Clean up and organize your iTunes music library
I'm a big fan of shuffling songs via genre (jazz shuffle during dinner, reggae shuffle on Sunday morning, a blues shuffle nearly any time of day), so I keep a close watch on how an album is categorized in this regard. For example, some albums I perceive as reggae get categorized as World, so I will change them to Reggae for my reggae-genre-shuffling enjoyment. Genres in iTunes are selected via a pull-down menu and many are similar to one another. I don't listen to enough alternative and punk music to have a genre for Alternative and another for Alternative & Punk. So, when I import an album and iTunes classifies it as Alternative & Punk, I change it to Alternative. All the better for my Alternative genre shuffle. Same for the Electronic, Electronica, and Electronica/Dance genre choices and the Country and Country & Folk genres.Find missing album art I have found that iTunes is pretty good at grabbing album art; it found art for the majority of albums I have imported to iTunes over the years, the vast majority of which were from CDs. For the albums that iTunes failed to find art for, you have two options.Option 1: Tell iTunes to look again Right-click on a album that's lacking art and select Get Album Artwork. In my experience, iTunes is successful in finding artwork for more mainstream releases and occasionally surprises me by finding more obscure albums, so it's worth a quick check before preceding to method 2. And it doesn't take iTunes long to search for art -- only a couple of seconds, whether it finds it or not.Option 2: DIY If iTunes doesn't come up with anything, then you can add your own art. Find the art using Google or the search engine of your choice. Open the image in your browser and keep the window open next to iTunes. In iTunes, click on the album in need of this art and select Get Info. On the Info tab will be a blank box for Artwork. Just drag the image from your browser to this box. If dragging doesn't work, you can save the image to your desktop and then double-click the blank Artwork box to select a local file. Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETDisplay and delete duplicates If your music library is sizable, then the odds are good you have a few duplicates in there. iTunes makes it relatively easy to ferret out such redundancy, but Apple has moved it in iTunes 11 from the spot where you might have found it in previous iterations of iTunes. From the menu bar, choose View > Show Duplicate Items. Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNET From this list, you can view all duplicates, which will show the same song no matter which album it's on. Or you can click Same Album at the top of the list to view only duplicates from -- you guessed it -- the same album. Before deleting a duplicate, be sure you add Bit Rate as one of the filter options. This way, if two duplicates feature different bit rates, you can remove the the lesser of the two.Know your compilations I have a number of reggae compilations, which greatly add to my reggae genre shuffle, but all of those artists with only a song or two to their name in my collection clog up my library and make it difficult to browse by artist. Thankfully, there is a way to clean up your artist list without needing to change the artist metadata for each track on a compilation to something inaccurate or vague. Right-click on an album and select Get Info. On the Options tab, select Yes for "Part of a compilation." Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNET I have found that sometimes iTunes treats each track of a compilation as its own album, which scatters each track throughout the Album view because it's organized by artist name. In such cases, just go to the Songs view, order the list by album, and highlight all of the songs of the album to select all at once to tag them as part of a compilation. For any song in an album that's marked as a compilation, the artist will not show up in the Artists view in iTunes. And you'll find a Compilations item at the top of the artist list for easy access to any and all of your compilation albums. Editors' note: It's spring-cleaning time! Week five's theme: there is no theme. It's a bonus week. Check back this week through Wednesday for spring-cleaning tips on a variety of subjects.
Report- Google searching for music chief-
Report: Google searching for music chief?
We've known for a while that Google has plans to launch a music service, but the search engine is now searching for someone to lead the music venture, according to a published report. Citing industry sources, the blog All Things Digital reported that Google has spoken to several digital-media executives about the job but hasn't hired anyone yet. Google has spoken to the labels about launching a music service that offers song downloads, streams music, and ties music into the company's all-powerful search engine, as early as this fall, according to people familiar with the situation. Those same sources now say that the launch of any Google music store may be pushed back to the first quarter of 2011. The news that Google is searching for a digital music chief has surprised some in the recording sector. Andy Rubin, Google's vice president of engineering who oversees the Android operating system, has has handled talks with the top four record companies and has appeared very much in control. It's interesting to note that the news about Google's search leaked a day after Apple called a press conference presumably about music. If Google does challenge Apple in the digital music sector, it will only increase the white-hot competition going on between them. Google may be unlike any previous iTunes challenge Apple has ever faced because Google can launch a successful hardware-software, one-two punch. Sales figures indicate Android is shaping up to become a significant threat to the iPhone. I recently jumped to the Sprint EVO after losing my iPhone 3G. I loved that handset but wanted another to dump AT&T.One way Android phones can make things better is to improve the music buying and storing experience. I had to use Doubletwist.com to sync my iTunes library to my EVO and it was clunky. To buy music, the phone offers me Amazon MP3. There's nothing wrong with Amazon's music service on the EVO, but there's nothing special about it either. Google should offer me a slicker way to purchase music. Beyond launching its own store, Google could also offer me a way to shop at multiple music stores but complete transactions at Google checkout. Enable me to expand my music search without having to leave Google's interface and that would keep the transactional experience simple. George Kliavkoff helped build Hulu.As for potential candidates to lead Google Music, I couldn't find anyone who knows who the search giant has interviewed. But here are just a few people who have winning track records in digital media. • George Kliavkoff, vice president of Hearst Entertainment & Syndication, helped build Hulu into a video-portal powerhouse during his tenure at NBC Universal and helped turn Major League Baseball's Advanced Media, into the most successful digital subscription service. • Evan Harrison, who ran the digital operations for Clear Channel Radio for six years, is available. PaidContentreported on Thursday that Harrison just left the company. • Billy Alvarado, one of the four founders of Lala.com, recently left Apple, sources said. Google execs were trying to acquire the streaming music service but were outbid by Apple last December.This story was updated at 3:30 PDT with added context.
We've known for a while that Google has plans to launch a music service, but the search engine is now searching for someone to lead the music venture, according to a published report. Citing industry sources, the blog All Things Digital reported that Google has spoken to several digital-media executives about the job but hasn't hired anyone yet. Google has spoken to the labels about launching a music service that offers song downloads, streams music, and ties music into the company's all-powerful search engine, as early as this fall, according to people familiar with the situation. Those same sources now say that the launch of any Google music store may be pushed back to the first quarter of 2011. The news that Google is searching for a digital music chief has surprised some in the recording sector. Andy Rubin, Google's vice president of engineering who oversees the Android operating system, has has handled talks with the top four record companies and has appeared very much in control. It's interesting to note that the news about Google's search leaked a day after Apple called a press conference presumably about music. If Google does challenge Apple in the digital music sector, it will only increase the white-hot competition going on between them. Google may be unlike any previous iTunes challenge Apple has ever faced because Google can launch a successful hardware-software, one-two punch. Sales figures indicate Android is shaping up to become a significant threat to the iPhone. I recently jumped to the Sprint EVO after losing my iPhone 3G. I loved that handset but wanted another to dump AT&T.One way Android phones can make things better is to improve the music buying and storing experience. I had to use Doubletwist.com to sync my iTunes library to my EVO and it was clunky. To buy music, the phone offers me Amazon MP3. There's nothing wrong with Amazon's music service on the EVO, but there's nothing special about it either. Google should offer me a slicker way to purchase music. Beyond launching its own store, Google could also offer me a way to shop at multiple music stores but complete transactions at Google checkout. Enable me to expand my music search without having to leave Google's interface and that would keep the transactional experience simple. George Kliavkoff helped build Hulu.As for potential candidates to lead Google Music, I couldn't find anyone who knows who the search giant has interviewed. But here are just a few people who have winning track records in digital media. • George Kliavkoff, vice president of Hearst Entertainment & Syndication, helped build Hulu into a video-portal powerhouse during his tenure at NBC Universal and helped turn Major League Baseball's Advanced Media, into the most successful digital subscription service. • Evan Harrison, who ran the digital operations for Clear Channel Radio for six years, is available. PaidContentreported on Thursday that Harrison just left the company. • Billy Alvarado, one of the four founders of Lala.com, recently left Apple, sources said. Google execs were trying to acquire the streaming music service but were outbid by Apple last December.This story was updated at 3:30 PDT with added context.
FCC chair on E-Rate and Net neutrality (podcast)
FCC chair on E-Rate and Net neutrality (podcast)
As chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Julius Genachowski is playing a key role in what could turn out to be sweeping changes in the way the Internet reaches children in schools and libraries. He's also the point man in a national debate on Net neutrality as some Internet service providers square off against activists who demand that the federal government ensure that companies not be able to prioritize network traffic. Prior to his appointment as FCC chairman by President Obama in 2009,Genachowski spent more than a decade in the private sector as co-founder of LaunchBox, a managing director of Rock Creek Ventures, and as an executive at IAC/InterActiveCorp.E-Rate to be "modernized"I interviewed Genachowski two days before a scheduled FCC meeting where the Commission is expected to approve changes in the E-rate program.E-Rate, established by Congress in the Telecommunications Act of 1996, taps into the Universal Service Fund from fees paid by telecommunications subscribers to provide telecommunications and Internet access to schools and libraries. Genachowski was at the Computer Museum in Mountain View, Calif., yesterday to speak at a forum sponsored by Common Sense Media on "Back to School: Learning and Growing in a Digital Age." According to the FCC, 97 percent of American schools and nearly all public libraries have basic Internet access but 78 percent of E-Rate recipients told the agency that they need faster connections. "Many schools and teachers complained that the Internet access they had is too slow to take advantage of the opportunities of digital tools for the students," Genachowski said. (Scroll down to listen to the podcast.) Addressing the growing educational use of mobile technology, he said that "for the first time we're going to begin a pilot program to have E-Rate cover mobile. There are huge opportunities here in e-textbooks and interactive learning materials." He added that teachers increasing know that they want kids to have access to broadband wherever they are and to do not just digital classwork but digital homework." The chairman also talked about wanting to make "a world of knowledge available to every kid, wherever they were born, whatever school district they live in, and whatever country they're in."Net neutralityI also asked Genachowski about Net neutrality, which has been a very hot topic for the FCC.We spoke exactly one year after he gave a speech (PDF) where he outlined strong support for treating all network traffic equally. In the ensuing months there have been delays in implementing new rules and complaints from advocacy groups such as Free Press, Media Access Project, and Public Knowledge arguing that Genachowski has so far failed to follow up on his promises. In the interview, Genachowski said, "We're making real progress and seeing more and more widespread recognition that we need to have these six enforceable principals (PDF) to preserve the free and open Internet." When asked about the accusations that the agency hasn't fulfilled his promises to guarantee neutrality, he responded: "There are still some difficult substantive issues to work out. We're doing that now in consultation with the broadest degree of stakeholders and we need to make sure in view of some court decision that came out over the last year that we have find a sustainable legal foundation."You can listen to the entire interview below:Listen nowYour browser does not support the audio element.Subscribe now:iTunes (audio) |RSS (audio)
As chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Julius Genachowski is playing a key role in what could turn out to be sweeping changes in the way the Internet reaches children in schools and libraries. He's also the point man in a national debate on Net neutrality as some Internet service providers square off against activists who demand that the federal government ensure that companies not be able to prioritize network traffic. Prior to his appointment as FCC chairman by President Obama in 2009,Genachowski spent more than a decade in the private sector as co-founder of LaunchBox, a managing director of Rock Creek Ventures, and as an executive at IAC/InterActiveCorp.E-Rate to be "modernized"I interviewed Genachowski two days before a scheduled FCC meeting where the Commission is expected to approve changes in the E-rate program.E-Rate, established by Congress in the Telecommunications Act of 1996, taps into the Universal Service Fund from fees paid by telecommunications subscribers to provide telecommunications and Internet access to schools and libraries. Genachowski was at the Computer Museum in Mountain View, Calif., yesterday to speak at a forum sponsored by Common Sense Media on "Back to School: Learning and Growing in a Digital Age." According to the FCC, 97 percent of American schools and nearly all public libraries have basic Internet access but 78 percent of E-Rate recipients told the agency that they need faster connections. "Many schools and teachers complained that the Internet access they had is too slow to take advantage of the opportunities of digital tools for the students," Genachowski said. (Scroll down to listen to the podcast.) Addressing the growing educational use of mobile technology, he said that "for the first time we're going to begin a pilot program to have E-Rate cover mobile. There are huge opportunities here in e-textbooks and interactive learning materials." He added that teachers increasing know that they want kids to have access to broadband wherever they are and to do not just digital classwork but digital homework." The chairman also talked about wanting to make "a world of knowledge available to every kid, wherever they were born, whatever school district they live in, and whatever country they're in."Net neutralityI also asked Genachowski about Net neutrality, which has been a very hot topic for the FCC.We spoke exactly one year after he gave a speech (PDF) where he outlined strong support for treating all network traffic equally. In the ensuing months there have been delays in implementing new rules and complaints from advocacy groups such as Free Press, Media Access Project, and Public Knowledge arguing that Genachowski has so far failed to follow up on his promises. In the interview, Genachowski said, "We're making real progress and seeing more and more widespread recognition that we need to have these six enforceable principals (PDF) to preserve the free and open Internet." When asked about the accusations that the agency hasn't fulfilled his promises to guarantee neutrality, he responded: "There are still some difficult substantive issues to work out. We're doing that now in consultation with the broadest degree of stakeholders and we need to make sure in view of some court decision that came out over the last year that we have find a sustainable legal foundation."You can listen to the entire interview below:Listen nowYour browser does not support the audio element.Subscribe now:iTunes (audio) |RSS (audio)
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