Do you ever listen to music on your computer?
Here's another question that we haven't asked in a while: With the increase in decent sound card options over the last couple of years, have you found yourself using your computer to play music?
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The Internet Audio Dilemma
News <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/11094/">last week</A> about SafeAudio CD copy protection indicates that while fighting pirates, the major record labels are also attempting to seal off the ability of users to place their own music from CDs onto computers. If they succeed, the only alternative for consumers who want non-pirated music on their desktops will be to buy content directly from the labels themselves, or companies set up to legally supply digital audio.
Satellite Radio About to Make Big Noise
If you haven't seen much in the mainstream press about the new satellite radio services from XM and Sirius, both poised to launch before the end of the year, you soon will. First out of the chute with the big media bucks, <A HREF="http://www.xmradio.com">XM Satellite Radio</A> unveiled last week its national advertising campaign called "Radio to the Power of X."
ContentGuard Wins Patent
A "digital rights management" (DRM) company has been awarded a patent for its "tickets" to Internet-based entertainment. Bethesda, MD–based <A HREF="http://www.contentguard.com">ContentGuard Holdings, Inc.</A> announced July 27 that it has been granted a patent for its "digital ticket" system, which allows users access to digital entertainment—music, video, graphics, and e-books—from any Internet-connected device.
Added to the Archives This Week
Larry Greenhill says he'll never forget his first encounter with the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/382/">Krell LAT-1 loudspeaker</A> at a meeting of the Westchester Audiophile Society. Suitably impressed, Greenhill reports, "I'd been bitten. I made arrangements to continue the audition in my own listening room." His complete analysis awaits.
Sharp Announces New "One-Bit" Amps
Sharp Electronics has announced a new lineup of "one-bit" digital amplifiers that may herald a new generation of audio products.
What do you think about CDs being secretly distorted with SafeAudio to prevent copying?
The public learned last week that some regular CDs are now secretly being copy-protected (see this week's audio news). Is this an issue for you?
Numbers Up for Harvey, Tweeter; Good Guys Stagnant
The year has been a good one so far for New York's Harvey Electronics and for national electronics retailer the <A HREF="http://www.tweeter.com">Tweeter Group</A>. The news isn't so rosy for West Coast chain the Good Guys.
Added to the Archives This Week
While doing research for his analysis of the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/378/">Totem Acoustic Forest loudspeaker</A>, Larry Greenhill uncovered a legacy of great reviews for the company's previous products each ending with a final "but . . ." comment. But . . . does Greenhill discover any killer "buts" with the Forest? He explains in detail.
Watermark Patent Awarded
There appears to be nothing more important to the music business today than controlling the distribution and use of digital content on the web and in the home. Proprietary schemes to prevent or control the use of audio files have become hot commodities and valuable assets for many companies. <A HREF="http://www.liquidaudio.com">Liquid Audio</A> recently announced that the US Patent Office has awarded the company a patent (#6,219,634) for its watermark technique used for distributing secure digital music files.