Why, it's this week's prize, a Swann MP3 DJ Doorbell. The wireless, customizable gadget turns any song you want into your doorbell chime.

The product has two main battery-powered components: a doorbell unit backed with double-sided tape for easy mounting in your doorway and a speaker unit for mounting with the included screws up to 330 feet away. The bell comes with 32 built-in tones, and you can add a removable SD card up to 32GB (not included) to store up to 10,000 tracks, transferable via the included USB cable. You'll also get editing software so you don't have to listen to every last note of "Ring My Bell."

Normally, a Swann MP3 DJ Doorbell would cost you $49.99, but you have the chance to score one for free. So how do you turn your doorbell into a personal DJ that caters to your every musical mood? Well, there are a few rules, so please listen up.… Read more

In MP3tunes copyright case, EMI wants CEO's assets

Record label EMI is tightening its grip on the personal assets of Michael Robertson, the longtime tech entrepreneur, maverick, and founder of MP3tunes.com.

MP3tunes.com, a pioneering cloud music service, fought a five-year long copyright battle with EMI before going bust last month. In the lawsuit against MP3tunes and Robertson, EMI claimed that the company encouraged users to pirate copyright songs. After nearly five years of legal maneuvering, MP3tunes ran out of money.

Neither Robertson nor representatives from EMI were available for comment. We'll update as soon as we hear back.

After MP3tunes filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy … Read more

RIAA to CNET: Follow Google, nix video-to-MP3 conversions

The Recording Industry Association of America wants to put an end to software and services that enable people to rip songs from music videos.

Two days after YouTube-MP3.org, a site that takes music videos and converts their songs into MP3 files, was blocked from accessing YouTube, the RIAA has asked CNET to remove software from Download.com that performs a similar function. CNET, which is owned by CBS, is the publisher of this news site.

The RIAA, the trade group representing the four largest record companies, began pressuring Google to start cracking down on the MP3-conversion services about a … Read more

Google bars site that converts YouTube songs into MP3s

Google is cracking down on a popular site that converts the music from YouTube videos into MP3s.

YouTube-MP3.org has received a letter from Google notifying site operators that converting videos this way violates YouTube's terms of service, according to the blog TorrentFreak, which said it has seen the letter.

YouTube, acquired by Google in 2006, has also apparently blocked YouTube-MP3.org's servers from accessing the video-sharing site.

"We have always taken violations of our Terms of Service seriously," said a YouTube spokesman, "and will continue to enforce these Terms of Service against sites that … Read more

The top 10 reasons why music is compressed

First things first, I'm referring to soft-to-loud dynamic range compression, not MP3 or other types of lossy data compression. Dynamic range compression has been around for almost as long as recorded music has existed, but over the last decade or so the public has demanded ever higher levels of dynamic range compression. The so-called lowest common denominator approach to mixing and mastering music boosts all of the softer/quieter passages to be loud all the time. That process obliterates all of the original details, subtleties, and nuances of the instruments and vocalists. Once the mix has been compressed, it … Read more

Convert YouTube clips to MP3 without the frills

Though not the first to win an award for most self-explanatory title, YouTube to MP3 Converter allows you to do just that: "convert" YouTube clips to the MP3 format. This freeware title only hints at its full capabilities, which include converting YouTube movies into AVIs, MP4s, FLVs, and WMV formats. The program also allows you to download up to 1080p formats for the HD-inclined.

In a crowded world of free converters and clones, perhaps the most outstanding aspect of this title isn't its function, but rather its flexibility and presentation. YTtoMP3 Converter has a simple and easy … Read more