Filed under: Portable Audio

The labels and XM have been fighting it out over XM + MP3 players for a while now, but it looks like Universal Music Group is finally backing down, signing a multi-year settlement agreement covering recording-capable XM radios like Pioneer's Inno. Terms of the agreement weren't released, but everyone sounds happy, with XM CEO Nate Davis calling the settlement "a win for everyone involved, especially for consumers." Of course, that means XM is now in a suit with just most of the RIAA instead of all of it, but the outlook's not all bad: Reuters is reporting that Warner and XM are close to settlement as well. No word on when that might go down, but Reuters says it'll be "soon." Now if only the other labels would get it together, no?

Read - XM and Universal settlement press release
Read - Reuters blurb about XM and Warner settling

 

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Last week, we reported that Hector Ruiz -- CEO of chipmaker AMD -- had received a 7.4-percent raise even though the company has been struggling as of late and its stock has dropped considerably over the past year. Now, according to reports, the rumors of the pay increase have turned out to be the product of a misinterpreted SEC filing -- or so say the public relations people at Advanced Micro Devices. Apparently, the confusion stems from a pay raise that the honcho received in 2006; somehow the change in figures halfway through the year led to a proxy statement of $1,046,358 -- the supposed new salary. The "clarification" still leaves a few questions unanswered, but at least for now we can sleep soundly knowing that Hector Ruiz, the highest paid CEO in the semiconductor industry, will only be earning a paltry $1,124,000 this year.

 

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Passé though the example may be, putting technology to the ultimate usability benchmark, The Mom Test (can my mom use this without any help or training?), may mean you've got an especially discerning technology customer on your hands this holiday season. We won't try to pretend gadget shopping for mom is easy; in our experience, many moms simply don't want to load up on toys that run on electricity. (Imagine that!) But if she's of a certain generation and needs a gentle push into your gadget-filled world, check out some of these baby-tech-free suggestions. Of course, none of them are as obvious or easy as a box of fair-trade organic chocolates, a bouquet of flowers, and a call from her little sweetiepants (read: you).

Continue reading Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: for mom

 

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Trust us, we’ve seen tall speakers, but Anthony Gallo Acoustics‘ Nucleus Reference 5LS is downright towering. These floor standing loudspeakers measure in at 7-inches wide, 11-inches deep and a staggering 78-inches high, and each one manages to boast twelve aluminum, rear-firing 4-inch subwoofers, eight 4-inch carbon fiber midrange drivers and seven CDT II tweeters. Interestingly, the firm doesn’t get specific with regard to power handling and frequency response, but we are told that a high-powered amplifier isn’t required to fill a room with sound. No word on a price just yet, but look for these skyscrapers to get all up in your ceiling fan’s business real soon.

[Thanks, Micah]

 

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Digital Cameras

BenQ is back with another digital snapper ready for action during the holidays. At least we think so -- no price or availability were announced. Nevertheless, the DC-X835 is an 8 megapixel version of their DC-X735 slimster. As such, you're looking at a 3x smc Pentax optical zoom, 2.5-inch LCD, and a "unique" Super Shake Free mode. So unique they can't tell us whether it's optical, mechanical, digital, or what. VGA video in MPEG-4 at 30fps in a 12.5~14.7-mm thin take anywhere camera with SDHC storage closes things out.

[Via Lets Go Digital]

 

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!