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Monday, January 30, 2023
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Alan Cross' A Journal of Musical Things

Alan Cross' A Journal of Musical Things

Filtering what is happening in music to save you time, money and effort.

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Echo

Gadgets 

Amazon has a Billy Eilish-branded Echo smart speaker

September 23, 2021September 24, 2021 Alan Cross 0 Comments Amazon, Billy Eilish, Branded Merch, Echo, Smart Speaker

Interesting bit of merch, no? It comes with a six-month subscription to Amazon Music Unlimited. Alas, the unit–costing US$229.99–is already

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Music News 

Random music news for Thursday, November 15, 2018

November 15, 2018November 14, 2018 Alan Cross 0 Comments A Star is Born, Alexa, Amazon, Ariana Grande, Bataclan, BTS, California Wildfires, Dave Grohl, David Bowie, Drake, Echo, Facebook, Jack White, Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, Maroon 5, Matt Bellamy, Muse, Pusha-T, Super Bowl, Windows 10

I’m still at a health resort in Thailand. One of the new services offered is past life regression. I’m thinking

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Gadgets Music History 

A history of basic guitar effects

July 9, 2018July 8, 2018 Alan Cross 0 Comments Echo, Foot Pedals, Guitars, Revervb, Tremolo, Vibrato

If you’re a guitarist, chances are you have a row or two of pedals in front of you: fuzzes, wah-wahs,

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Tech 

Smart speakers and the way they’re changing how we listen to music: Google Home vs. Alexa

June 30, 2018June 29, 2018 Alan Cross 2 Comments Alexa, Amazon, Echo, Echo Dot, Smart Speakers

My house is littered with enough smart speakers for my home to become just shy of sentient. The whole place

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Gadgets 

Is your Alexa-powered smart speaker laughing at you? I mean ACTUALLY laughing?

March 7, 2018 Alan Cross 1 Comment Alexa, Amazon, Echo, Skynet

Some owners of Alexa-powered Amazon Echo smart speakers are reported being freaked out when their devices randomly start laughing. No

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Music News 

Random Music News for Thursday, February 15, 2018

February 15, 2018February 15, 2018 Alan Cross 0 Comments #MeToo, Amazon, Apple Watch, CDs, Compact Disc, Crickets, Echo, Gene Simmons, Hedley, KISS, Mike McCready, Nelly, Pearl Jam, Spotify

February is more than half over. Only about five more weeks until spring, too. Contemplate that as you skim through

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Gadgets 

Is this goofy Amazon Alexa Super Bowl commercial hinting at something to come?

February 1, 2018January 31, 2018 Alan Cross 0 Comments Alexa, Amazon, Echo, Super Bowl

Some of the big-budget Super Bowl commercials are starting to appear ahead of Sunday’s game, including this 60-second offering from

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Gadgets 

Ready or Not But Smart Speakers are The Next Big Thing

October 25, 2017October 24, 2017 Alan Cross 0 Comments Alexa, Amazon, Echo, Google Home, HomePod, Sonos

A new Google Home Mini arrived for the home office on Monday, a compliment to the full-sized Google Home that’s

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Music News 

Random Music News for Friday, September 28, 2017

September 29, 2017September 29, 2017 Alan Cross 0 Comments Alexa, Amazon, David Bowie, Doors, Echo, Streaming, Taylor Swift

Back in the UK for a couple of days for a Sparks concert (that was last night), a trip to

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Gadgets 

Can’t Find a Name for Your Band? Time to Turn to AI

March 16, 2017 Alan Cross 0 Comments AI, Alexa, Amazon, Band Names, Echo

If you’re in a band that can’t settle on a name, see if you can find someone in the US

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Music Industry 

Amazon Gets into the Streaming Music Business and is Charging Less. (Sorry, Canada. This Not for You)

October 12, 2016October 12, 2016 Alan Cross 0 Comments Amazon, Echo, Streaming Music

After months of hinting that something was coming, Amazon announced yesterday a new streaming music service with a monthly cost

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Each week, the podcast looks at something from the alt-rock universe, from artist profiles to various thematic explorations. Whatever the episode, you’re definitely going to learn something that you might not find anywhere else. Trust us on this.

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