Recently at BBG

• We review Spotify, a desktop app that lets users stream 3.8 million tracks of music — for free.

Good News: It's TERRIFIC.
Bad News: it's not yet available in the U.S.

• What will the Apple Tablet actually look like?

• We review Sonar's VS-100, a portable studio that includes a MIDI controller, multi-track recorder, and mixer.

• A rocking chair that looks like a purple hot dog.

• Fact: By 2010, all gadgets will feature teal/turquoise LED strips.

• Headphones built into a pair of fuzzy cat ears!

• We review Sony Ericsson's W518a cell phone. Verdict: "a good choice if you want a small, cheap phone that doesn't look like a toy."

• A newly-released, battery-powered, rechargeable neck warmer.

• We held a contest for a robotic space cock. The deadline was August 7, but we're going to give you one last shot. Enter to win by midnight EST August 11. So what is a robotic space cock? Good question!

[#1 posted by ChunkyMonkeyBrain, August 10, 2009 6:51 AM]

So it's the European Pandora? Or?...

There's also a network that lets you stream thousands of tracks and DOWNLOAD them for free in the USA - it's called GimmeSound.com

and it's a not-for-profit business model designed to help charities.

[#2 posted by fritz from london, August 10, 2009 7:13 AM]

Spotify - they used it in an office where I used to work. The problem with it, you can't add your own music to the library, and they range of tunes is somewhat limited to what's popular. Not much dub reggae or drum 'n' bass, for example.

Before spotify, we used to bring our ipod, plug it into the amp, and we'll all be listening to each other crazy music. Now, we can only listen to what spotify's got, lots of chart music.

I call it 'blandify'. It does to music what McDonald's did to food.