Blurr is a digital entertainment magazine in which I had to come up with the name the departments, articles and my won designs and photography

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Summer 2008 Volume 3
DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT
Turning the
tables on MP3s
How the Ideas and Events of 1993
Created the World We Live in Today

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DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT
Contents
27 37
Summer 2008 Volume 3
21 45
30
»
Features
Events of 1993
13
How They Created the World We Live in Today
Prediction Markets Are Hot
15
But Here's Why They Can Be So Wrong
8 Best
21
Non-Wikipedia Pedias
Nintendo DS
27
The Secret to a Better, Stronger, Dorkier You?
Internet Addiction
30
Nominated for Entry in the Manual of Mental Disorders
33 Space Programs
Is There Any Country That Doesn't Have one
5-Megapixel Phonecams
37
75
under $100
IPhone
42
Why IPhone Games Will Rule
Happy Accient
45
Turning the Tables on MP3s
Opens Doors to Cheaper, Higher Resolution Cameras
» Departments
From the Editor
10
blare DIGITAL AUDIO
54
glare DIGITAL MEDIA
62
stare DIGITAL GAGETS
70

3. »b l a r e
by Jason Kincaid DIGITAL AUTO
Mufin:
Automated Music
Recommendation
W
the German research organization Mufin: The first MP3
Management Tool in the world
that originally created the ubiquitous MP3 audio that knows what you want
to listen to before you do.
compression algorithm. You can grab an invite to
the private beta here.
After searching the site’s 3.5 million song
database for one of their favorite songs, users can
press “Similar Tracks” to view a short list of songs
that have been determined by the site’s powerful
henever
algorithm to contain similar characteristics. The
we get
algorithm analyzes 40 characteristics of each song,
introduced to a site that features some kind of
including tempo, sound density, and variety of
“digital fingerprinting technology” to power a
other factors. Users can search for songs both from
music recommendation engine, it’s hard not to be
Mufin’s homepage and through an embeddable
skeptical. Fingerprinting works well for identifying
MySpace widgets..
the same song in multiple places for example,
In practice, these recommendations seem to work
duplicate songs in a music library. But when it
very well - at least more than 75% of the time in
comes to music recommendations, automated
my testing. Many of my searches for popular songs
systems rarely work well, which is why Pandora
(such as Here Comes The Sun) yielded results that
relies on a team of 50 +analysts to drive its
sounded very similar, though many of these matches
recommendation engine, and most other sites rely
were in a different language or were recorded by
on social suggestions and meta data.
obscure bands. To rule out the possibility of pre-
Today sees the private beta launch of Mufin,
determined matches, I tried a few more obscure
an automated music-recommendation engine that
recordings. The Darkness’ timeless classic “I
actually seems to work(and it’s really, really cool
Believe In A Thing Called Love” yielded “Sucker”
when it does). The technology is sophisticated, but
by Europe. And Kyu Sakamoto’s “Sukiyaki” was
this isn’t surprisingly giving Mufin’s pedigree: the
site is an offshoot from the Fraunhofer Institute,
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4. »g l a r e
by Don Reisinger DIGITAL MEDIA
5 Alternatives To
A
Apple TV
better, it has a built-in DVD player in case you don’t
s an Apple TV owner,
want to waste time sending files over a wireless
I typically find little
network. Unfortunately, the Zensonic Z500 is a bit
reason to use different solutions to take media from
difficult to find, but for a relatively cheap price of
my computer and view it on my television. That
said, there are a number of products out there that 199.99, it’s a nice competitor to the Apple TV.
$
4. Xbox 360 will also do the trick if you want to
may be able to give you what you want, in some
cases without having to pay the $299 it takes to take media from one device to another. Of course,
have an Apple TV. You decide. the main drawback with the Xbox 360 is the need to
1. The D-Link Media Lounge streams music, have a Windows box that’s equipped with Windows
videos and photos to any television with the help of Media Center. But if you have a Media Center
an 802.11g network, and it can even handle Xvid. device and you’d like to play the Apple TV game,
Unfortunately, the player won’t play native iTunes you may find this is the easiest way to go about it.
songs and can only support MP3, WAV, AIFF, WMA By connecting the Xbox 360 to a network, it quickly
and Ogg Vorbis. But if you don’t mind the absence interfaces with the Windows machine and will
of iTunes support and you want a more advanced stream media to your TV in a matter of seconds.
remote to drag audio and video back and forth, the Is it as simple to use as the Apple TV? Yes. But
unfortunately, the barriers to entry (mainly cost) are
189.99 device may be a nice place to start.
$
2. The Netgear EVA8000 Digital Entertainer HD a bit too high for those on a budget. You can have
the Xbox 360 at most major electronics retailers for
connects to a home network via a wired or wireless
connection and can stream movies, videos, music, 279.99 (core system) to $449.99 (Elite).
$
5. Mac Mini if you don’t want to deal with an
Internet radio, and photos from a PC straight to your
HDTV. Unlike the D-Link Media Lounge, the EVA8000 under-powered Apple TV. The Mac Mini can do
supports AAC files and sports an HDMI port for a everything your Apple TV can do as long as you
solid HD experience. Its biggest issue? It only supports have iTunes installed on it. And with the help of
Windows and will not work on a Linux or Mac. If you Front Row, it should work much better than the
ask me, it’s not worth the $349.99 direct price tag if I Apple TV. Installation is simple: plug it into your
HDTV and use it as the monitor. Once you have
can’t use it with a non-Windows OS.
3. Zensonic Z500 series If you’re in the mood for your files on the computer, take out that handy
Apple remote and find what you want. Although
something from a company you may not have heard Photography by Dean Larsen
it’s a bit more expensive ($599 direct), it’s the best
of, Sure it may not be the best-looking device on the below from left to right
D-Link Lounge, Netgear EVA 8000,
planet, but it supports a host of audio formats and alternative to the Apple TV, hands down. Zensonic Z500, Xbox 360, Mac Mini
has a nice collection of inputs on the back. Even
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5. »s t a r e
by Andreas G DIGITAL GAGETS
The Fashionable Light weight
S101
F ashion-on-the-go Made Eeeasy With its
elegant styling and slender profile, the
Eee PC S101 cuts a striking profile that complements
any sartorial ensemble. Its unique colors emanate
confidence, success and dynamism, and its incredible
portability—weighing a mere 1 kg and svelter than
most fashion magazines at just 1.8 cm—enables
users to carry themselves with effortless grace,
without the slouching and strain that often plagues
Eee PC Model, S101 has a
is capable of running at WSVGA resolution, thus
users of regular notebooks. Its fantastic slimness, exterior in three gorgeous
colors Brown, C h a m p a g n e
providing more-than-ample space for viewing
which has an uncanny ability to snare attention, or Gr aphi te accentuated
documents and perusing other media.
enables it to tuck easily into most bags. with delightful details such as
premium Infusion finishes and
Long Five-hour Battery Life with Super Hybrid
Substance in Equal Measure Its head-turning looks crystal-adorned hinges.
Engine The Eee PC S101 features the exclusive
and astounding portability aside, the Eee PC S101 is
Super Hybrid Engine (SHE) which greatly enhances
equally impressive in terms of features. It supports
its energy efficiency, letting users enjoy longer
Wi-Fi 802.11n, enabling high speed Internet access
battery life per charge—enabling up to five hours
virtually anywhere. It also features Bluetooth V2.0,
of continuous use—thus eliminating the need to lug
ensuring fast and convenient connectivity with a
power adapters along with them. SHE also offers
vast range of Bluetooth-enabled devices.
a choice of performance and power consumption
Every Eee PC S101 comes with an encrypted 20
modes that allow users to make quick and easy
GB Internet storage facility known as Eee Storage,
adjustments to suit their usage scenarios.
allowing users to store and subsequently access
Choice of Operating Systems Catering to users
their important documents and media securely
across the full spectrum of experience levels, the
whenever, wherever. Also keeping users’ data safe
Eee PC S101 is available with either Microsoft®
and sound is the Eee PC S101’s shockproof Solid
State Drive (SSD) which maintains the integrity Windows® or GNU Linux. The Microsoft Windows
of the stored data even when subjected to knocks version offers users with moderate to substantial
and shocks. The SSD has further advantages over computing experience with more configuration
traditional hard disk drives, such as silent operation avenues and a wider spread of applications. The
and reduced energy consumption. The SSD comes incorporation of Windows Live Messenger and
in capacities of up to 64 GB. Rounding off the Eee Windows Live Mail ensures that all of the user’s
PC™ S101’s comprehensive storage capabilities communication needs are fully met, and the
is an integrated 4-in-1 flash card reader that inclusion of Microsoft Works equips the user with
supports more formats than other Eee PC models. the ability to work efficiently while out of the office.
The supported flash memory types are MMC, SD, Less experienced users, on the other hand, will
Memory Stick and MS-PRO. appreciate the icon-driven, point-and-click simplicity
The Eee PC S101 is also equipped with a vibrant offered by the Linux version. An additional boon
10.2” wide active matrix LED-backlit display which of the Linux version is that it comes with over 50
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summer 2008 volume 3

6. Turning the
t ables on
M P3s
Durning his freshman year at Point Park
University in Pittsburgh a couple years
By Alex Williams
ago, James Acklin, now 20, felt lost among
the social cliques on his new campus until
he got to talk with a student who was in
some of his classes. She seemed unusual,
and it wasn't just her look: thick-framed
eyeglasses, bangs and vintage dresses.
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summer 2008 volume 3
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7. To the left is James Ackline
thumbing threw the vinyls
at Earwax Records in
Williamburg Brooklyn.
The category virtually collapsed in the late started
1980s with the advent of the compact disc. And selling
despite the efforts of various subcultures of th e m
supporters club D.J.’s, audiophiles, hardcore in June,
punks to engineer a vinyl comeback, sales Duncan
continued to wither as MP3s joined CDs Browne, a
as competition over the last decade. The company
industry had shipments of 3.4 million LPs & executive, said.
EPs in 1998 and just over 900,000 in 2006, Despite the spike, records
according t o t h e R e c o r d i n g I n d u s t r y still represent a sliver of the music
Association of America. business as a whole. In 2007, for example, the
industry shipped 511 million CDs. But given
quot;He thought it was stupid that I the declining interest in compact discs those
wanted this old technologyquot; half-billion CDs represented a drop of more than
–Ms. Galewski 17 percent from the year before any growth was
But shipments jumped about 37 percent in welcome, executives said.
O
2007, to nearly 1.3 million records. Three years This year Capitol/EMI is in the process of
ago Warner Bros. Records returned to the reissuing its first substantial vinyl catalog
ne rainy day in February, the two skipped class they left records for dead nearly two decades format when it opened becausesoundmatters. in decades. Some of those albums, like “Pet
and went to her apartment. As soon as she ago, music executives said. com, an o n l i n e vinyl store stocked with Sounds” by the Beach Boys, are classic rock
opened her door his instincts were confirmed: While the niche may still be small measured reissues and new releases. At first, any vinyl leviathans aimed at nostalgic baby boomers.
she had a turntable. So did he. They both spoke a g a i n s t o v e r a l l sales of recorded music, release that sold 3,000 copies was considered But many are albums by contemporary artists,
the language of vinyl. the surge of interest in vinyl and, particularly, a success, said Tom Biery, who oversees vinyl like Radiohead and Coldplay, who appeal to
Their bond was sealed as soon as she placed its rising cachet among young listeners sales for the company. By comparison, the young music buyers, Mr. Gagnon said. Most
the stylus on an LP by the band Broken Social is providing a rare glimmer of hope in a 2007 Wilco album, “Sky Blue Sky,” surpassed are pressed on acoustically superior 180-gram
Scene, he said in an e-mail message. “There hemorrhaging industry. 14,000 copies. vinyl, and many are packaged in gatefold
was this immediate mutual acknowledgment, Vinyl is suddenly chic, he said, even among jackets, so they can serve as collectors’ items
“It’s almost a back to nature approach”
like we both totally understood what we people too young to have grown up with the for young fans that might also have the music
–Mr. Gagon
define ourselves by,” continued Mr. Acklin, familiar crackle of a needle carving through the in its digital form.
who considers his turntable, a Techniques “Even if the industry doesn’t do all that well grooves of an album. “I have friends who have With music so abundant on the Internet,
model from the 1980s that belonged to an going forward, we could really carve this out to younger kids 13, 15 years old, even 10” and record label executives said they needed to
aunt, a prized possession. “It takes a special be a nice profitable niche,” said Bill Gagnon, a all those kids want turntables, he said. make physical copies of albums stand out as
kind of person to appreciate pops and clicks and senior vice president at EMI Catalog Marketing, “Their parents are like: Wait a minute. Wha t desirable objects in order to get people to buy
imperfections in their music.” who is in charge of vinyl releases. He said that a r e y o u talking about?”
The ranks of vinyl devotees are growing. people who buy vinyl nowadays are charmed by Mass-market retailers like Virgin Megastore Four top places to check out for Turntables
Lately, the anachronistic LP has experienced the format’s earthy authenticity. and smaller record stores like Mondo Kim’s in
Technics www. panasonic.com
an unlikely spike in sales, decades after the “It’s almost a back-to-nature approach,” Mr. Manhattan are devoting more floor space to Crosley www.homeaudiosuperstore.com
mainstream music industry wrote off the Gagnon said. “It’s the difference between the antiquarian 12-inch disc of late. Newbury Ebay www.ebay.com
format as obsolete. Major labels are expanding growing your own vegetables and purchasing Comics, a chain of 29 music and merchandise stores Ion www.ionaudio.com/turntables
their vinyl offerings for the first time since them frozen in the supermarket.” in New England, has sold 400 turntables since it
summer 2008 volume 3 78
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