Does the Zune 2.0 matter?
The Zune 2.0 is coming out, but with more of a whimper than a bang. The new features include new flash models, a black 80GB hard drive model, WiFi syncing, podcast and recorded TV support, according to An in-depth look at the new Zune lineup by Ars Technica. Additionally, these new features will be made available to Zune 1.0 users through a firmware update.
The Zune 2 is basically what the Zune 1 should have been. Its online music store / syncing tool has been rewritten to be as easy to use as iTunes. Hopefully this new Zune will sell more than the paltry 1.2 million units its predecessor sold, but I’m not optimistic. Now that Apple has released their touch-based devices, Microsoft, and every other portable device maker not using touchscreens, is simply a loser. Why would I buy a device with a tiny screen to watch movies on when I can buy a device that removes all the clunky wheel controls and fills all the available space with a gorgeous widescreen?
Specification-wise, the new Zune and iPod touch are basically identical, but interface wise, its a completely different story.
Amazon’s iTunes-Compatible DRM-Free Music Store
The new Amazon Mp3 store gives you 256 Kb/s MP3 files without any DRM, for generally $8.99 an album. They are already ripping iTunes up on quality, price, and digital rights management. Expect them to continue to improve their selection (Amazon is famous for long tail) and interface, at which point no one will buy Steve Jobs’ crippled music.
Even better, Amazon’s system integrates cleanly with iTunes. You can one-click buy an album from Amazon, and their downloader will pick up the .amz file, grab your tracks, and automatically add them to your iTunes library. I’m also a big fan of the cover-flow like Album pickers they float on some of the mp3 pages:
Paul has it right when he says “Amazon MP3 is kicking ass and taking names.” You can also check out the official blog post or Techcrunch, who notes they are carrying 2,000,000 songs.
10 Reasons Hip Hop is Dead
According to a recent article in Time Magazine, Hip-hop’s Down Beat, Hip Hop and Rap are becoming outmoded and unpopular:
According to the music trade publication Billboard, rap sales have dropped 44% since 2000 and declined from 13% of all music sales to 10%. Artists who were once the tent poles at rap labels are posting disappointing numbers. Jay-Z’s return album, Kingdom Come, for instance, sold a gaudy 680,000 units in its first week, according to Billboard. But by the second week, its sales had declined some 80%. This year rap sales are down 33% so far.
This can be directly attributed to the painful, rehashed crap coming out of the hip hop / rap music industry. For example, let’s take a look at these newcomers to the rap scene, and some of their lyrics:
| Mims: Music Is My Savior | |
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I’m hot cause I’m fly You ain’t cause you’re not This is why This is why I’m hot |
| Sean Kingston | |
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They say we’re too young To get ourselves sprung Oh we didn’t care We made it very clear |
| T-Pain | |
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Teddy paine was born to flirt now u can’t down that Now i’m flirt with her whether i’m in or out of town That’s why they call me teddy bend her ass down |
| Soulja Boy | |
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Super Fresh, Now Watch Me Jock Jocking On Them Haterz Man When I Do Dat Soulja Boy I Lean To The Left And Crank Dat Dance |
| Yung Berg | |
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Oh, and damn right baby girl’s a diva but everytime she out with me she blowing reefa in the coupe looking better than mona lisa tuning into my songs thinkin ’bout features |
The lack of clever or constructive lyrics pervades not just the newcomers rapping about women, money, drugs, women, and cash in a thoroughly tired and worn-out way, but also some of hip hop and rap’s greatest artists who think releasing new “music” as fast as possible is the key to success:
| 50 Cent / Justin Timberlake | |
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She always ready, when you want it she want it Like a nympho, the info, I show you where to meet her On the late night, till daylight the club jumpin’ |
| Akon | |
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I’m sorry that it took so long to speak But I was on tour with Gwen Stefani |
| will.i.am | |
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Baby where’d you get your body from? Tell me where’d you get your body from? I got it from my mama I got it from my mama |
| Timbaland | |
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When timbo is in the party everbody put up their hands I get a half a mill for my beats you get a couple grand never gonna see the day that I ain’t got the upper hand |
| Fat Joe | |
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Yeah im in this business of terror Got a handful of stacks better grab an umbrella I make it rain on them hoes |
If you’re depressed, there’s still some good hip hop left. Some of the stuff coming from Talib Kweli, Young Buck, Chamillionaire, and Lil’ Wayne is quite good. The real gold is Kanye West, especially his song Can’t tell me nothing and it’s brilliant alternate video. Who do you think is still good in hip hop?