David Emery OnlineJack Peñate - Tonight's Today
We’ve just put up a one page site for Jack Peñate to showcase the first track from his forthcoming second album – what I’ve heard of it so far sounds like it’s going to be really, really big:
(And I managed to scratch my ‘Trade Gothic’ itch at the same time.)
Visit ➔The Team Love Library
When Team Love started we had the simple and possibly self-defeating notion that posting all our albums on the website as free downloads would be a good detour around the wreckage of the music industry and a way to avoid getting bogged down in the number one topic of discussion and distraction: piracy, illegal downloads, P2P networks and so on.
Five years later and the debate still drones in the background, and while some bands have adopted a mutated version of the “free download” (pay what you wish, etc), we’ve decided to reshape out policy in a different direction and introduce the Team Love Library. Each month (or so) we’ll be rotating the Library’s selections, featuring different Team Love albums as well as exclusive content such as unreleased songs, live or remixed versions of TL favorites.
Very smart – they’re currently giving away 6 albums (all of which are slightly old, I think) of MP3s for nothing (other then your email address). A nice way of utilising old catalogue to help promote new records.
Only slight issue is that I couldn’t download anything due to pesky country restrictions (they don’t put out most of these releases in the UK), but that comes with the territory* …
* Please excuse this awful pun.
Visit ➔SimCity iPhone Impressions
I am far too excited by the idea of this – it could totally be the iPhone killer app games-wise. Better not cost too much…
Visit ➔New York I Love You
The classic – and I really mean classic – LCD Soundsystem song as sung by Kermit. Brilliant twist at the end as well, for any LCD/DFA fans.
Visit ➔Lily Allen Shows Off Newish Song, EMI Shows Off Newish YouTube Strategy
Usually when a new track makes its way to the Web, YouTube fills up with unauthorized rips of the track, featuring visuals that are promo pics (sometimes stitched together with your Windows Media Maker wipes, often static) and maybe the lyrics on the side. They’re also embeddable, so people (cough cough) can stick them on their blogs, or what-have-you. Parlophone decided to beat the YouTubers at their own game, though, creating an embeddable video that not only streams the song, it gives details on how to preorder the album.
You know what, this actually is a pretty good idea. I’ve been championing for a while the idea of having an easily embedable song player – I’m looking at you, Last.fm and Hype Machine – and this is a pretty good pass at it using the already existing YouTube architecture. Would be nice if the audio was nicer quality though.
What makes this doubly interesting is that EMI are almost certainly a YouTube partner, so will be receiving ad revenue from these YouTube plays…
Visit ➔Last.fm Best Of 2008
Really nicely done – love the design, especially the font choices and the little graphs (some of which are powered by the Google Chart API, which I always forget about). However, the content isn’t exactly interesting – the singles chart particularly; I guess that what’s popular in this context isn’t actually a metric that contains much insight.
Visit ➔Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome on stage: Textpattern 4.0.7!
We are happy to announce that Textpattern 4.0.7 is finally ready for public consumption.
During long and – sometimes – laborious months since the last release in February, we added new features and enhanced existing capabilities, but nevertheless we expect upgrades from any previous version to be seamless and smooth.
Lots of good new features here, especially the tag related ones which make Textpattern even more flexible – well worth an upgrade.
Visit ➔
Making Iron Man
Beautiful set of behind the scenes photos from the set of Iron Man, taken by Jeff Bridges (who played the villain in said film).
Visit ➔My Game Face
Brilliant photography series of children concentrating whilst playing computer games. Interestingly enough, they’re actually stills from video captured via a RED ONE camera – the line between video and photography is getting ever more blurred…
Visit ➔Idlewild's next album
Idlewild are pleased to announce plans for our forthcoming new studio album with an opportunity for our fans to be involved from an early stage.
This exact idea – pre-order the album direct from the artist, then get it well upfront of the traditional release – has been banded around for a while now, so it’s interesting to see someone make a proper go of it.
The whole industry is watching with interest, no doubt.
Visit ➔Leona was robbed
LEONA LEWIS has been robbed of a No1 single by a blunder which has left the singer’s team and fans furious.
The superstar was due to release her version of Run for download this week after she performed it on her return to The X Factor on Saturday.
But due to a bungle at Sony, the song has not been available online and this week’s planned internet release has been shelved.
A nice story – I think we can all enjoy the idea of Sony screwing up such a thing – but sadly from what I hear, untrue. Sony have purposefully kept the song off digital retailers to push people to the new deluxe edition of her album instead. And it looks like this sacrifice of single sales is going to work as well – the album is set to to be #1 this week.
It’s bad enough to block consumer choice and up-sell a whole album to people who probably have it already, but to then try and claim that it’s a screw up is quite deliciously evil.
Visit ➔Google Adds Voice Recognition to iPhone App
I have a very good feeling about Google’s new iPhone app that does voice recognition. I’ve been playing with this voice recognition application for several weeks and I have to say that I’m really impressed. First and foremost, the voice recognition works really well.
It’s actually quite wonderful to be able to lift your phone up to your ear, speak a phrase and have the results pop-up on screen for you. It works surprisingly well, even with my non-US accent, although I’m not sure if I’ll ever actually use it.
Also, fyi for everyone that’s not in the US – you need to enable it in the preferences after you update, as it’s not on by default.
Visit ➔RED Camera: I'm RED with ENVY
You want to shoot 24mp images at 100 frames per second? OK. And you want the system to be 100% modular so you never have to buy an entirely new “camera” again? Check. And, you probably want to use all your Nikon, or Canon, or PL mount lenses too? No problem.
I really, really want one of these – they’re just stunning. Anyone got a spare $25,000 I could borrow? I’m good for it, I swear…
Visit ➔MySpace Launches Profile 2.0. No, You Don’t Have to Switch
…today MySpace is introducing Profile 2.0. Unlike Facebook’s recent redesign, MySpace’s redesign is fully optional and will remain so for a long period of time – MySpace’s official blog mentions years. Facebook’s gradual rollout of the redesign was carefully handled, but there were still a lot of angry users who wanted the look and feel of their old profiles back. As a result, MySpace isn’t taking any chances here.
Two things: 1) The whole ‘new’ Facebook fiasco should be ignored, but is a good reminder of how much people fear change. MySpace could have never done the same thing, as people have spent a lot of time customising their profiles already. 2) Obviously this looks a bit better, but it’s still not exactly great, is it? Also, does anyone know if you can upgrade a music/band account?
Visit ➔Ian Rogers' Digital Music Manifesto
On the connection between artists and fans: “Think about perspectives that matter. The artist, and the fan. I was on a panel last week in London at Musexpo and I listened to my friend Rob Wells from Universal Music Group talk to a gentleman from Nokia about Nokia’s Comes With Music for half an hour, and I was just sitting there thinking, these guys could talk for an hour and not mention music, an artist or a fan.
I bumped into Ian when he was in town last week – he’s a really nice guy and up to some very interesting things. Well worth a read.
Visit ➔4-1 odds on the existence of God
Online betting outfit Paddy Power is offering 4-1 odds that God exists. So far, folks have wagered $5000 on the question.
Brilliant. Just brilliant.
You can imagine them sitting around going “Are people really going to fall for this – they’re not that stupid, are they?”.
Visit ➔Inspiring
“If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.
It’s the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.
It’s the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled ? Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.
It’s the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.
It’s been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.
I just received a very gracious call from Senator McCain. He fought long and hard in this campaign, and he’s fought even longer and harder for the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him and Governor Palin for all they have achieved, and I look forward to working with them to renew this nation’s promise in the months ahead.
I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on that train home to Delaware, the Vice President-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.
I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last sixteen years, the rock of our family and the love of my life, our nation’s next First Lady, Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that’s coming with us to the White House. And while she’s no longer with us, I know my grandmother is watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight, and know that my debt to them is beyond measure.
To my campaign manager David Plouffe, my chief strategist David Axelrod, and the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics ? you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you’ve sacrificed to get it done.
But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to ? it belongs to you.
I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn’t start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington ? it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.
It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give five dollars and ten dollars and twenty dollars to this cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation’s apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered, and organized, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this Earth. This is your victory.
I know you didn’t do this just to win an election and I know you didn’t do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime ? two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they’ll make the mortgage, or pay their doctor’s bills, or save enough for college. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.
The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America ? I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you ? we as a people will get there.
There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won’t agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government can’t solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it’s been done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years ? block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.
What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek ? it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.
So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it’s that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers ? in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.
Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House ? a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity. Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, “We are not enemies, but friends?though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection.” And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn ? I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too.
And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world ? our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down ? we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security ? we support you. And to all those who have wondered if America’s beacon still burns as bright ? tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.
For that is the true genius of America ? that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.
This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that’s on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She’s a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing ? Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.
She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn’t vote for two reasons ? because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.
And tonight, I think about all that she’s seen throughout her century in America ? the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can’t, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.
At a time when women’s voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.
When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.
When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.
She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that “We Shall Overcome.” Yes we can.
A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes we can.
America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves ? if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?
This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time ? to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth ? that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:
Yes We Can. Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.”
- Barack Obama
Visit ➔iPhone Apps Could Be the New MySpace Page
Recording artist Pink is the latest to make waves in this area with a free iPhone app called “P!nk’s Funhouse” (iTunes link), according to Billboard, which includes 30-second previews from her upcoming album, news, photos and other “essentials to connect you to Pink’s music.” Others rumored to be working on similar applications include Fall Out Boy and Snow Patrol, while Nine Inch Nails plans to release a special version of the iPhone app Tap Tap Revenge that will let players tap along with various NIN songs.
I’ve been having a good look at music iPhone apps for a while – understandably, I guess, as my background is originally in Mac development and now in the music industry. However, I haven’t really hit on the right use of the technology yet – sure, we could do silly little apps like this Pink one (which is basically a song preview-er + RSS feed + biog) but I don’t think they add any value for the consumer.
All of what’s in that app could be (and probably is) on the artists website, which you should be able to get at on the iPhone (assuming they haven’t used any Flash…). Maybe if you could listen to full tracks this would be more interesting, but as it is this sector of the market is just people spending money to look like they’re doing something.
Visit ➔