MP3 - News, Features, and Slideshows

News

• Australian startup snapshot: Kicktone

  Kicktone is an Adelaide startup that has developed an online store designed to increase the visibility of independent musicians.

• Social, smartphone penetration drive Spotify adoption in ANZ

  Spotify had its two most successful country launches in Australia and New Zealand, according to Kate Vale, Spotify managing director of Australia and New Zealand. The ad-based music streaming app opened for business in the two countries last May.

• Google Music: What to expect from today's event

  Google is prepping for a big announcement here in Los Angeles today and the rumor mill is buzzing about what the company could possibly be unveiling.

• Google Music and Movies: Your questions answered

  That little green robot must be struggling to catch his breath.

• Amazon Cloud drive: It's all about Android domination, baby

  In the virtual game of mobile moneymaking, Amazon has just made a brilliant move.

• Apple's iPod killed Microsoft's Zune

  Microsoft has nixed any future iterations of its Zune music and video player, according to a Bloomberg report, adding another name on the list of devices killed by Apple's iPod hardware and entertainment ecosystem. Microsoft has yet to make the death of its Zune official, but unofficially it's believed the decision is based on poor demand for its players since the Zune line was introduced almost five years ago.

• Sony Walkman cassette player dies in Japan, lives on in U.S.

  The Sony Walkman cassette player took one step closer to the grave on Monday when Sony announced it would stop selling the portable music player in Japan. The company stopped manufacturing the cassette playing Walkman for the Japanese market in April, and says it is selling through the end of its Japanese stock now. Cassette lovers in the U.S., however, have nothing to fear.

• Music pirate mum deserves a new trial

  Attorneys for Jammie Thomas-Rasset, a Minnesota mother of four slapped with a $1.92 million fine by a federal jury last month for illegally downloading 24 songs, have filed a request for a new trial.

• Thomson pumps up volume with tools for MP3HD lossless codec

  Thomson has released software for the creation and playback of a new type of audio file using lossless compression. MP3HD files will be around four times the size of corresponding MP3 files, but will remain compatible with existing MP3 players.