Category Archives: Music

HP & Dr. Dre reveal the first Beats-branded laptop

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This HP-branded Envy laptop wears the Dr. Dre Beats logo proud.  It is the first in a series of products Dre and HP have in the pipeline for music-oriented consumers looking for solid sound at an affordable price.  This limited edition Envy 15 features a 15-inch screen and comes in at 1-inches thin and 5.18-pounds.  It will include a ‘future’ Core i7 processor and will have the capacity for 16GB of RAM and two solid state drives.  Although official specs are limited for now, expect the Beats-inspired Envy 15 to cost at least $1,799, as its counterpart (the standard Envy) costs that much.  I will keep my ear to the ground and watch for updates on this and other Beats-branded machines.  The time for a revolution in better sound quality is now, right Dre?

[Via Engadget; Tom’s Hardware]

Lady Gaga performs live at Marc Jacobs event; Heartbeats give-away details, too

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Gaga’s performance, which involves only her voice and a piano, is actually quite good.

Remember the announcement of the new Heartbeats by Lady Gaga headphones I reported on last week?  Well, if you were at all intrigued by the new headphones in the Dr. Dre Beats lineup, be sure to check out the Heartbeats Daily Giveaway on Facebook.  “To celebrate the launch [of Heartbeats], Beats by Dr. Dre is giving away a pair of Heartbeats every day for 30 days, so enter..for your chance to win.”  Good luck, ladies (and guys, I guess).

Thanks, Aaron.

Ottman plug-and-play

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The Music Chocolate, designed by Michi Jjung, is an ottman that features a connection for an MP3 player and an integrated sound system, built-in speakers and all.  Gizmodo puts it most approproately: it “massages your feet with beats.”  There’s even a Chaiselong version for those who’d rather recline.  Check it out in the gallery below.

[Via Gizmodo; Mocoloco]

Conan, Obama jab Kanye, Kanye deserves it and more

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[Click here to hear President Obama call Kanye a “jackass.”  This audio snippet was recored and picked up by TMZ from a pre-interview with CNBC.]

Oh Kanye.  Will you ever, ever learn from your mistakes?  I am a big fan of your music and I have supported all that you do musically.  You have changed the game of hip-hop and rap, and for that you deserve an applause.  However, it is very hard for me to continue accepting your apologies for your reckless acts outside the recording studio and off the tour stage.  Yes, you are a celebrity and that comes with a price of always being watched and analyzed.  But that does not give you reason to act like a total fool every chance you get.  Taylor Swift won her award fair and square, and you had no legitimate reason to destroy her moment.  Thankfully Beyonce is a person with class; she allotted her special time to Taylor, to give her a second chance at thanking her fans, friends, and family.  You could learn a thing or two from the person you rudely interrupted.  In the end, Kanye, it all comes down to this: if you do not change your attitude, help yourself to turn the corner and become a better person I will not support you any longer.  Believe me, this is something I do not want to do.  You are a very talented musician and I respect what you have done with your music and helping kids stay in school with the Kanye West Foundation.  But “sorry” does not cut it anymore.  My final words to you are these:  Change or leave.

Kid Cudi – Man on the Moon: The End of Day drops tomorrow

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If nothing has enticed you yet to pick up Cudi’s freshman album tomorrow, this will.  Kid Cudi recently performed “Pursuit of Happiness,” the third single off his new album, live on Letterman.  Those of you who are sick of his most popular single Day ‘N Nite please watch this and understand the scope of Cudi’s fresh and energetic talent.  The way he commands the stage reveals a less edgy and more smooth vision of hip hop (or rap).  And for you rockers out there, there is a sweet guitar solo by featured guest Ratatat.  It’s really a great song, and I am sure such new and inventive musical raw talent will be plentiful on the album.  Man on the Moon: The End of Day–get yours.

[Via DatNewCudi]

Beats for the everyday man (..or not)

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Adding to yesterday’s news of Lady Gaga’s Heartbeats is today’s announcement of a smaller, cheaper version of the original Studio Beats headphones.  This product finds its home between the Tour Beats ($149) and the Studio Beats ($299).  The Beats Solo is smaller and lighter than its older brother and will cost a mere $220.  They will be available in black and white this November.  According to Monster, the Beats Solo have the same sound quality as the Studio Beats.  If Dr. Dre and the team at Monster Cable found a way to create the original Beats in a tinier form factor then all the power to them.  However, I’d play it safe and wait for initial reviews before going out to make a purchase.

[Via Gizmodo; DVICE]

Want to sound like T-Pain? There’s an app for that.

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It’s called “I Am T-Pain” and it is available to download nowfrom the iTunes App Store for $2.99 (iPhone-compatible only).  You guessed it!  The app, created by musically-inclined developer Smule, gives you the power of autotune to alter your voice and sing like T-Pain.  Lyrics and beats are provided for I’m N Luv (Wit a Stripper), Kiss Kiss (feat. Chris Brown), I’m Sprung, Dreamgirl (Tay Dizm feat. Akon), Bartender (feat. Akon).  Additionally, you can purchase other songs within the app, and even more are planned to be added to the mix.  You can record your version of T-Pain’s greatest hits and upload it to the Smule website to share with others.  Check out the video above and start auto-tuning your way to fame like the “Auto-Tune the News” crew has so wonderfully done.  See their latest video which incorporates the T-Pain app (and T-Pain himself) below.

[Via Gizmodo]