Tag Archives: iTunes

Google Play Music All Access Is Version 1.0

Posted on by Musicofourheart

Google announced and demonstrated Google Play Music All Access at the Google I/O Conference today. A logical phase in the evolution of the Google Cloud Music strategy.

I signed up for a 30 day “free” trial. If I decide to pay for a monthly subscription it will cost me $7.99 a month ($9.99 if I decide to buy later).

Google positions Google Play as a Version 1.0 cloud music store. Google Music released in May 2011 translates Google Play into two-year beta. The question you may be asking is what did Google do in two years with Google Play? My direct response is “parity” with the rest of the cloud music players Pandora, Rdio, iTunes and Amazon Cloud Player. I respect “parity” can be an enormous undertaking but this makes Google Play a follower not a leader in the crowded cloud music marketplace.

She’s Not There

Three “natural” technology competitive advantages Google failed to capitalize on with Google Play 1.0.

1) YouTube integration (limited to Share YouTube Video now). This is a trump card for Google, especially since Google announced a YouTube subscription model just recently.

2) Google+ integration. Social networking with Google Play should be a slam dunk. Google Play Hangouts as a listening party makes perfect sense.

3) Voice activated Google Play is missing. “Okay Google. Play me Three Dog Night’s Celebrate.”

Google Play as the “Spotify” killer greatly exaggerates the situation.

High on my list is to hear Google Play on an HTC Beats Audio so I can better discern Google Play’s sound on a smart phone.

That’s my first take on Google Play.

Related articles
About these ads

Jac Holzman,The Doors Digital Conceptualist

Posted on by Musicofourheart

An enthusiastic music of our heartfelt thanks to Jac Holzman, Robin Hurely, Brandwidth U.K., and Warner Music Group for delivering to us music technology fans an intelligently designed, highly accessible multimedia app, The Doors Official App for the Apple iPad. Smartly priced at $4.99 it is half the price of a vinyl EP ($10) but a tremendous value as a content reservoir to immerse ourselves inside.

The Doors – The Doors App (Official Trailer)

Jac Holzman is the consummate music visionary who continues to shape our entertainment taste by effectively wielding technology for highest interpretation value. I love that he is excited about the fiber optic connection he has to Warner Music Group and the InterWeb. I continue to be influenced by Jac Holzman as he asserts himself as subject matter authority in digital music content usability.

It stands to reason that the first person to review the app on iTunes would be Bruce Botnick, The Doors audio engineer and record producer. He is the definitive source along with Jac Holzman to the band’s creative historic output. What better seal of approval existent (next to Ray, Robbie and John) is there to confirm the digital archive than Bruce’s role and responsibilities with The Doors.

The Definitive Doors – Five Stars

Beautifully laid out with great depth and sensitivity to the true history, the band and their music. It works extremely well on my iPad 1 with no crashes or gotcha’s. I highly recommend it to all present and future Doors fans.

Related articles

Rod Stewart – Time

Posted on by Musicofourheart

Rod Stewart was the first British Rock lead vocalist I ever saw in concert. I saw Rod Stewart as lead vocalist for The Jeff Beck Group on July 3, 1969. I remember he was quite the dandy. He was tall and strutted across the Fillmore East stage wearing a long white scarf. His voice was very commanding to match his stage presence.

So here we are later in time and I am writing about Rod Stewart’s soon to be released new album, Time (May 7th).

It’s interesting how much has changed in 44 years. I discovered Rod Stewart by accident actually as my goal that night at The Fillmore East was to see my favorite band at the time, Jethro Tull. I didn’t own a lick of Jeff Beck or Rod Stewart’s music before the show. I purchased Beck-Ola on the way to the Subway at The Gramophone.

Today I receive an e-mail from the Rod Stewart mailing list that informs me of the forthcoming album. I navigate with my Web browser to the Rod Stewart Official Website and I become informed about Time and its contents there. I also see that YouTube serves as the video preview point globally for Rod Stewart’s Time. Last but not least I don’t have to leave my easy chair to buy the recording because I can pre-order it  on iTunes or Amazon. Rod Stewart in Internet Time indeed.

Related articles

 

Big Big Train – English Electric (Part Two)

Posted on by Musicofourheart

The MusicOf Our Heart blog continues to beat with progressive rock music coursing through its veins ;) Yesterday I featured Steven Wilson and today I have a new band (to my ears at least) to share with readers.

My friend and Santana brother Uwe Metze has been raving about Big Big Train.  They are an English progressive rock band I had never heard anything about until yesterday. I then saw the full page advertisement on the back cover of PROG Magazine (UK) for their new album that was released that same day in Europe, English Electric (Part Two).

The album is available on iTunes for purchase.

English Electric Part Two album cover

Apple iTunes Responsive Design

Posted on by Musicofourheart

Apple updated iTunes today with their interpretation of responsive Web design. Download the latest Apple iTunes UX (user experience design) and learn why Apple continues to set direction in interface innovation.

I am especially impressed with how seamless iCloud has become in accessing content on all your devices (Mac, PC, iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch). Try that XBox Music with Skydrive, oh wait the cloud locker feature across the same list of devices  is a Microsoft “future” deliverable…

View what has the Music Of Our Heart energized about Apple iTunes 11 vs. stifling yawns with Microsoft’s XBox Music…

I mean really “Who Wants Yesterday’s Papers?”

Related articles

Dirty Deeds, Done Dirt Cheap

Posted on by Musicofourheart

Starting today, AC/DC‘s entire catalog is now available digitally for the first time exclusively on the iTunes Store worldwide!

All songs, all albums, now mastered for iTunes. Download and rock on, loudly!

 

 

 

 

 

Soundgarden – King Animal

Posted on by Musicofourheart

First new Soundgarden album in 15 years, King Animal!, available on Tuesday 11/13/12

King Animal will be available as a Box Set, a Deluxe CD,  and 180 gram double vinyl. View and pre-order all the deluxe editions at www.soundgardenworld.com.

Photo: "Heaviness with us never came from just cranking the volume and tuning the strings down." - Kim ThayilPhoto: © Don VanCleave

You can also stream King Animal in its entirety on iTunes now. 
Sirius XM Pearl Jam Radio – Channel 22
Soundgarden ‘King Animal’ Album Special Today at  9:00 pm ET

Soundgarden is back with their first album in over a decade and band members Kim Thayil and Matt Cameron premiere ‘King Animal’ on Sirius XM’s Pearl Jam Radio. Pearl Jam guitarists Mike McCready and Stone Gossard celebrate the occasion and sit down with the Soundgarden members to discuss the band’s beginnings in Seattle, how their unique sound was born and what it was like to be back in the studio to record their newest album.

Rebroadcast: Mon 11/12 11:00 am ET; Tues 11/13 5:00 pm ET

Related articles

The Beatles – Tomorrow Never Knows

Posted on by Musicofourheart

 

English: Photograph of The Beatles as they arr...

English: Photograph of The Beatles as they arrive in New York City in 1964 Français : Photographie de The Beatles, lors de leur arrivée à New York City en 1964 Italiano: Fotografia dei Beatles al loro arrivo a New York City nel 1964 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Experience 14 Rock Songs Recorded by The Beatles that Truly Changed the World – and Still Rock Hardest Today.

Tomorrow Never Knows LP

The Beatles present an iTunes digital exclusive new release ‘Tomorrow Never Knows,’ available on the iTunes Store worldwide today. The LP features 14 of The Beatles’ most powerful rock songs spanning their entire trailblazing and influential catalogue, which continues to resonate with today’s pop culture.

Dave Grohl, Foo Fighters states: “If it weren’t for The Beatles, I would not be a musician. It’s as simple as that. From a very young age I became fascinated with their songs, and over the years have drowned myself in the depth of their catalogue. Their groove and their swagger. Their grace and their beauty. Their dark and their light. The Beatles seemed to be capable of anything. They knew no boundaries, and in that freedom they seemed to define what we now know today as ‘Rock and Roll.’

TRACKLISTING
1 Revolution
2 Paperback Writer
3 And Your Bird Can Sing
4 Helter Skelter
5 Savoy Truffle
6 I’m Down
7 I’ve Got A Feeling
8 Back In The USSR
9 You Can’t Do That
10 It’s All Too Much
11 She Said, She Said
12 Hey Bulldog
13 Tomorrow Never Knows
14 The End
Related articles

 

Digital Publishing and The Beatles:The Ultimate Album By Album Guide

Posted on by Musicofourheart

Digital publishing is readying for a justifiable volcanic explosion. The tablet device is the platform that will usher in rich, interactive digital publishing solutions. Maybe you are reading this blog post as I am on an Apple iPad ;) Next week Apple will be hosting a major education market announcement in New York City regarding electronic textbooks. “The revolution will not be televised.” Rather it will be available to you to you in real time via the cloud. Just think no more late book shipments….

An interesting multimedia application for the Apple iPad for Beatles fans is available from Rolling Stone Magazine and Apple iTunes. The Beatles: The Ultimate Album by Album Guide. With a little help from their friends at Managing Editor Inc. MEI, an Adobe® premier development partner and a leading provider of software solutions for publisher.

MEI is playing a key role as a gold level reseller for Adobe’s Digital Publishing Suite solution. It also helps that MEI supports and resells the vjoon K4™ Cross-Media Publishing Platform. The vjoon K4™ Cross-Media Publishing Platform is a versatile, powerful system that lets you deliver content to any output channel — print, online, iPad, iPhone and other digital formats. The vjoon K4™  is the major solution that is driving the digital publishing direction for leading publishers today.

I purchased The Beatles: The Ultimate Album by Album Guide for my wife, Rosemary. Rosemary is the most devout Beatles fan in the family. She is also the most avid iPad user. We looked at the app while playing The Beatles Stereo Box Set (Audio CD). The combination adds a vivid dimension to the listening context.

The track by track listings are pointed and helpful. The vital stats in the insert box provide a quick reference for each recording. I especially love the photographs that accompany each album.

My favorite section is “The Beatles Albums by the Numbers” its an infographic that is thought provoking.

I believe this technology to be the early adopter edition of how Rolling Stone Magazine will be utilized on an Apple iPad. I anticipate more innovation including interaction with digital publishing when Apple releases the iPad 3 this year. Perhaps that is when Rolling Stone Magazine will go live with their cloud subscription. Stay tuned as we all have more to discover in 2012. ;) All together now…

Related articles

Sarah McLachlan

Posted on by Musicofourheart

I continue with this week’s impromptu theme, female singer/songwriter’s of note.  Today’s music blog post features Sarah McLachlan.

I know very little about Sarah McLachlan’s catalog of songs. This post is the perfect opportunity to explore the breadth and depth of her music.

I learned Sarah McLachlan’s discography represents 22 years of official recordings. I am overwhelmed where to begin when confronted with such an extensive body of work.

The Internet provides a rich avenue of information about Sarah McLachlan’s music. Wikipedia is a great starting point as is Sarah’s official Web site. I also turn to Spotify, iTunes and amazon to get a better sense of what Sarah McLachlan recordings people are buying. There are two aspects measured that help me tune in to her music, 1) Bestselling, and 2) Top Rated, which don’t always correlate, providing a dichotomy for a budding listener like myself.

Based upon this data I begin my quest with Sarah McLachlan’s discography with Surfacing (1997).

Surfacing

Wish me well ;)