Hasta La Gadget!

Having a hard time making it in the internet radio space? Maybe you should take a feather from the cap of a firm that still rides the airwaves. That seems to be Rdio’s approach — according to the New York Times, the company is partnering with Cumulus Media (a company that owns for-real radio stations) to create a free version of its audio streaming service. Rdio will also trade a stake in its parent company, Pulser Media, for chunks of Cumulus programming and promotion on the traditional airwaves. Cumulus will sell ads for Rdio’s impending free service, as well as compile playlists from its catalog of syndicated programming. This could buffer Rdio’s music library with news and talk shows, which will hopefully give the service a competitive advantage over services like Spotify, Pandora and iTunes Radio. Although the deal doesn’t involve a cash exchange, the Times reports the value of Cumulus’ services at over $100 million. As for that free Rdio overhaul? It’s predicted to be out sometime before the end of the year. The deal will be officially announced on Monday, until then, check out the NYT report at the source link below.

Filed under: Misc, Portable Audio/Video

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Source: NYT

Twitter #Music might’ve released a Spotify app first, but that doesn’t mean it’s forgotten you folks on Rdio: you can now listen to all the tracks that rank on the social network’s charts from within the internet radio’s website or app. The songs are segregated into genre playlists — just head over to the Twitter #Music station linked below to access and subscribe to them if you’re inclined to keep abreast of what’s trending. If what’s hot with Twitter users don’t exactly suit your ears, however, you can always discover new music via Autoplay or take advantage its Station Tuning feature instead.

Filed under: Misc

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Source: Twitter Music, Rdio

In each issue of Distro, Executive Editor Marc Perton publishes a wrap-up of the week in news.

This week’s Distro includes our first hands-on looks at Apple’s new iPhones, the 5c and 5s. And you should read them — and check out our hands-on videos. But I’m not going to be spoiling anything by saying that we didn’t find anything about the new phones very surprising. After months of speculation, leaks and rumors, Apple’s iPhone event this Tuesday was something of a letdown. From the “champagne” iPhone 5s, to the phone’s fingerprint reader, to the “budget” 5c series, virtually everything that was announced on Tuesday was public knowledge — or at least well-circulated on the rumor mill — well in advance. Unlike earlier Apple announcements, there was no “one more thing” lurking under the covers. The launch of the iPhone 5c and 5s was a by-the-numbers Apple event that could have been assembled from an Apple launch kit. Tight guest list and carefully orchestrated media buzz? Check. Black-shirted CEO? Check. Brief performance by an aging pop star? Check. Excitement and surprises? Sorry, not this time.

Filed under: Misc, Apple, Samsung

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Every week, a new and interesting human being tackles our decidedly geeky take on the Proustian Q&A. This is the Engadget Questionnaire.

Our regular smattering of questions returns this week with Android Central’s Phil Nickinson. The editor-in-chief chats technogological milestones, clever codenames and much more. Join us after the break for the full collection of answers.

Filed under: Misc, Mobile

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Source: Distro Issue 107

NASA satellite Voyager 1, at 36 years young, is the first man-made object in recorded history to enter interstellar space. Moreover, it’s apparently been doing so for around one year — NASA scientists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory announced as much this afternoon, and explained how they were tipped off. “We have an instrument on board which can measure the density of ions, the plasma which is out there,” Voyager project scientist Ed Stone said in a prepared video. “In March of 2012, it turns out there was a massive eruption from the sun which eventually reached Voyager 1 in April of 2013. When that blastwave reached Voyager 1, it caused the plasma around Voyager to vibrate or oscillate in a certain particular tone. Literally the sounds of interstellar space.”

The satellite was originally launched in September 1977 in the interest of studying our own solar system as well as the interstellar medium. Having checked the first of those goals of its list, Voyager 1 is apparently head down on the second one. The satellite was thought to have reached interstellar space some time ago, but now NASA says it’s really for sure. We wish it the best of luck exploring the icy void of space between solar systems. Remember to bring a towel!

Filed under: Misc, Science, Alt

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Source: NASA