Google introduces Google Music, with a complete suite of music services (including Music Store) to public. All the music purchased from the store and other files will be stored on the cloud. Google is attemptiong to take on cloud music storage services iTunes Match and Amazon Cloud Player.

Features of Google Music Cloud :

List of available features of Google Music service.

1. Music files uploaded to the cloud should be in MP3 file format with 320kbps bitrate.
2. Files with Digital Rights Management (DRM) will not be uploaded.
3. Before purchasing any track, a preview of 90 seconds will be available.
4. Free access to exclusive tracks of popular artists is readily available.
5. All the purchased songs or albums can be shared with friends via Google+.
6. Free song of the day will be featured on store.

Using Google Music store is similar to iTunes Match and Amazon Cloud Player, purchase your favorite song and upload it to cloud. A new web version of music player which is compatible with all browsers and iOS is also announced by Google.

Screenshots of Google Music Store :

Google Music Overview

Google Music Library

Free Song of the day

This entire Google Music service is limited to users in United States. Google Music Store is now available in the Android Market, can use in on any device with Android 2.2 or higher OS. Google didn’t cleared its Music service availability to other countries in the World.

Hope you like this article, please consider sharing it with others.

Here’s a funny look at racism, a young black boy goes to purchase something from the store and asks for change which starts bickering between the two. The funny part is how such a young kid could get someone who’s supposed to be responsible to act in such a way…

Click here to view the embedded video.

Damon Lindelof wrote,

“Remember. Let go. Move on. I will miss it more than I can ever say.”

Ricky Martin’s confirmation via Twitter that he is “a fortunate homosexual man” has the microblogging site’s users buzzing with the news about the singer’s coming-out as gay.

Ricky Martin and his twin sons Matteo, left, and Valentino in Miami last year. Photograph: Pablo Alfaro/AP

After years of batting away rumours about his sexuality, the general consensus in the social networking sphere is summed up by a post from user Krissy_Recodo: “Ricky Martin has the courage to admit that he’s gay.. yeah!.. for those men hiding their true identity.. shame!!!”

“What an unnecessary fuss over Ricky Martin,” tweets an underwhelmed pforpapa. “Really why does it matter to anyone other than him?!”

“Ricky Martin is livin’ la vida open,” chips in ClaudiaOnIce about Puerto Rican Ricky, who had women swooning with his performances of Livin’ la Vida Loca at the height of his fame in the 90s.

He revealed on Twitter – in a message posted in both English and Spanish – that writing his autobiography had showed him the importance of being true to himself.

“I was sure the book was the tool that was going to help me free myself from things I was carrying within me for a long time. Things that were too heavy for me to keep inside,” he explained.

Martin, who became the father of twin boys born via a surrogate mother in 2008, stayed in the closet because he thought coming out would damage his career.

Ricky Martin has come out as gay, bringing to an end years of speculation about the singer’s sexuality.

Ricky Martin performing in 2007

In a message posted in both Spanish and English on his official website, the Livin’ La Vida Loca singer wrote: ‘I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am.’

Ricky Martin gay: Twitter users welcome news he’s ‘livin’ la vida open’

He says that the decision to come out was prompted by beginning the task of writing his memoirs, which he describes as ‘a project I knew was going to bring me closer to an amazing turning point in my life.’

Martin, a father of two via a surrogate mother, also writes that he had been advised by people closest to him to not come out, but adds: ‘ Allowing myself to be seduced by fear and insecurity became a self-fulfilling prophecy of sabotage… To keep living as I did up until today would be to indirectly diminish the glow that my kids where born with. Enough is enough. This has to change.’

He adds: ‘The word “happiness” takes on a new meaning for me as of today.’

Martin, whose sexuality has long been one of the less-well-kept secrets in showbiz, was briefly thought to have come out in June last year, when a Puerto Rican magazine claimed he had said that ‘his heart could belong to a woman or a man.’ However, the quote turned out to have been twisted somewhat by the magazine, and in fact just meant that Martin refused to talk about it.

Something to think about….

Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approximately. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later:

The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes:

A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:

A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes:

The musician played continuously.  Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace.  The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour:

He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people’s priorities.

The questions raised:

*In a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?

*Do we stop to appreciate it?

*Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made.

How many other things are we missing?

Source: http://bitsofwisdom.org/2009/10/21/interesting/perception/

 
KING of pop MICHAEL JACKSON died last night after a massive heart attack.

He collapsed and stopped breathing after an injection of a powerful painkiller named Demerol.

Jacko, 50, was said to be addicted to the drug – similar to morphine – and it is feared he took an overdose.

Paramedics who raced to his Los Angeles home after an emergency call found he had no pulse. And frantic attempts to revive him failed.

The Thriller star, who had been fighting skin cancer, was due to start a series of comeback concerts in London next month.

Instead, millions of shocked fans around the globe are today mourning a legend.

Emergency … paramedics’ monitor shows Jacko – a ’50 year old male’ – was ‘not breathing at all’ when the 911 call was received

Norway has emerged as the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest, held in the Russian capital, Moscow.

Singer and violinist Alexander Rybak, 23, smashed the record for the most points awarded during the competition.

Iceland came second in the vote, followed by Azerbaijan which took the third place.

The UK’s Jade Ewen, singing an Andrew Lloyd Webber song, ended in fifth position – a marked improvement on last year’s finish at the foot of the table.

For the first time, voting in the final was split between televoting and panels of musical experts, which was supposed to reduce the incidence of predictable and neighbourly votes.

A total of 42 countries voted on the 25 songs, with Norway scoring a record 387 points.

Alexander Rybak, who was born in the former Soviet Union, is a well-known musician in Norway.

A classically-trained violinist and pianist, he wrote his country’s winning entry, Fairytale.

The previous biggest points haul was scored by Finland’s Lordi with Hard Rock Hallelujah in Greece in 2006.

No country suffered the indignity of receiving “nul points” this year but Finland finished in last place.

Denmark’s entry – Brinck singing Believe Again – was written by Boyzone’s Ronan Keating and was performed in the Irish singer’s style.

Germany’s act featured US cabaret artist Dita von Teese, who used to be married to rock star Marilyn Manson.

Her costume was slightly more demure than her outfit at the dress rehearsal after she was reportedly told to cover up by the European Broadcasting Union, which runs Eurovision, because it was unsuitable for a family audience.

Graham Norton was making his debut as commentator for the BBC, replacing Sir Terry Wogan, who bowed out last year.

‘Greatest talents’

Speaking in the Russian capital, Norton revealed that he had spoken to his predecessor, who commentated on every Eurovision final from 1980.

“Terry rang me to wish me good luck,” said the TV presenter. “He advised me to resist having a drink until the fifth song,” he added.

Jade Ewen was chosen to represent the UK through a TV talent contest, with the winning song written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Diane Warren.

Her fifth place was a highlight for the UK, which has had a dismal record in recent years, with 2008′s entry, Andy Abraham, finishing last with 14 points.

It was the second time in five years the UK had finished at the bottom, with Jemini’s 2003 effort famously scoring “nul points”.

Germany’s Alex Swings Oscar Sings! act was joined by burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese, who was ordered to cover up for the family audience.

The UK’s entry Jade Ewen was accompanied by Andrew Lloyd Webber, who wrote the song. She ended a dismal spell for the UK by finishing fifth.

Amazing opening!!! That was beyond AWSOME!!!!!! I

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.