Tsuji Shion is she the new YUI’s challenger?

On the occasion of Tsuji Shion 3rd single “M/elody” release we are going to talk a bit about this newcomer on Japanese music scene, a young girl named: Tsuji Shion.

What is the comparison with YUI ? Let’s see that.

Annoying behavior from the Majors

Sony has removed (not directly) YUI – It’s all too much PV from streaming websites few hours after the PV was available on various fansites, forums and P2p websites.

In the same time I noticed that many of my older videos of L’Arc~en~Ciel, AKFG, Angela Aki and Aqua Timez were also removed ! This behaviour, really pissed me off !

So I decided to write this article which try is describe how stupid act the Majors against the fans and why sharing is not a crime.

Majors music industry has no idea what they will lose by fighting with the fans. In the same time I call for a boycott of Sony’s next releases such as YUI – It’s all too much, Angela Aki – Ai no Kisetsu, Aqua Timez Best Of.

(This article is mainly based on my own experience.)

Introduction to Vocaloid

After many month and hours of listening, I decided to explain how and why Vocaloid has the right to be featured on this blog.

Many people are not aware about this kind of music or has a too quick idea. That will be my personal point of view (As Non-Japanese) of this new trend.

New Audio formats: CMX and Cocktail

I just came through an interesting article reporting that the Major industry will launch an new audio format named: ‘CMX’ or ‘Cocktail’ for Apple.

This new format will be a file that you click on, it opens and it would have a totally brand-new look, with a launch page and all the different options such as lyrics, artworks, videos or even mobile contents.

Now it’s interesting to see if it will includes DRM or not and how much it will cost for the customers.

The first CMX albums are expected to be released in November.

To remind you, Sony has launched its new CD format, the Blu-Spec. I don’t have this kind of CD so I can’t give you feedbacks on it yet.

Actual CDs are encoded in 16 bits at 44.1kHz. Today with new audio supports we can numerized at 24 bits or even at 32 bits with higher bitrate 88.2, 96, 176.4, or 192 kHz. It allows to get more detailed and dynamic sound.

If you’re interested you can read these articles:

http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article6788045.ece (English)

http://www.numerama.com/magazine/13636-CMX-le-nouveau-format-des-majors-pour-l-album-de-musique.html (French)

Troubles with Dailymotion videos?

Some readers reports having troubles to play Dailymotion videos since few days.

I haven’t found why but it seems it’s since Dailymotion updated their upload page… (not sure yet).

For information, I upload all videos with visibility set to “Private” and not “Public” that’s why when to click on the videos you are redirected to Dailymotion homepage but “Private videos” can be perfectly play on the blog when you click on ‘Play’ button at bottom left.

For those who are getting troubles with that please report if you have any error messages, what’s your operating system and web browser, etc.

Test:

(This video is uploaded with private visibility like almost all videos here, please test and report if OK or not)

EDIT: Does it works using vodpod?

Play Aion on Windows 7 32 Bits

Pré-commandez Aion! Sortie: 25 Septembre 2009.

It’s off topic but it should help some Aion’s players.

For “error 0” please refer to this topic.

Many people got the “error 114” when they try to launch on Windows 7 (and may be on Vista too).

Here are my settings to run Aion on Windows 7:

• Windows 7 Build 7600 32 Bits + Avast Home V4.8 + Comodo Firewall 3.10.102363.531 + Aion 1.0.2.14

Comodo must be install WITHOUT “Defense +” please select “Only Firewall” when you install it. Once install deactivate Windows firewall. My firewall is set to default options.

I’m using Windows XP SP3 Compatibility and Aion must be launched with with admin rights.

EDIT: Aion has been updated to avoid to deactivate the anti-virus.

For Avast, you should hit “Pause” or even “Terminate” to the “Standard Shield” service before launched Aion. (Re-launch it only after you quit the game.)

Gameguard should update to the latest version (Which should support Windows 7 … ).

After that Aion should launched normally:

Enjoy!

PS: Gameguard = shit.

YUI – Secret lives under ‘E.U band’?

YUIさんがe.u.bandという名前でライブした、らしいです.

Some rumors are saying that YUI is doing secret lives under a band named “E.U band“.

E.U. (Spell it in English)
イーユー
U.E. (Spell it in English)
ユーイー
YUI !

E.U. is in fact YUI in reverse. Also E.U band is credits in the again booklet.

They apparently performed twice in live house with this Set list:

1. Laugh away
2. 雨上がりの夜空に
3. Rolling star
4. I’ll be
5. Love is all
6. again
7. Sea

In this band the drummer is replaced by the girl drummer saw in Rolling Star, I’ll be and again.

Will YUI (E.U. band) perform this set list at ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL 2009 ?? Mystery…

Credits: half-banana

Source: yahoo blog

Take “photos” with your iPod Touch!

I just discover by chance this morning a feature little know by iPod touch owners.

Your iPod can takes “photos”! (Screenshots in fact… there is no camera ^^) so how do we proceed?

Blu-Spec CD

Sony Music introduced a new format of CD named Blu-spec CD which is improved version of a conventional Audio CD.

Instead of a traditional infra-red laser, a blue laser is used for recording the pits on the CD master that is needed for disc replication. Supposedly, the blue laser creates more precise pits, causing less distortion in the optical read-out process and resulting in higher-quality audio close from the master of studio recording.

A Blu-spec CD is technically just a regular CD that can be played on all CD players and does not require a blue laser to be read. It is not a Blu-ray Disc.

About 60 Albums should be released in Japan in this format for Christmas.

They will be sold for 20-30€.

In which format are you the most interested?

Blu-Spec
Audio CD
Vinyl CD
Digital Audio

(View Results)

Official Website

http://www.blu-speccd.jp/

L’Arc~en~Ciel and X Japan: Relationship

What’s kind of relationship have the biggest Japanese Rock Band …

Is L’Arc~en~Ciel like X Japan?

Here is some citations I found which said that they are not totally unfamiliar.

May be my dream is possible…

VoIP over Wifi available for iPod Touch without Jailbreaking Required!

fring is now available on the App Store making it easy for anyone to use fring on the original iPhone, iPhone 3G or iPod touch.

All you need to do is download fring on the App Store and within minutes you can make free calls with other fringsters™ or via fring using Skype, Skype-out or any SIP providers you choose.

You will have one searchable contact list with all your instant messaging buddies from Skype®, MSN® Messenger, Google Talk™, ICQ, Twitter, Yahoo!™ and AIM® so you can easily see whose available and where they can be reached before dialing or starting a live chat session.

In short, you can finally interact with all your favorite internet applications, services and communities from your iPhone.

Now that’s fringing freedom!

Utada Hikaru for Kingdom Hearts 3 Opening Theme?

It’s not a rumor or something like, this is only my guess after have seen this news.

According to Playstation Magazine:

“Kingdom Hearts III is currently in development as a PS3 exclusive and will be announced at TGS.“

So it’s remind something about Utada Hikaru, as you know she already sung for the opening theme of Kingdom Hearts I with “Simple and Clean” and Kingdom Hearts II “Passion”.

I come to the point:

Do you think Square-Enix will re-sing with Utada Hikaru for a KH3 Opening Theme?

Hikki for KH3 Opening Theme?

It will be Hikki
It will someone else

(View Results)

L’Arc~en~Ciel – SHINE : Anti-Theory

Ok, let’s continue my little analysis about L’Arc~en~Ciel latest release “NEXUS 4 / SHINE”.

My previous post about NEXUS 4 wasn’t so positive but it was my real though about it, whatever.

SHINE is the B-Side of L’Arc 31th single, music written by tetsu. This song is not completely opposite to NEXUS 4 but clearly the logical following (A happy end somehow ^^)

L’Arc~en~Ciel – NEXUS 4: Theory

This is my theory on L’Arc~en~Ciel NEXUS 4 PV, nothing true or objective.

A lot of people think that “NEXUS 4 PV” looks fake, it was also my 1st impression before I’ve seen the cut-scenes. Under certain angles it’s still looks very fake..

Others say there was an actual news report about their suicidal shoot…

Collective Suicide Theory:

How to play Softsub ?

You want to play a subtitle without encoding it in the video ?

Solution :

1. Télécharger le K-Lite Codec Pack. (Download K-Lite Codec Pack)
2. Lancer l’installation et prenez Profil 1 par exemple. (Lauch the setup and select Profil 1 for example)
3. Vérifier que Direct VobSub 2.39 est coché et faites suivant. (Check if Direct VobSub 2.39 is checked then click next)
4. Associer tout les formats avec Windows Media Player. (Associate all video formats with Windows Media Player)
5. Vérifier que la case “Auto-load VSFilter” est coché. (Check if “Auto-load VSFilter” is checked)
6. Terminer l’installation et rebooter. (Finish and reboot)

Maintenant que les codecs sont installés il suffit de mettre la video et le fichier sous-titres sous le même répertoire et SURTOUT avec le même nom: (Now codecs are installed, just rename the subtitle with the SAME name as your video file and put them under the same directory)

mavideo.avi / mavideo.srt

La vidéo se lance dans Windows Media Player et les sous-titres sont lancés avec. (Now play the video with Windows Media Player and the subtitle should load automatically)

Si cela ne fonctionne toujours pas vous pouvez essayer avec VLC Player ou MPlayer sans installer les codecs

You can try VLC Player or MPlayer.