If you’re like me, you been waiting on this for your Nexus One.  They good folks at DoubleTwist have finally done it.  DoubleTwist partnering with T-Mobile for Android music management.  For those who didn’t know, said software essentially acts as an iTunes for everything else, giving users of all those non-Apple devices a somewhat familiar interface and portal to sync media, playlists, etc (video demonstration is after the break).

At the top of my list for DJ apps is Serato Scratch Live, commonly known just as “Serato”. Although the software-hardware combination of Serato is also compatible with Windows-based machines, most DJs that I know, and most of the DJs in the venues I’ve been to, outfit their Serato setup with a Mac. Here’s what’s in a typical Serato DJ config:

1. There’s Serato Control Vinyl. Although it looks and feels like a traditional vinyl record, Serato Control Vinyl doesn’t have any pre-recorded music on it. Instead, the record contains a control signal that allows Scratch Live (the software on your computer) to track the motion of the record — allowing you to control and scratch the the MP3s or AACs on your computer. The price for Serato Control Vinyl records ranges between USD $10 and $20.
2. Scratch Live, which is the software that’s installed on your computer.
3. To bridge the digital world (Scratch Live and your digital music) and the vinyl analog world, you’ll need to use special hardware: either Rane’s SL 1 or SL 3 audio interfaces. These breakout boxes connect to your computer via USB. Audio is passed to the breakout box by connecting your left and right turntables’ respective RCA cables to Serato’s inputs, and likewise Serato’s outputs to your mixer.

While you can purchase Serato Control Vinyl and a Rane SL 1 or SL 3 box separately, they can can also be purchased as packages. For example, a package with Scratch Live, two Serato Control Vinyl records and the Rane SL 1 box is usually priced at about USD $540.

Similar vinyl-based digital solutions are also offered by Stanton’s Final Scratch, Native Instruments’ Traktor Scratch, and Torq DJ.

But if you’re just looking to get your feet wet without the need for expensive hardware, there are software-centric options to tickle your beat matching and vinyl scratching fancy. Here, instead of using digital vinyl, you’ll be using your Mac’s trackpad and some keyboard combinations to perform your mixing trickery. Of the paid-for options available, I’ve found algoriddim’s Djay (USD $49.95) to offer the best balance of simplicity and ease-of-use for novices, as well as providing some advanced features for the more seasoned DJ.

Like a traditional DJ setup, DJay’s interface presents dual virtual turntables to the user. Playing a song on one of the turntables is as simple as dragging and dropping songs from your song library (which is very nicely integrated with iTunes) to the desired turntable. Besides EQ, gain level, record speed and mixer controls, you can also set looping and cue points. To facilitate your workflow and mixing, the app features an “analyze library” feature that analyzes your songs and provides the beats per minute (BPM) of them. But if you’re feeling lazy and not in the mixing mood, you can choose the app’s “Automix” option. As implied in its name, the feature puts DJay on autopilot and automatically mixes your music for you. While DJay is suitable for use without any special hardware, Vestax has developed Spin, a USB controller that provides for more physical, turntable-like control. Spin is available at the Apple Store for USD $249.95.

Advances in technology have changed DJ’ing, as the sight of seeing DJs carrying in large carrying cases and milk crates full of 12″ records has become less frequent. Serato and DJay represent two DJ’ing offerings available on the Mac, but by no means are they the only options. Readers, we’d like to hear some of your recommendations to the aspiring DJ or the mixmaster in all of us.

via tuaw

Graffiti Analysis (iPhone) – DustTag v1.0 from Evan Roth on Vimeo.

Graffiti artists with iPhones have new reasons to celebrate the beloved Apple gadget — Graffiti Research Lab has created an iPhone app, Dust Tag v1.0 which enables artists to create, record and render 3D images of their creations all with finger taps. Dust Tag records the creation of a tag in motion, analyzes the end product and archives it in a free and open database where artists can share their work not just in traditional 2D pictorial format. Just swipe your fingers across the screen and the application will render the thickness of line according to speed (the slower, the thicker), 3D imagery according to time and pinching will allow zooming. Artists can also download the open source Graffiti Analysis program to save, share and download tags to check out their creation processes on the computer. Add a creative touch to your iPhone and start tagging– just a few taps away.

If this decade begin with the bust of the tech bubble, then the decade might just end with technology back in the headline, more specifically, the raise of mobile platform. On the eve of the most important technology trade show, Consumer Electronic Show (C.E.S.), search engine giant Google is gearing up for one of its most important product launch, and this time it isn’t a software. Instead, the company will officially debut Nexus One, or more commonly known as the “Google Phone”.

The build-up to this anticipated launch really found its start when Google purchased a small start-up named Android back in 2005. 2 years later, the company launched its first mobile OS with the same name and plugged it in a consortium of some 47 corporations called Open Handset Alliance. When tech pundits speculated a Google stand alone phone in the near future, Dr. Eric Schmidt, Google’s CEO, was quick to point out its unlikeness in a press release. And despite its denial, the company’s actions proved otherwise. Finally, the proverbial line in the sand was drawn last August when Dr. Schmidt resigned from Board of Directors of Apple, currently the #1 maker of smart phones.

So how good of a smart phone is Nexus One? Ahead of the official debut at Google headquarter in Mountain View this morning, tech mega blog Engadget got its hands on one. Its verdict – the phone lives up to the anticipation. Manufactured by Taiwanese mobile device OEM, HTC, the Snapdragon powered phone resembled the curvilinear shape of its competitor, Apple iPhone. Yet retained many physical attributes of its predecessors, the T-Mobile G1. Nexus One will feature the latest version of Android, the Android 2.1, which translates to a more responsive and faster OS. via: Engadget

*NOTE* Interesting enough, not only today marks the eve of Consumer Electronic Show.  Its also the birthday of Sir Issac Newton, who explained the law of gravity when a supposed “APPLE” fell on his head…

Other specs on the phone are:

Dimensions:
Height 119mm (4.68-inch) x Width 59.8mm (2.35-inch) x Depth 11.5mm (0.45-inch)
Weight 130g with battery/100g without battery

Processor:
Qualcomm “Snapdragon” QSD 8250 1GHz

OS:
Android 2.0/2.1

Capacity:
Flash Memory: 512MB
RAM: 512MB
SD Card: 4GB Micro SD Indluded

Camera:
5-Megapixel Camera with Autofocus
2X Digital Zoom
LED Flash
Geo/GPS Tagging Enable

Connectivity:
GSM/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Bluetooth 2.1
AGPS Receiver
Wi-Fi Positioning
Digital Compass
Accelerometer

Display:
3.7-inch WVGA AMOLED Screen

Buy it here

via engadget

vestax spin dj controller 1 Vestax Spin DJ Controller

Vestax, an industry leader in professional DJ equipment, and algoriddim, a leader in next-generation music software for the Mac, today announce the release of Spin, a brand new all-in-one bundle of digital DJ hardware and algoriddim’s djay 3 software. The Spin DJ controller was jointly developed for optimal integration with the award-winning djay software, and delivers Mac users of all levels the experience of mixing, scratching and playing their music like a turntable DJ. djay 3 seamlessly integrates with the user’s iTunes library and transforms the Mac into a complete DJ setup, while Vestax’s hardware replicates the control and physical sensation of mixing and scratching on actual records.

The bundling of Vestax’s DJ MIDI controller and algoriddim’s djay 3 provides a powerful solution for all DJs, from beginner to pro. The Spin DJ controller mimics the classic setup of two turntables and a mixer, and easily connects to any Mac via USB. The user can then control djay 3 using two high resolution touch-sensitive jog wheels for scratching and remixing like on an analog turntable. Using the crossfader and controls for speed, looping, cue points, effects, and EQ, the user can smoothly fade from one song to another and apply professional-grade effects. The Spin controller also includes a built-in audio interface with a microphone input and two stereo outputs for headphones and master.

“Introducing DJing and reaching out to a new generation – the elder to the younger, the never before to the professional and experienced – has been one of our goals since the beginning of the DJ Midi controller movement,” said Charles Akira Ono, Vice President of the Vestax Corporation. “With our know-how and team of engineers dedicated in pro audio, quality and design, we’ve partnered up with software company algoriddim to bring you the perfect mix. Call it the best mash-up for bringing in the New Year, as we assure you will experience DJing at a new level of fun.”

“The Spin controller is a simple, yet powerful solution for all DJs, whether they’re just beginning to experiment with their music or they’ve been mixing for years,” said Karim Morsy, CEO of algoriddim. “We designed djay 3 to bridge the gap between everyday music enthusiasts and professional DJs, so we are thrilled to be able to offer our customers a hardware component that brings them that much closer to the real thing and beyond. It has been a real pleasure to closely work with Vestax on delivering Mac users everything they need to turn their Mac into a full-blown DJ system.

Spin is now available exclusively in Apple Stores within the USA and Canada. Get it here

via hypebeast

That 3-megapixel camera on your Apple iPhone 3G S just got turbocharged. Introducing the new iPhone App from Adobe – Photoshop.com Mobile. Simply with a flick of your finger, you could crop, adjust, colorize, add special effects, and more on your photos. Apply a filter to explore your artistic side or to rotate an image for that perfect look, there is a myriad of functions for you to explore. When you’re finish, you could open a Photoshop.com account to upload and store all of the iPhone photos. And when its time to share, simply pull up your account on Photoshop.com. Imagine thousands of photos at your fingertip. Best of all, iPhone App and the Photoshop.com account are both absolutely FREE! Download it today on the iTune App Store

Apple iPhone

Adobe
Photoshop.com Mobile iPhone App

via freshnessmag

Crises, precipitate change. A preview of things to come? One can only hope,

Get yours at Etsy.com.

***Updae***

Click here for the free download link.

Have a BlackBerry?  Own a Mac?  On October 2 RIM will release BlackBerry Desktop Manager for Mac.  In geek terms this means you can like sync with iCal, Address Book, and automatically backing up contacts.  Mark your iCal’s this Friday afternoon at 1:00 EST. Free your calendars accordingly.

The iSaw is not just a USB-powered chainsaw. It’s also an extremely committed joke.

Go to the brand new iSaw website and you’ll discover the engineering mastery that goes into such a nonexistent but lethal USB device, including “Instant plug ‘n’ play. Zero startup time. [And] Patent-pending technology [that] allows for an unparalleled distribution of power.” You’ll also note that the 3/8″ saw chain is meticulously labeled as part no. 31170—an important point for industrial users.

I actually “pre-ordered” the $59.95+shipping iSaw, which only required a social security number along with three credit cards and a cosigner. Luckily, I received order confirmation immediately:

Congratulations! You will soon be the proud owner of an i.Saw.We have taken note of your no-obligation pre-order. You will be contacted as soon as the i.Saw is ready. Payment will only be required just before shipment.

Please tell your friends about the world’s first USB powered chainsaw.

At your service,
i.Saw Team

Until my saw comes in, I’ll enjoy the complimentary iSaw wallpaper available on their site. After my saw comes in, I’m gonna rule this place. [iSaw via Gadget Lab]