Gapless playback on the iPod?

If you're willing to void your warranty, you can install RockBox, an open firmware for your iPod, iRiver, or a few others. With this new firmware you'll be able to enjoy things previously foreign to your iPod: gapless playback and support for extra audio formats. If you want to take it a step further, you can even change the whole look of the interface. Take a look.

22 Mar 06 | +Permalink+ | Comments (3)

foobar 0.9 & Billy

A new version of foobar2000 was just released with a Media Library feature like the ones we've enjoyed for so long with Winamp 5 and iTunes. One treasured feature that seems to have mysteriously disappeared is the "Fix MP3 Header" feature that I used whenever iTunes refused to play an MP3. Hmmm.
EDIT: Looks like you can still make a keyboard shortcut to the Fix MP3 Header feature (mine is Shift+F). It just no longer exists in the right click menu.

While on the topic of ultra-lite ultra-leet players, I just found a player called Billy that, like foobar2000, plays MP3s perfectly gapless and is incredibly light on resources. Just as interesting as the player is the guy that produces it, SheepFriends. The simplicity of the apps is reflected in the visual and technical design on the site... drool.

20 Mar 06 | +Permalink+ | Comments (2)

NBC is cool

In reaction to their viral videos constantly being posted to sites like YouTube, NBC has made one of the coolest moves any media company has made toward new technology in recent knowledge: they are offering shorts like "Lazy Sunday" and the new "Natalie Raps" for FREE on a new section of their site, nbc.com/Video!

From the site:
"Now, instead of searching the web for "borrowed" NBC highlights, you can go to the source! We've taken your viral favorites and gathered them into one convenient location. Watch. React. Tell a friend."

The videos are higher quality than was available on YouTube, and surprisingly it is completely ad-free. Heck, I wouldn't even mind a short ad if it meant I could watch an episode of Conan for free.


The most interesting thing in this whole situation is the fact that they still sell some of these clips in the iTunes Music Store for $1.99!

Someone at Apple is pretty pissed right now...

8 Mar 06 | +Permalink+ | Comments (2)