Best of Twitter tunes album released

Musical twitterers have found a way to condense entire compositions to fit in single, 140-character tweets. New Scientist reports.

The trend started earlier this year when Dan Stowell, a composer and computer scientist at Queen Mary, University of London, encoded the sound of waves crashing on the shore using the programming language SuperCollider and then tweeted the results.

Other users of the micro-blogging site responded by devising and posting their own compositions. Now a free to download, best-of album of 22 Twitter tunes has been released, entitled sc140.

50 Cent Launches Free iPhone App With Vitamin Water

50 Cent is hopping on the mobile apps train, with the launch of 50's Sound Lab. Baller Status reports.

Via a partnership with Vitamin Water, 50 Cent's free iPhone app allows users to create and share their own mixes of the rapper's latest single, "Baby By Me," off his new album Before I Self Destruct.

EU cracks down on ringtone providers

Websites mis-selling mobile ringtones and other services have been forced to clean up their acts, following a European Union crackdown. The BBC reports.

Some 301 sites were investigated, resulting in the closure of 54 and the correction of 159.

The biggest problems were unclear pricing and misleading advertising suggesting ringtones were free.

The investigation was a direct response to hundreds of complaints from parents and consumers across Europe.

Over half of the websites specifically targeted children.

Read full article.

Britney Spears Launches iPhone App

Britney Spears is getting up close and personal with her fans through the just-launched iPhone and iPod Touch app "It's Britney!". [via MTV]

In their own words: With the "It's Britney!" app, fans get to the front of the line with all things officially Britney. After purchasing the app, fans will receive official news first hand, get exclusive messages from Britney herself, be able to create and share images of themselves and friends on stage with Britney, have access to updated photo galleries which include real time photos, exclusive tour images as well as a photo gallery of over 100+ iconic images of Britney over the years.

Additionally, the app features a "Shake Shake Shake" feature in which Britney says "It's Britney Bitch!" every time the user shakes their iPhone or iPod Touch.

Verizon tests sending RIAA copyright notices

Verizon Communications customers who pirate music files may soon receive an unwelcome letter from the company, reports cnet news.

Verizon, the second-largest phone company in the United States, is expected to begin issuing "copyright notices" on behalf of the Recording Industry Association of America to those accused of illegally downloading songs from the Web, according to sources with knowledge of the agreement.

The sources, who asked for anonymity, said Verizon's letter campaign is part of a test, which is expected to begin on Thursday. Jonathan Lamy, an RIAA spokesman, confirmed the existence of the test but declined further comment.

Court Approves Ringtone Lawsuit Settlement

A court in Chicago has given preliminary approval to settle 30 class-action lawsuits against companies that charged for ringtones, games and other content that end users thought were free. Phone Scoop reports.

Each claimant will receive either $10 cash award or a $10 refund (via their carrier). Given the number of possible claimants, the companies in question may pay out as much as $63 million. Some of the defendants include Sony Pictures, MBlox, and Lavalife.

Claim forms and other information on the case can be found at mobilecontentsettlement.com/index.html.

Shazam launches premium Shazam Encore iPhone app

Shazam has revealed the next stage in its plans for mobile app world domination, launching a new iPhone app called Shazam Encore. music :) ally reports.

It’s essentially a premium version of the company’s existing iPhone app, offering quicker tagging, music recommendations and charts, and a car mode to automatically tag tracks that are playing on the radio when driving.

Radio Phones encouraged by US Homeland Security

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski are encouraging the adoption of FM radio tuners in mobile phone handsets as a proven and effective emergency alert system. Radio Online reports.

UK stamps to feature famous album covers

Next year, the UK's Royal Mail will sell 1st class stamps that feature images of 10 famous British album covers. Interestingly, no Beatles albums were chosen. Artists represented include Led Zeppelin, The Clash, Pink Floyd, Coldplay, David Bowie, and The Rolling Stones.

[via boingboing]

Sony's 1000 ringtones for your iPhone

Sony has launched a CD with 1,000 ringtones for the iPhone.

In their own words:

Personalize your iPhone with custom ringtones. 1,000 Ringtones for iPhone has the perfect sound for every caller in your address book. So simple—just load the disc, pick your ringtone, and synch to your iPhone—no downloading or fees! From Hollywood sound effects to great music clips to a wide variety of spoken ringtones, you're sure to find just the right sounds to fit your style. 1,000 Ringtones for your iPhone—there's no better, cheaper, or faster way to get great ringtones on your iPhone.

[via TUAW]

Somali rebels ban musical ringtones on phones

Al Shabaab, a group of Somali Islamists, primarily acting in Somalia, wants to topple the U.N.-backed government and impose its own strict version of Sharia law, including allowing only a Muslim cleric reading the Hadith or Koranic verse as a ringtone.

[Reuters]

Increasing Use of Mobile Phones to Listen to Radio Broadcasts

The use of mobile phones to listen to terrestrial radio broadcasts is continuing to increase, reports Radio Joint Audience Research (RAJAR) which monitors radio usage in the UK. Cellular News reports.

According to RAJAR's latest figures which cover the 3rd quarter of the year, radio listening via mobile phone continues to grow steadily among adults aged 15+ with Q3, 2009 posting an increase of 7.5% from 6.4 million in Q3, 2008 to 6.9 million in Q3, 2009.

Album recored with a cell phone

Soulful singer Saidah Baba Talibah has just released her latest album using a mobile phone instead of a conventional studio. Cellphones etc reports.

Aptly titled The Phone Demos, the collection features songs that will be included in her first full-length album which is scheduled to be released early next year.

UK. Illegal downloaders spend the most on music

People who illegally download music from the internet also spend more money on music than anyone else, according to a new study, reports The Independent.

The survey, published today, found that those who admit illegally downloading music spent an average of £77 ($127) a year on music – £33 ($54) more than those who claim that they never download music dishonestly.

... An estimated seven million UK users download files illegally every year. The record industry's trade association, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), believes this copyright infringement will cost the industry £200m ($330m) this year.