Music

This week Sony launched a new cloud-based streaming digital music service called Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity. Music Unlimited is a subscription service that gives you access to more than six million music tracks through Sony's PlayStation 3, network-enabled BRAVIA TVs, Blu-Ray players, Sony VAIO PCs and coming soon to Sony's other mobile devices, including the PSP.

The Music Unlimited Basic service provides commercial-free music across a variety of channels and genres and allows you to give instant feedback on each song so that the service can learn your music preferences. It then provides recommendations based on your music tastes. The Premium service gives you access to additional premium music channels, lets you search the entire music database, play songs on demand and create custom playlists.Read more

It's official. Starting today, all 13 Beatles remastered studio albums, the two-volume "Past Masters" compilation and the classic "Red" and "Blue" collections are now available on the iTunes Store. A special digital "Beatles Box Set" featuring the "Live at the Washington Coliseum, 1964" concert film (the Beatles' first US concert) is also available - an iTunes exclusive.

Each of the Beatles' 13 remastered studio albums include iTunes LPs, offering expanded visual features including a mini-documentary about the creation of each album. Single albums are available for download at $12.99, double albums for $19.99, and individual songs for $1.29 each.

The special digital "Beatles Box Set" contains the 13 remastered studio albums with iTunes LPs and all mini-documentaries, "Past Masters," and the "Live at the Washington Coliseum, 1964" concert film. The "Beatles Box Set" is priced at $149.

Apple also announced that from now until the end of 2010, Beatles fans can stream and view the "Live at the Washington Coliseum, 1964" concert film from iTunes for free.

In case you haven't noticed, vinyl records are making a comeback. In fact, 2009 LP sales have topped two million, and are on target to be the highest since SoundScan began tracking.

Turntables like the Audio-Technica AT-LP2D-USB LP-to-Digital Recording System with USB connector put a spin on the standard record player by allowing you to easily transfer vinyl records to digital files.

The turntable has a 33-1/3 and 45 RPM speed selector, a balanced aluminum platter, Dual Magnet stereo cartridge with replaceable stylus and a tone arm with soft damping control. It includes a USB cable for connection to a computer, as well as a built-in switchable phono preamp for connection to stereo systems.

The AT-LP2D-USB LP-to-digital recording system includes a turntable and phono cartridge, PC- and Mac-compatible software, a USB cable, and other accessories. It is available now for $229.

Dell and Napster just announced that starting later this month select Inspiron and Studio PCs will include a free year (a $60 value) of Napster, along with 60 MP3s of your choice. The MP3's can be downloaded onto any compatible device, including Zunes, iPods and music-enabled mobile phones. Napster automatically adds music to your iTunes or Windows Media Player as well.

Select Dell Studio and Inspiron PC models shipping directly from Dell in the U.S., U.K. and Germany, as well as Dell PCs purchased at Best Buy in the U.S., will be sold with a Napster icon on the desktop and "Dell Dock" that enables instant redemption of a one-year Napster subscription. After the free year, you can get MP3 downloads and unlimited on-demand music from Napster for as low as $5 per month.

The rock band, Queen just announced that they are releasing their new album, Absolute Greatest – a compilation of the band's most popular songs – on November 16 in Europe and November 17 in the U.S. Want it before anyone else? You can get it (at a cost) by purchasing the new Logitech Squeezebox Radio Wi-Fi music player. Queen has teamed up with Logitech to offer Absolute Greatest on the player. As of today, Logitech Squeezebox owners can listen to the new Queen album before it hits the stores in November, along with viewing Queen photos and hearing track-by-track audio commentaries recorded by the band. All you need to do is select the Queen application found under the Squeezebox Radio's new Apps menu.

Launched earlier this month, the Logitech Squeezebox Radio Wi-Fi music player lets you listen to Internet radio from around the world, from online subscription services such as Last.fm, Napster and Pandora, as well as your personal music collection. The Squeezebox Radio also features a color screen and access to Facebook and Flickr. The Logitech Squeezebox Radio is available now for $199.99.

Press release:

Queen Makes Music History with Launch of Absolute Greatest Album

Logitech and Queen To Distribute New Album and Exclusive Content on New Logitech Squeezebox Radio Wi-Fi Music Player Read more

That's right! On June 9th, you can rock out with 12 Iron Maiden songs that will feature a mixture of master tracks, as well as recent live recordings from their tour documentary, Flight 666.

The 12 songs are:

• "Aces High (Live)"
• "2 Minutes to Midnight"
• "The Trooper"
• "Wasted Years"
• "The Number of the Beast"
• "Run to the Hills"
• "Can I Play With Madness"
• "The Clairvoyant"
• "Powerslave"
• "Fear of the Dark (Live)"
• "Hallowed By Thy Name (Live)"
• "Iron Maiden (Live)"

Technically, there is no word on a price, but I'm pretty sure each individual song will cost you $1.99/200 Wii Points/160 MS Points; however, I have no idea on a bundle price.

UPDATE: Official pricing information in press release.