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New Media News Every Morning

Death of CD Imminent, Apple Says

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The death of the CD has been imminent since its inception back in 1985.  However that hasn’t stopped over 200 billion from being sold.  While the number seems to decline each year, thanks in part to the vast amount of music that is available in digital format, the medium is still rocking (weakly) on.

Apple is ready to take the compact disc to the brink, offering a new application later this month that promises to deliver many of the features CDs offer that the digital medium does not.  Among them, lyrics, images, artwork and other extras.

Some reports are saying that the first album to drop with the new digital features will be Snow Patrol’s forthcoming A Hundred Million Suns.  Expect future iTunes albums to get the features over time.

Up until this point Apple has been super protective of individual’s music libraries, not permitting third-party developers from accessing content.  Will this new app change all of  that?  Stay tuned!

Originally posted on September 1, 2008 @ 9:32 pm

New Friendfeed Widgets Available

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Social activity aggregator FriendFeed has launched a new set of embeddable widgets, enabling blog owners to keep their readers informed of their every move.

Among the widgets: A FriendFeed Badge to show off the services you use and your recent FriendFeed activity; A FriendFeed Feed Widget that let’s you embed your feed or a room’s feed on your blog or Web site; And the FriendFeed Chicklet, the most compact way to link your site’s visitors to your FriendFeed.

Aside from getting your readers more involved with your activities, you can also share stores and conduct more customizations than ever before.

Access the new goodies here.

Originally posted on August 28, 2008 @ 9:18 am

C-Span RNC and DNC Sites Look Snazzy

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Long the butt of insomnia jokes, C-Span, the cable television non-profit, has launched a new Web site that is actually – well – not boring.

Featuring the typical red, white and blue political look, the Web site manages to integrate YouTube and Qik videos and offer a roundup of relevant Twitter tweets.

There are actually two sites.  One for the DNC and one for the RNC.

Access to major political blogs such as Politico, The National Review, Gawker, etc is available.  You can also search for political blogs based on state.

Live streams (in case you’re having trouble sleeping) are only a click away.

When companies like C-Span and AARP can roll out pretty nice looking Web sites, you start to realize that the Web has been embraced by just about everyone.  Evolve or die.  It’s nice to see there are still a few dinosaurs out there.

Originally posted on August 27, 2008 @ 2:58 pm

MapQuest Gets a Facelift

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A simplified homepage, designed to get users to the information they seek quicker, has been launched by MapQuest this morning.

Honestly, I’m such a devoted Google Maps user, that I don’t even remember what MQ used to look like.

The new landing page automatically populates a map with your location (according to IP address).  Enter an address for a map, or click the “get directions” button (which is grayed out by default) to get instructions on traveling from A to B.

The streamlined look allows users to get directions, gas prices, construction information and view live traffic cams – all from the homepage.

Below the fold you will find tools to customize your map.  You can plot out the city’s best burgers or locate the nearest coffee shop.

I don’t see myself ditching Google Maps, but I might cheat a little.  You won’t tell, right?

Originally posted on August 26, 2008 @ 10:18 am

Digg Dialogg: Vote Questions Up or Down

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The Democratic National Convention is underway, and so is a new product from Digg: Digg Dialogg.  This concept takes the ‘wisdom of crowds’ concept and applies it to interview questions.

Here’s how it works:

Digg will identify a guest interview

The community will submit questions (text or video)

The community will vote on which question should be asked

According to Digg, guests…

“will represent thought leaders and tastemakers across diverse topics including technology luminaries, environmentalists, entrepreneurs, musicians and filmmakers.”

Up first, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday, August 27th.

Cool concept.  But what happens when the Digg community decides to get personal or ask the questions that no interviewer ever ask.  There’s a reason most interviews are generic.  Without censorship, the concept is beautiful.  Will Digg have the balls to let ALL questions stand.  And more importantly, will guests continue to make themselves available, knowing they can be subjected to some uncomfortable topics?

Either way, Digg is proving that they understand that evolving their business model is a must.

Originally posted on August 25, 2008 @ 1:01 pm