BuyMeGetMe.com

This is a subject dear to my heart.

Not only did I spend “my formative years” working in various radio/television newsrooms producing live broadcasts during nearly every hour of the day and night. I also was an early pioneer of Internet news.

The companies I worked for all sold advertisements based on our readership/viewership. That’s how we made enough money to keep the organization alive and well.

But that economic model doesn’t work so well when people stop watching TV news. Or reading newspapers. All U.S. newsrooms are being affected by this.

Which brings us to today’s news that CNN has introduced a new mobile application for iPhones/iPods.

CNN is not the first news organization to attempt to attract younger customers. Thompson-Reuters, Associated Press, Financial Times, NPR and others already have smartphone applications. So far, all of these little programs have been free.

Not so for CNN.com’s new app. Time-Warner is asking $1.99 for the download.

The Wall Street Journal has a mobile app as well. They’ve been charging for some online content for years. Now, WSJ’s owner, Rupert Murdoch is rumored to be thinking about charging a buck or two per week (or $50-$100 a year) to access WSJ’s mobile content.

CNN is the first “mainstream news” organization to try to charge for content. To their credit, CNN’s new software is unique in that in addition to written news stories it also offers live, streaming video newscasts as well as the ability to watch video-on-demand reportage.

You can even receive push notification when there’s “breaking news” video available to watch.

I realize that a one-time charge of $2 is not a great hardship for most iPhone owners – but the question remains whether people will pay for – and then watch – news on their cell phones if they don’t watch on television.

I have recently tested a number of modern Nokia phones which have a free application for France 24’s mobile newscasts pre-installed on the handsets. France 24 “broadcasts” in 3 languages (French, English, and Arabic). Their English-language newscasts are quite entertaining and informative.

But, after two or three minutes I find it difficult to continue watching news on a cell phone. The video quality is OK – it’s just that the screen is too small for long-term video enjoyment.

And, it’s not just news. Trying to watch NFL football – whether it’s a live game or just video highlights – on a 3 or 4-inch screen gets tired very quickly.

I’m not sure the novelty of being able to watch news or sports on a cell phone will attract younger users – especially on a long-term basis.

And, although I prefer CNN’s idea of a $2, one-time charge over WSJ’s recurring subscription plan, I don’t believe news junkies should have to pay at all for their mobile news.

News organizations, large and small, will have to concentrate on providing content more relevant to the younger audience they desperately need to reach – and sell ads – not charge for material that the majority of people don’t seem to be interested in.

The rumor mill is working overtime.

Microsoft is reportedly working on another tablet computer. So far, tablets haven’t been very successful for Microsoft – or for anyone else.

Just reecently though, there has been a lot of talk about Apple supposedly and secretly working on a tablet computer of their own. So far, no confirmation or announcements of something like that from Cupertino.

But Microsoft is hinting that they’re busy woking on a “super-tablet” computer of sorts – with two screens. Think it it as a giant Nintendo DS – or a Windows Book Reader.

Whatever it is – or will be – it’s also a hot topic of conversation.

Here is what I had to say about Microsoft Courier in a discussion on Randall Bennett’s Bottom Line feature on TechVi.com:

Listening to WFUV, late last night, I heard a song – actually the repeating, background chorus of a song – that might well serve this Website as a theme song of sorts.

The name of the song is “Hold the Line featuring Mr. Lex and Santigold”.

It is performed by the group Major Lazer on their recently released album “Guns Don’t Kill People… Lazers Do.”

According to Amazon.com, Major Lazer is the Grammy-nominated super producer duo of Diplo and Switch, best known for their work with M.I.A and the hit ‘Paper Planes’, as well as production work for the likes of Santogold, Amanda Blank, Bondo do Role and Tricky. That should clear everything up for you.

Their MySpace page, calls Major Lazer a “Digital Reggae” group who make “Reggae/Americana/Black Metal” music.

Their stuff is terrific. In descriptive language of my era: “It’s got a good beat – and you can dance to it.”

One warning though – the music is not even close to being “G-rated”. The album does carry a “Parental Advisory -EXPLICIT” warning.

The reason I got excited about the song is the chorus. I could swear they’re singing “BUY ME – GET” which is a sentiment close to my heart.

Listen on MySpace or watch the video on YouTube and tell me what you think about this upbeat ditty (apart from the explicit stuff).

Say the name McIntosh and audiophiles smile a little smile.

That’s because the legendary, Binghamton, NY-based company has been turning out amazing-sounding, stately-looking audio products for six decades.

For tangible proof, find yourself a copy of my friend Ken Kessler’s loving historical on the subject.

McIntosh products aren’t cheap – but they’re worth every penny. Even in used condition, they’re still coveted by music listeners around the world.

That’s why when McIntosh releases a new product like the MXA60 every one in – and out of the industry takes note.

McIntosh Labs has formally announced the release the MXA60 – the company’s first standalone, plug and play, integrated audio system – to help celebrate their 60th anniversary,

Designed by the same clever guys who created the company’s high performance Reference System, this “ultimate-quality tabletop system” features a high-performance 75-watt-per-channel amplifier, state-of-the-art CD/SACD/MP3 player, vacuum tube preamplifier (you can see the tube in the little window in the system’s front panel), as well as an AM/FM/RBDS tuner and high performance, two-way bass reflex loudspeaker system.

Think of it as a way to get all the legendary McIntosh sound into a smaller package.

It comes standard with solid, all-metal casework, anodized aluminum accents, backlit glass faceplates with nifty peak reading watt meters.

The 75-watt-per-channel transistor-based amplifier features Sentry Monitor fuse-less short-circuit protection and Power Guard anti-clipping circuitry to ensure distortion-free performance and reliability.

The preamp’s advanced hybrid transistor/tube design utilizes a dual triode tube (12AT7) design for the purest music reproduction capabilities.

The MXA60’s two-way loudspeakers were fashioned in the tradition of the revered mini-monitors of old, providing an astounding level of high-quality audio from a surprisingly compact package. I’m guessing that the legendary LS3/5a’s are part of that reverend group. I’m currently testing a pair of Stirling LS3/5a’s and can attest that it’s a good idea to try to emulate a product that sounds so good.

To achieve their high level of performance, the new McIntosh speakers feature custom designed mid-woofers with a four-inch diameter – providing a magnet structure that is proportionally much larger than is typically used in speakers of comparable size.

In a way-too-brief listening test under less than perfect conditions, the MXA60’s sound was very, very impressive. I hope to hear the system set-up properly in a quiet room at some point. It was that good.

For the record, the system weighs-in at slightly less than eighty pounds. At least you know you’ll be getting a lot for your hard-earned money.

The MXA60 is scheduled for availability in October, 2009 with a suggested retail price of $7,500.

It is a McIntosh!

I have a dilemma.

This new ThinkPad portable from Lenovo looks and acts like a laptop with one HUGE difference – it has a touch screen. Like a tablet computer.

So, do we call it a tab-top? Or a lap-let? Or, how about just a T400s?

Lenovo’s engineering and marketing experts explain the device this way:

The high performance ThinkPad T400s laptop serves professionals in engineering and design. Now these users can manipulate four fingers on the ThinkPad T400s laptop’s optional multi-touch screen to not only replace the mouse but transform the way they work. They can now use four fingers to manipulate objects, move images with two hands and even have another person touch the screen to collaborate simultaneously. As new multi-touch applications are introduced, there will be new possibilities for using multi-touch screen laptops.

It’s easier to physically do it than to try to explain the process in words.

There are lots of goodies inside including an Intel Core2 Duo processors (2.4 or 2.53 GHz), a 14.1-inch (diagonal) screen, at least 2GB of memory (up to a maximum of 8 GB), a 160 GB or 250 GB hard drive, Windows XP, Vista or 7 and, soon, Lenovo’s new SimpleTap software.

Lenovo designed SimpleTap to enable uninterrupted use of touch screens by “giving the user access to hardware-based functions and programs that may be more easily accessed via touch input.” That means no more having to switch back and forth from the laptop/keyboard mode to the tablet mode every time you need to open another program. If you’re familiar with tablet computing – you know exactly what I’m talking about.

Lenovo also make a real tablet computer too. The X200 tablet is a “two-finger” design:

The X200 caters to individuals in fields such as sales, health care and education. Already supporting one finger touch, these users can now use two-finger touch to perform a variety of gestures, including pinching, zooming, tapping and flicking through documents, web pages and photos instead of using a mouse.

The ThinkPad T400s and the X200 Tablet are available through retailers and Lenovo’s Web site Pricing starts at approximately $1,999 for the ThinkPad T400s and $1,654 for the ThinkPad X200 Tablet with the multi-touch screen.

Lenovo’s nifty SimpleTap software will be available for download after October 22.

The best iPod dock on the planet is currently made by the prestigious British firm Bowers and Wilkins – better known as B&W.

Their Zeppelin is large, heavy and – without a doubt – the best sounding iPod-based music system available today.

It’s shaped like – you guessed it – a Zeppelin with your iPod/iPhone fitting into a silver, metallic arm.

There are real speakers and amplifiers inside – as well as a sub-woofer for all the low bass notes. The sound it produces is worth every penny of its steep, $599 selling price.

It was only a matter of time before B&W would extend the line. They’ve just announced their “lite” version of the system they’re calling Zeppelin Mini. It’s a lot smaller and lighter but B&W say you’ll recognize the wonderful sound quality immediately.

In addition to the size and shape changes, the key differentiating features include an updated docking arm. You can still attach and control any iPod/iPhone easily but now you can also rotate your Apple device 90-degrees (on its side for a horizontal view) and control your music that way as well.

The Mini also sports USB connectivity which allows you to bypass the analogue output stage of any iPod, providing access to, what B&W calls “the very best digital sound an iPod has to offer”.

Finally, the best new feature of all – they’ve announced a lower price for the new, smaller model. At $399, B&W’s Zeppelin Mini could never be considered cheap – but if it’s anything like its older brother – it is fairly priced.

Can’t wait to hear one.

Want to know more? B&W also provides an introductory video:

To explain this post’s title, Zune HD is the newly improved portable music player from Microsoft. hello from seattle is engraved on the device’s left side. I’m not sure what that means. Microsoft is located in Redmond, Washington but their PR firm (Edelman) is located in Seattle. Confusing.

I do care about the new Zune HD. It’s a quantum leap forward. Compared to previous versions, the Zune HD is a much more useful device. It’s not perfect – but it is a whole lot better.

It’s named Zune HD for a good reason. Actually, at least two good reasons. First of all, the Zune HD can output high definition video. (Of course you need an optional HD video dock and an HDMI cable to watch 720p on an HDTV.)

The device also receives local FM HD radio stations (more, better sounding music streaming choices in many cities).

Back to the beautiful OLED touch screen. The 3.3-inch (diagonal) display produces a mere 480 by 272 pixels. It looks fantastic but it ain’t HD. It does rotate between horizontal and vertical views. That comes in handy when you’re surfing the Web.

The Zune HD also has built-in Wi-fi. That means you can do searches (via Bing, of course) and look at Websites. I was impressed with the look of this site on the Zune HD. Viewing it horizontally – and zooming in with the now infamous “two-finger-spreading-apart” move – BuyMeGetMe.com was very readable (for short periods of time).

There’s also brand new Zune desktop software. Version 4.0 adds a bunch of new features – including an updated Zune Marketplace for music, video and software downloads. The new software didn’t recognize my new Zune HD until I restarted my computer twice. After that, the desktop software updated the Zune HD’s software from Version 4.0 to 4.1.

There are all sorts of software improvements on the Zune too. The most important is something called the Quickplay menu which gives you a simple view of the last audio/video you played – what you’re currently playing any recent updates.

Microsoft is also touting improved music algorithms for better sounding music. That’s nice, I guess. But, I wish Microsoft would let you rip your music in the uncompressed, WAV file format. Lossless files are OK. WAV sound much better. I won’t even suggest they consider allowing Zune storage and playback high-resolution 24/192 files which sound even better still. For the record, Apple/iPods/iTunes support uncompressed WAV and 24/192 files.

My test Zune HD came with 16 GB of solid-state storage. I’ve found that many of these solid-state devices need an extended break-in period to sound their best. This new Zune is no exception. It needs at least another week or two before being able to fairly judge its quality. One interesting note, downloaded music files sound somewhat shrill so far – especially compared to the sound of all of the HD radio stations I tried. Same device. Same headphones. We’ll see what a few hundred hours does.

The new Zune HD comes in two sizes: the aforementioned 16 GB model ($220/black) and the 32 GB version ($290/platinum). Axs for the competition, Apple iPod touch models sell for $199 (8 GB), $299 (32 GB) and $399 (64 GB).

As first previewed here a few weeks ago, the upcoming Asus Keyboard PC – that means a PC built inside a full-sized keyboard including a 5-inch (diagonal) color screen) – will be released here in the United States within the next few weeks.

We had a sneak peek of the interesting new device weeks ago – way before Asus let journalists take a look at Europe’s Computex show. Both hardware and software were very, very early betas but the computer we tried seemed to work quite well for us.

The version we played with had an Intel Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of solid-state storage and it ran on Windows XP. But, the final timing of the Keyboard PC’s release seems to coincide quite nicely with Microsoft’s Windows 7 due date.

That means expect the new Keyboard PC to be running on Mircosoft’s new and (greatly) improved operating system. And then again, maybe a nice Linux version of Asus’ Keyboard PC is in our future somewhere down the line.

Other interesting Keyboard PC features include back-up battery power (for when you’re not plugged-into an AC outlet), the latest/greatest/fastest Wi-fi connectivity (802.11 b/g/n) and a wireless HDMI ultra-wide band audio/video connection.

Overall, we think the Asus engineers had living room use in mind when this device was originally conceived. We can think of other places to use it as well.

Price is now rumored to be in the $400-$500 range. We originally guessed $549 (don’t forget it is a full computer, mouse, keyboard and monitor – although a small screened monitor- in one nice, neat package.

We’ll find out soon enough.

The term OLED stands for organic light emitting diodes.

OLEDs are these new, little electronic buggers produce more light output – and therefore better picture quality – than their non-organic cousins.

That means screens – as in laptops computers and flat-screen TVs – can be made thinner, lighter weight, much brighter and more energy efficient than any of their pre-historic brethren (like 2007).

Nearly two years ago (January, 2008), Sony presented their first OLED flat screen TVs at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. We were all mesmerized by the quality of the pictures on the screen. It was unlike any other television set than any of us had even witnessed.

Problem was that OLED screens were and still are expensive. That’s why Sony’s XEL-1 TV sported an 11-inch (diagonal), 16:9 screen boasting 960 by 540 native resolution and a contrast ratio of 1,000,000-to-1.

It cost (and actually still costs) a whopping $2,499 on Sony’s Website. Sony claims that the XEL-1’s screen yields the same pixel density as a 40-inch, 1080p LCD TV.

All I know is that when I tested one – the small TV had the best quality TV picture I have ever seen. Especially with over-the-air, HDTV broadcasts. (Non-compressed, over-the-air HD video – unlike cable, satellite of fiber – is a real eye opener).

But OLED screens are expensive to make – and therefore for consumers (you and I) to purchase. There are a few on the market but that’s why we haven’t been flooded with OLED TVs to date.

So, today’s announcement by Samsung is even more interesting. The South Korean manufacturer has just introduced a prototype of their first OLED laptop at the IFA trade show in Germany.

Kyu Uhm, Samsung’s Worldwide Sales and Marketing boss for their computing division, told journalists that his company is planning to release an OLED laptop towards the end of 2010 – probably in the third quarter – next fall.

OLED-info.com, quotes officials:

“Samsung is the largest OLED screen manufacturer. And as soon as it’s available commercially for laptops we will adopt it”.

So far, there’s been no word on what an OLED-screened laptop might cost.

For the record, according to Samsung, analysts at Gartner Research believe that OLED notebook will become the norm over the next 5 years.

On the calendar, it’s still summer. But, for the personal electronics industry, this is autumn – the time to start rolling out a stream of brand new products for the upcoming holiday shopping season.

In no segment of the industry is the competition fiercer than in the cell phone segment.

Fast on the heels of yesterday’s announcements at Nokia World we finally learn the release date for what looks to be an amazing Google/Android OS-based smartphone and a dozen new handsets which will run on Microsoft’s forthcoming Windows Mobile 6.5 OS.

First, the HTC Hero. BMGM was one of the few members of the press given an exclusive sneak peek of this new phone a few weeks ago.

The Hero runs on the Android OS (like T-Mobile’s G1 and myTouch 3G) but with a big difference – the phone’s interface (called HTC Sense) has been completely re-worked. Without going into full detail, the Hero looked amazing. Just about everyone who attended that session agreed.

Since that preview, the phone has undergone more changes – both for hardware and software – so, of course, we’ll have to wait and see just how terrific the final version will actually be.

Luckily, we won’t have to wait too long. This morning, Sprint announced that they’ll be the first to start selling the HTC Hero. Beginning Oct. 11, you’ll be able to purchase your Hero through all the usual Sprint retail channels (their stores and online) as well as Best Buy for $179.99 (after a $50 instant savings and a $100 mail-in rebate) with a two-year service agreement.

Pre-registration begins today at www.sprint.com/hero.

Then there’s the slew of new Windows Mobile phones just announced by South Korea’s LG – the world’s number three cell phone manufacturer.

According to published reports, LG has just announced that they will be releasing three new handsets which will run the new Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system. But that’s not all. LG also announced including the latest additions, LG announced plans to launch another ten news Windows Mobile-based phones next year – for a total of 13 new Windows phones by the end of 2010.

For you history buffs, back in February LG signed an agreement with Microsoft stating that Windows Mobile will become the company’s primary smartphone platform – even though LG is also a member of the Symbian Foundation (Nokia smartphones) – and the fact that LG is said to be working on a Google featured, Android device or two. Or three.

No exact details yet for these new Windows phones though – except that we should expect to know more around October 6th when Microsoft officially launches Windows Mobile 6.5.