Friday, January 11, 2008
The Dension ice>Link Plus brings complete integration of the Apple iPod with your factory fitted BMW radio. Simply connect the ice>Link Plus to the CD changer socket of your radio and start enjoying crisp, clean digital music. Imagine having access to over 10,000 MP3s at the touch of a button!
The operation is simple: ice>Link Plus translates CD changer messages to iPod controls and switches the iPod automatically on and off as you select/deselect the CD changer source. The iPod is controlled from the head unit's CD changer keys and steering wheel controls (where available) and your iPod is charged while connected.
Forget the need for poor quality cassette adapters, illegal FM Transmitters and trailing cigarette lighter cables. The Dension ice>Link Plus is available for a huge range of OEM Factory Fitted and Aftermarket radios.
Select from Dension's range of iPod applications such as Active Cradle or Dock Cable for a perfect integration. All applications support both Dension user interface mode and original iPod user interface mode and now ice>Link Plus now features video output for great integration with rear seat entertainment systems.
Simple interface...
The ice>Link Menu is the main feature of the ice>Link user interface allowing you to easily navigate through the different play modes such as scan, repeat and shuffle. The menu also lets you enter the playlist browser, where you can access all of your iPod's playlists enhancing your listening experience. The ice>Link Plus gives your iPod two modes of operation.
1. iPod Direct Access Mode - The iPod will play/pause when you enter/exit CD changer mode on your radio. In addition, the iPod responds to FF/RW from your head unit keys and steering wheel controls (where available)
2. iPod Playlist Mode - Your iPod maps the first five playlists stored on the iPod to CDs 1-5 on your head unit keys. Although the iPod keypad is disabled in this mode, the iPod display (and CD Text/dashboard displays in some applications) will show ID3 data of the currently playing song. Advanced content features including Random, Repeat, Scan and AlbumPlay are also available, even on radios that don't have these features. Pressing CD6 accesses the ice>Link Plus menu that lets you browse all of the playlists on your iPod using your head unit FF/RW keys. The menu also provides configuration options for advanced features of the ice>Link Plus.
(N.B. the original 1G/2G iPods that don't have the bottom-mounted dock connector do not support Ice Link Plus playlist mode or the menu)
Features
• Converts iPod to a virtual CD changer
• Song information displayed on the iPod screen (3G and up)
• Play Time, Artist and Title information presented on Radio Display (if radio supports)
• Adjustable output +/-4 V
Directly controls iPod
• Start/stop at selection/deselection of CD Changer source
• Next/Back, FF/REW, Random/Repeat/Scan (if radio supports)
• Direct access to the first 5 playlists by selecting Discs
Menu for advanced features and setting, like:
• Playlist browser
• AlbumPlay
• Languages
• iPod battery charging mode
Control your iPod...
Use your radio or iPod to navigate through playlists, albums and songs and access the simple to use iPod interface. The ice>Link interprets the radio controls from your vehicle to the iPod to emulate a fully loaded CD changer, but with more advanced features.
Text Display...
Read the Song Title and Artist information right from your radio. This is also displayed on your iPod if your radio doesn't support text display, giving you all the info you need while on the road.
Future Proof...
ice>Link Plus features upgradeable firmware. As future features are released by Dension, you can download the necessary files to your iPod seamlessly updating your ice>Link Plus, ensuring you always has the latest version. Also if you change your vehicle you can update the software to be compatible with your new vehicle (a replacement vehicle harness may be required in some applications).
Mounting the Active Cradle:
The Active Cradle mounts using the supplied screws, however it is recommended that an (optional) Damage-Free Mounting bracket is used ensuring an integrated, discreet and professional install.
Each Damage-Free Mounting Bracket is made for your particular car make and model ensuring a perfect fit. They install in minutes without any drilling and protect your dash from superficial damage. Detailed installation instructions are provided with each bracket.
Author's Info: Ben is a successful technical consultant on design of iPod systems and writes regularly for http://ipodcarkitdirect.co.uk
Article Summary: The Dension ice>Link Plus brings complete integration of the Apple iPod with your factory fitted BMW radio.
The Disk Jockey trend
Disk Jockey isn't a common term, or at least it wasn't because a couple of years ago no one really knew what a Disk Jockey is and what he or she does. Nowadays everyone knows what a Disk Jockey is and a lot of people think they can have a job like this just because they know how to change the song whenever they don't like it. Becoming a Disk Jockey is hard work, but being a good and respected Disk Jockey is even harder.
One of the factors success is based upon depends on what type of music you like and want to play. Some DJs like house music so they make and play only house music. Others like matching different songs and different types of music to create a melody. There is also the hip-hop type Disk Jockey you might have heard of. To be a complete and skilled NJ DJ you need to be an all around Disk Jockey. Even if you like only house or hip-hop you should be able to play all kinds of music and this doesn't mean that you put a record on and let it play by itself. You should manage to create good house, hip-hop and basically all types of music because in the end a Disk Jockey is a musician. That's supposed to be his job and passion, so he or she should be very good at what they're doing.
Doesn't matter what kind of Disk Jockey you want to be or what type of music you like. You should know that it isn't easy to learn the works. It takes a lot of money and time to become a NJ DJ. After you learn the basic sounds and you learn how to combine them and how to listen to them, then you can create your own style and head for the type of music you like. There are some differences between the types of DJs. For example, a NJ DJ that is into hip-hop doesn't have to be great at mixing different patterns and matching the tempos, but he should be great at scratches. Also he should know how to change the pitch very quickly and he should know how to work the crossfader. On the other hand an NJ DJ that makes house music is not required to know how to scratch or work the crossfader. On a house song you should hear a lot of base.
Today there probably isn't a hip-hop group out there that doesn't have a Disk Jockey. A NJ DJ is an important part of a group just like a good guitarist is an important part of a rock band. A NJ DJ works with an instrument so, to be able to play on stage, he has to be a virtuoso. Nowadays more and more rock bands hire a Disk Jockey. Probably it's because of the fusion between hip-hop and rock. This is how new types of music appeared in the last couple of years, like: rapcore and rapmetal. Besides the classic guitar solo, you can often find Disk Jockey solos. This solo, though it may be hard to imagine what it sounds like, is very much like the guitar solo in technique. The same way a guitarist plays his guitar without anyone talking or singing while he does that, the same way a NJ DJ works the turntables, crossfader and the pitch control.
A lot of people think DJs shouldn't be considered musicians. They think that being a Disk Jockey is not an occupation. Sometimes they even comment that the sound a NJ DJ makes is not music, but only horrible noise. Usually the people that say this are conservative, people with really nearsighted that don't approve of anything outside their judgment. Those are the people that don't understand the music made by a NJ DJ or, better said, they are the people that don't feel the Disk Jockey music. They don't see the work behind being a NJ DJ, "the blood, sweat and tears" and, of course, they don't the beauty of the final product.
If you want to become a Disk Jockey, you can't be judgmental about the kind of DJs there are out there. You can't say that being a house Disk Jockey is easier than being a hip-hop Disk Jockey, or the other way around. It's up to you to say how difficult the job is and if it is worth the effort. Art is always rewarding and music is art. So, if you have a dream to be a Disk Jockey, you should follow your dream, but you should be prepared for a lot of hard work. Even after you break your back into it, no one guarantees you will make it, but you shouldn't stop pursuing your dream. So what all of you new people in this game need to remember is: work hard, practice and think positive. Despite what everyone says, being a Disk Jockey is fun and rewarding, both financially and spiritually.
Finding a wonderful job or a person that loves his work is very difficult, but almost every Disk Jockey can say that it is a choice without regrets. People who work as an NJ DJ love life and want other people to feel the same way they do.
Rhythm & Blues: New Mainstream Popularity
Rythm & Blues is obviously ruling the musical scene again, after it had experienced several peaks of its popularity in the past, however, unfortunately, not everyone is aware of this.R&B was initially used to identify upbeat popular music, performed by African-American artists, which later on developed into rock and roll and posed as predecessor of rockabilly style. It comprises elements of jazz, gospel music and blues as well as hip-hop and beat since 1986. It claims to replace the term race music, which was deemed offensive. It's considered to be introduced by Jerry Wexler in 1846 in the United States. Hard bop appears to be product of the influence of R&B. 1950s are considered as the genuine classical epoch of the R&B trend. Its regional subgenres Louisiana and New Orleans, comprising mixes of R&B, jazz and rock-n-roll, achieved great mainstream success in early 1960s with artists like the Rolling Stones and the Manfred Mann in entire Europe. It was, however, replaced in middle 1960s by soul.In 1980s R&B re-established its popularity, ruling the musical world alongside disco and even long further after disco's demise. It's not until 1980s that the acronym R&B was introduced and used to denote the Rhythm & Blues term. Notably, it has caught on, containing elements of soul and pop music. Original arrangements and strong vocal, however, bared it from turning into a regular pop culture's product.Irrespective a large number of its subgenres, Presently, R&B continues to be popular worldwide with artists like Black Eyed Peas, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Ciara, Omarion and Bow Wow, leading world music charts. Tracing the periodical ups, one can notice its numerous rises with the break of 25 to 30 years. Thus, R&B's another golden age in 2030 shouldn't even be brought into question. Hopefully, this period will bring us some new music twinkling stars.
Article source: Rhythm & Blues: New Mainstream Popularity
