Tag Archives: cd

Watch a CD Shatter at 170,000fps

Posted on by

I’ve been watching this CD shatter for like five minutes straight. This is another brilliant piece of work from the Slow Mo Guys. They like to show what happens when you watch stuff in super slow motion – stuff your eyes don’t see in real time. Their latest video shows a CD being spun up to 23,000 RPM and shattering. It is hypnotizing when played in the GIF below:

cd_shatterszoom in


When you spin a CD at such speeds, the centrifugal forces and wobble are just too great, and it fails catastrophically, It shatters in the blink of an eye. Your eye doesn’t even know what just happened. However, if you record it with a Phantom V2511 high speed camera, you can see everything. And it is amazing.

The GIF shows the disc exploding at 28,500 fps, but the video shows off some 170,000 fps footage. I’m still mesmerized by this.

[via Gizmodo via OhGizmo!]

DVD and CD ripping to be legal in the UK in July

Posted on by

If you live in the UK, you may not even be aware that right now it is illegal to rip your CDs that you paid for to MP3 or to make a backup copy of the disc. The same goes for movies if you own a DVD...

Yamaha intros mini audio systems with iOS remote control, explosion of colors

Posted on by

Yamaha intros a quartet of bookshelf audio systems with iOS remote control, panoply of colors

We're well acquainted with both connected bookshelf audio systems and colorful speakers -- seeing both in one place, though, is still a rarity. Yamaha reckons the two aren't mutually exclusive. Its MCR-B142 and MCR-042 both put out 30W of sound taken from a 30-pin Apple device dock, USB, aux-in or old-fashioned CDs, but they also come in 10 different colors; anyone who's wanted a purple stereo to match their crushed velvet decor will be right at home. Both the B142 and a more subdued, desktop-sized TSX-B232 will also receive audio through Bluetooth, and a free iOS app lets us steer the two systems without leaving the couch. These ship later this month along with the B232's wireless-free sibling, the TSX-132. Just be ready to pay a premium -- the roster starts at $400 for the MCR-042, and scales up to $550 for the TSX-B232.

Show full PR text

Yamaha Introduces Stylish, Compact Audio Systems with Wide Source Compatibility, Bluetooth(R), Mobile App Support

-TSX-132 and TSX-B232 desktop, MCR-042 and MCR-B142 micro component systems add superior natural sound and convenience to music lovers' lifestyles-

BUENA PARK, Calif. - Yamaha Corporation of America, AV Division, announced today that their latest desktop and micro component audio systems, the TSX-132, TSX-B232, MCR-042 and MCR-B142 begin shipping this month. Offering playback from many sources, including iPod(R), iPhone(R) and iPad(R) portable audio devices, USB, CD and AM/FM radio, these models deliver exceptional audio quality for their compact size and offer colorful, style-savvy industrial designs.

These models integrate Yamaha's Compressed Music Enhancer that improves the audio quality of compressed music files and IntelliAlarm, which gently wakes up users gradually with their favorite music.

The TSX-B232 and MCR-B142 models feature Bluetooth, enabling users to wirelessly stream music to these systems from smartphones and other Bluetooth-enabled devices. A free app for iPhone, iPod touch(R) and iPad devices gives users the power to remotely operate these desktop systems and set their IntelliAlarm functions, including alarm times (which can vary for each day of the week) and volume levels.

"Our TSX and MCR systems combine the great natural sound reproduction for which Yamaha is known, with the latest lifestyle integration features today's consumers expect," said Tom Sumner, senior vice president, Yamaha Corporation of America. "These systems provide a quick and easy way to deliver music from just about any source to any room in the house with style-be it the living room, bedroom or kitchen."

Premium Desktop Audio for Any Living Environment

Available in black and white finishes, the TSX models are all-in-one systems with attractive rounded chassis and flat, real wood top panels that blend seamlessly within most living environments.

The MCR models feature detachable speakers that employ large magnets for audio reproduction with rich bass tones and clear mid- and high-end ranges. The large volume speaker cabinets deliver deep, robust bass response. They are available in ten colors, including black, white, red, pink, light brown, dark gray, yellow, purple, orange and green.

All four TSX and MCR models have large clock displays for easy visibility and offer great sound from compact units with slot-in style CD players, AM/FM tuners and iPod/iPhone docks that provide direct digital connections. Additional devices can be connected via USB and an AUX-in port. Apple devices connected by dock or USB are automatically charged while the system is on. The models are offered at the following price points:

MCR-B142 (MSRP: $449.95)

MCR-042 (MSRP: $399.95)

TSX-B232 (MSRP: $549.95)

TSX-132 (MSRP: $449.95)

Filed under: , ,

Comments

Source: Yamaha

Amazon Lends the Music Industry a Clue with AutoRip

Posted on by

Rumors were circulating earlier this week that Amazon was set to launch a new service called AutoRip. According to those rumors, the service would provide users with digital versions of tracks on physical CD albums that they purchase and no additional cost. The rumors even went so far as to claim Amazon would be making the service retroactive covering any CD that consumers have ever purchased via Amazon.com.

autorip 1

Honestly, the rumor was a bit hard to believe but Amazon has now officially confirmed the service. Even more impressive than buying a CD today and getting free digital versions of the tracks that you can access on your smartphone or tablet is that the service is in fact retroactive. Amazon will give you digital versions of songs on CDs you purchased via Amazon.com as far back as 1998.

amazon autorip 2

At launch, the AutoRip service is offered for over 50,000 albums on Amazon.com with more on the way. Albums available cover everything from new releases to back catalog albums. Amazon’s new service is made possible with deals with major record labels and music publishers. Deals are in place with EMI, Sony, and Warner as well as hundreds of independent music labels. The service is automatically enabled for any music you purchase and is downloadable via the Amazon Cloud Player at no cost.

[via TechCrunch]

The CD celebrates its 30th birthday, recalls a time when it was cool to play music with lasers

Posted on by

The CD celebrates its 30th birthday, looks forward to retro kitsch retirement

Like so many other technologies, it's tough to pin down an exact birthday for the compact disc. If we're tracing things back to the world of LaserDisc as a potential commercial product, we're talking years or decades earlier. As far as laboratory testing is concerned for the tech as we've come to know, love and subsequently abandon, the we're going back to the mid-70s in our journey. For the sake of simplicity, let's go with the first commercial record to be released on the format. That would be 52nd Street by one William Martin Joel, a release that came a few years after the album's issuing on vinyl, to coincide with the Sony's CDP-101, which let audiophiles do more than just stare in wonder at the shiny plastic disc they just bought.

Filed under:

The CD celebrates its 30th birthday, recalls a time when it was cool to play music with lasers originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Oct 2012 10:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Next Web  |   | Email this | Comments

Kid Koala bundles working cardboard gramophone with album, spurs on budding turntablists (video)

Posted on by

Kid Koala bundles working cardboard gramophone with new album, spurs on budding turntablists video

If you've been enough of a Kid Koala fan to have heard his original Scratchcratchratchatch mixtape, you'll remember a sample that mentioned building a "finger-powered record player." Kid Koala, also known as Eric San, certainly remembers -- buy the Limited Edition of his recently launched 12 Bit Blues album and you'll get your own functional, build-it-yourself cardboard gramophone along with a playable disc. The only further requirements are a sewing pin and some hand power. It's cheaper than tracking down the real thing, and a nod both to San's turntablist style as well as the back-to-basics nature of the music. We call it clever and potentially inspiring; just remember that you'll want some proper equipment before you DJ any house parties.

Continue reading Kid Koala bundles working cardboard gramophone with album, spurs on budding turntablists (video)

Filed under: , ,

Kid Koala bundles working cardboard gramophone with album, spurs on budding turntablists (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Sep 2012 16:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink PSFK  |  sourceNinja Tune, Kid Koala  | Email this | Comments

Fujitsu making laptops from unwanted CDs and DVDs

Posted on by

Image

Back in our day, we used to listen to music on shiny plastic discs with lasers, not any of your new-fangled Zunes and what not. That was back when bands had sensible names, like the Dave Clark Five. These days, however, CDs and DVDs are remnants of a simpler time, a time before these kids were playing their Lady Gagas on their Rio Carbons. Fujitsu will be putting those outdated media formats to work again, with a recycling program that uses the material to build shiny new notebooks, starting with the Lifebook P772/E enterprise laptop, with more models to follow. According to the company, the new program is set to reduce the use of new plastic by 10 tons a year and slice C02 emissions by around 15 percent. More information on the program can be found after the break. Now please get off our lawn.

Continue reading Fujitsu making laptops from unwanted CDs and DVDs

Filed under:

Fujitsu making laptops from unwanted CDs and DVDs originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Aug 2012 12:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Sony unveils in-car receivers with App Remote, taps into your smartphone music from October

Posted on by

Sony unveils incar receivers with App Remote, taps into your smartphone music from October

Sony has been big on smartphone integration for car audio lately, having already launched its MirrorLink receivers earlier in the year for the more well-heeled drivers among us. The company is bringing that mobile tie-in down to Earth through a new quartet of in-car CD receivers. The MEX-GS600BT, MEX-BT4100P, MEX-BT3100P and CDX-GS500R all bring in App Remote, which lets the faceplate buttons steer local music or Pandora streaming radio coming from Android, BlackBerry, iOS and Walkman devices paired through a Bluetooth wireless link. The old-fashioned USB connection is still on offer for these and the HD Radio-toting CDX-GT710HD, while the whole collection can graft on the optional SXV200V1 tuner to carry the full Sirius XM satellite radio lineup. Differences across the line aren't completely clear from Sony's wording, although both the MEX-GS600BT and CDX-GS500R carry two USB ports as well as 5-volt RCA preamp outputs. You'll be waiting awhile to slip any of these receivers into a DIN slot, regardless of which one you pick: the GS500R ships in October for $199, and the rest hit the shops in November for between $149 to $249.

Gallery: Sony App Remote receivers

Continue reading Sony unveils in-car receivers with App Remote, taps into your smartphone music from October

Filed under: ,

Sony unveils in-car receivers with App Remote, taps into your smartphone music from October originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Aug 2012 22:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

KCRW launches MALCOLM music service to help indie bands in need

Posted on by

Image

Being a DJ at radio station can be an embarrassment of riches. And really, who's going to listen to you complain about having too much music to listen to? Santa Monica's terrifically wonderful public radio station KCRW is looking to take a little bit of the pain of finding new music for its DJs, with the launch of MALCOLM, a site that lets artists submit their music for consideration -- a nice attempt at continued outreach in a medium so dominated by charts and major label interference. Bands can create profiles with images, bios and social media links, alongside up to three tracks. MALCOLM serves as a bit of a social network for the station's DJs, letting them share tracks and interact with profiles, alerting artists via email when someone has commented on or rated their listing. More information on the service, which borrows its name from KCRW's old internal record filing system, can be found in the press release after the break. Interested bands can submit songs in the source link below.

Continue reading KCRW launches MALCOLM music service to help indie bands in need

Filed under: ,

KCRW launches MALCOLM music service to help indie bands in need originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jul 2012 19:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceMalcolm  | Email this | Comments

Amazing Dragon Make out of CD Shards: Discerys Targaryen

Posted on by

Check out this amazing dragon made from shards of compact discs. You don’t need to breath fire when every scale on your body is razor sharp and ready to cut you up. Look at how shimmery and shiny this beat is. All I can think is that the creator must have shed alot of blood creating it.
cd shard dragon 1
It was well worth it if he did get cut a million times. This is some quality CD shard art. It looks completely bad-ass with its rainbow-like armored shell. Its creator used a frame of wire mesh and then hot glued CD shards all over it to complete this beautiful thing. In all it took 136 blank CDs.

cd shard dragon 2

This is what I love about this job. I didn’t even know such a thing existed this morning and now I want one. But since I’m not going to make one myself, I’ll just have to admire this one from afar.

[imgur via Obvious Winner]