music

Make beats with DJ Music Mixer

You don't need to spend thousands of dollars in expensive equipment to be a hip-hop DJ. You just need this $29.95 download. It's a bit expensive for a novelty, but DJ Music Mixer gives you quality performance and plenty of effects and cuts you can add to any track. That is, if you can figure out the confusing layout.

From the second you open it, this program definitely makes you feel like a DJ. The layout perfectly imitates a soundboard complete with equalizers, effects, and other nifty features. It's more than likely too much for the … Read more

NASA takes on 'Gangnam Style' and wins

For those of you with a dirty wit, please lend me some patience before you fly off the rails when I say that a group of NASA interns made a "Gangnam Style" parody named "NASA Johnson Style."

Wondering what's with the song name? Well, NASA's Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center houses educational programs for interns and students aspiring to progress further into the field of space science. The eclectic group of youths created a parody video that plays off Psy's "Gangam Style" in a geeky way by amusingly attempting to "inform the public about the amazing work going on at NASA and the Johnson Space Center," says a related video description. … Read more

Make a jingle on a smartphone, play it on a computer instantly

Sometimes I get bored with the same old holiday song and dance.

If you do too, you can create your own theme, techy-style, with a unique Web page that turns your smartphone, tablet, or PlayStation Vita into an on-the-fly holiday music loop maker. German design firm deepblue came up with the site, which blends HTML5 and the powerful WebSocket protocol to offer a unique live mobile-to-browser experience that many of you probably have not experienced before. … Read more

Dropbox acquires music streaming service Audiogalaxy

Dropbox has acquired streaming-music provider Audiogalaxy in a move that suggests the file-sharing service might be getting ready to launch a cloud music offering.

The Seattle-based startup announced the acquisition in a blog post on its Web site but did not reveal the financial details of the deal. As part of the acquisition, Audiogalaxy said it has ceased accepting new signups and playlists will only be available to users until the end of December:

Today, we are thrilled to announce our team is joining Dropbox! We are excited about the opportunity to join the amazing folks at Dropbox and bring … Read more

Get an iPod Shuffle bundle for $39

iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touches get all the attention, but let us not forget the humble iPod Shuffle, the tiny clip-on MP3 player that's hard to beat for hiking, biking, running, and the gym.

Apple sells the Shuffle for $49, but for a limited time, Walmart has the fourth-generation iPod Shuffle 2GB and accessory kit for $39, plus sales tax where applicable. Shipping adds about $3, but you can avoid that charge by choosing store pickup or padding your cart to at least $45.

I should note that three of the seven available color choices are already out of … Read more

Gift ideas for the audiophile in your life

While audiophile gear can be quite expensive, picking out a selection of terrific gift ideas that won't break the bank is still doable. Here you'll find books, music, gear, and even a free download that will put a smile on any audiophile's, or music lover's, face. The Audiophiliac had a self-imposed price limit of $100 max and easily met that goal. Seven of the 10 gift ideas are under $50!

Get new music alerts of your favorite artists with iTunes

It's exciting when your favorite musicians release new material. In the past, you may have found out about new releases on the radio or from an ad in a magazine or Web site. With iTunes (Mac and Windows), however, keeping up with the latest releases by your favorite artists is as easy as check marking two boxes. Here's how:

Step 1: In iTunes, go to the Store Menu, then select View My Apple ID.

Step 2: After you log in to your iTunes account, scroll to the Settings section at the bottom of the page.

Step 3: Under … Read more

How to use 'Up Next' on the Apple TV

When Apple released iTunes 11, an update was pushed for the iOS Remote app. The Remote update enabled users to take advantage of the new "Up Next" feature when playing music from a local iTunes library, along with on the Apple TV.

At the same time the Remote update and iTunes 11 was released, an update to the Apple TV itself was also released. This update enabled Up Next when streaming music through Home Sharing or iTunes Match on your TV. Here's some tips for using Up Next via the Remote app or directly on an Apple … Read more

Spotify tops 1 million paid U.S. subscribers in one year

NEW YORK -- Spotify now has 5 million paid subscribers around the world, a number that includes 1 million U.S. customers, the company said today. It has 20 million active users worldwide, said CEO Daniel Ek.

At a press event here, Ek said that the company hit 1 million U.S. paid subscribers in a year when it took others a decade to accumulate that amount. That seemed like a thinly veiled shot at Rhapsody, one of the oldest music subscription services.

Among the news items from the event: Metallica announced that all its music is now available on Spotify.… Read more

My Best Tech Gift Ever: Beatles catalog on a USB key

Every day this week, a different CNET writer or editor will recall a tech or geek-centric present that left a mark. Read past stories by Eric Mack, Jeff Sparkman, and Jay Greene, and look for another installment tomorrow at midnight PT.

Maybe it's because I'm surrounded by this stuff every day, but traditional technology gifts tend to leave me cold. Even the memories of unwrapping game consoles or that first yellow Sports model Sony Walkman don't stand out in a best-gift-ever sort of way.

Instead, I turn to a more recent holiday gift, one that combines technology … Read more