Playbutton launches wearable music albums

<P align=center><img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/images/Playbutton%20-200-200.jpg"></P> <br /><P>Those that still like to buy their tunes on 'physical' media such as CDs or even good old vinyl will be intrigued to find out more about an innovative new music delivery format called the 'Playbutton' badge.</P><br /><P>Whether or not this intriguing new promotional tool will take off amongst music fans, many of whom now download their tunes (legally and illegally) from the internet, remains to be seen.</P><br /><P>The Playbutton is essentially an album in a badge, featuring promo artwork from the band or musicians featured.</P><br /><P><STRONG>Wear your music<BR></STRONG></P><br /><P>The idea being that you simply plug your headphones or earphones into your new 'badge LP' and you can listen in straight away, with no need for an external MP3 player or hi-fi equipment.</P><br /><P>"It's a small object, perfect and immediate, that you can hold in your hand," Nick Dangerfield, founder of Playbutton, told BBC News.</P><br /><P>Dangerfield was aware that music buyers were becoming "tired with CDs" yet also that many still craved some kind of physical media and didn't like downloading.</P><br /><P>"I thought about giving a new use to digital files by putting them in a dedicated player. It's an iconic form that gives you the chance to show your affiliation," says the Playbutton founder.</P><br /><P>"It shows that you've purchased the music, so it shows your support for the band."</P><br /><P>An official launch is planned for February 2011, with eight initial badge LPs at lift-off, including cuts from German glitch-techno group Oval and "indietronica" band Javelin, who are signed to David Byrne's Luaka Bop label.</P><br /><P>The Playbutton contains a cheap 256MB memory card and the company's founder expects them to retail at around the £10 mark (with artists selecting what they want to charge for their own badges).</P><br /><P>Intrigued? You can see more on <a href="http://www.playbutton.co/">Playbutton over at their website</A>. </P>

Playbutton launches wearable music albums

Those that still like to buy their tunes on 'physical' media such as CDs or even good old vinyl will be intrigued to find out more ...

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Spotify lists most-streamed tracks and albums of 2010

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/computing/internet-and-broadband/images/spotify_pic-200-200.jpg" /> <br /> <iframe align="right" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=latesttecompu-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=6132317937&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>Spotify has compiled playlists of the most listened to tracks and albums during 2010 – and you can listen to them now. <br /> There are separate lists for the United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Spain, Netherlands and France – click the links to view the relevant lists. However, if you don't like Lady Gaga, you might be advised not to bother. You can also step back in time to check out what was topping the most-listened charts last year. <br /> The company has also compiled lists of the most streamed tracks from last Christmas and the last few days of 2009. <br /> 2010 has certainly been an interesting year for Spotify. The desktop app has been completely revamped with playlists and social additions, while the service has also rolled out to more mobile platforms and Sonos boxes, too. <br /> Spotify CEO Daniel Ek used his SXSWi talk in March to make it clear that the service was making money, but the predicted US launch still hasn't happened, while $9.99-a-month streaming service Rdio, has already launched there. <br /> <b></b><br /> <b>Spotify's most-streamed tracks in the UK:</b><br /> 1. Lady Gaga – <i>Telephone</i><br /> 2. Bob – <i>Airplanes </i>[feat. Hayley Williams of Paramore] - Explicit Album Version<br /> 3. Lady Gaga – <i>Bad Romance</i><br /> 4. Mumford & Sons – <i>The Cave</i><br /> 5. Rihanna – <i>Rude Boy</i><br /> <b>Spotify's most-streamed albums in the UK:</b><br /> 1. <i>The Fame Monster</i> by Lady Gaga<br /> 2. <i>Lungs </i>by Florence + The Machine<br /> 3. <i>Sigh No More</i> by Mumford & Sons<br /> 4. <i>xx </i>by The xx<br /> 5. <i>Rated R</i> by Rihanna

Spotify lists most-streamed tracks and albums of 2010

Spotify has compiled playlists of the most listened to tracks and albums during 2010 – and you can listen to them now. There are separate...

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