‘BITSANITY’ — Records broken with $70B in volume for Bitcoin stocks, ETFsMicroStrategy saw more trading volumes than the US spot Bitcoin ETFs combined as its shares tanked over 25% on Nov. 21.

Apple is reportedly building a more conversational Siri powered by LLMsApple is developing a new version of its voice assistant, Siri, powered by advanced large language models (LLMs), according to sources cited by Bloomberg. This more conversational Siri is part of Apple’s attempt to catch up in AI, where competitors have released impressive features, like Google’s Gemini Live, that are far more natural to talk […]
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Custom Mouse Rocks Neat Thumbstick DesignA mouse is just two buttons, and a two-dimensional motion tracking system, right? Oh, and a scroll wheel. And a third button. And…now you’re realizing that mice can be pretty complicated. [DIY Yarik] proves that in spades with his impressive—and complex—mouse build. The only thing is, you might argue it isn’t really a mouse.
The inspiration for the mouse was simple. [Yarik] wanted something that was comfortable to use. He also wanted a mouse that wouldn’t break so often—apparently, he’s had a lot of reliability issues with mice in recent years. Thus, he went with a custom 3D-printed design with a wrist rest at the base. This allows his hand to naturally rest in a position where he can access multiple buttons and a central thumbstick for pointing. In fact, there’s a secondary scroll control and a rotary dial as well. It’s a pretty juicy control surface.
The use of a thumbstick is controversial—some might exclaim “this is not a mouse!” To them, I say, “Fine, call it a pointing device.” It’s still cool, and it look like a comfortable way to interface with a computer.
We’ve seen some other neat custom mice over the years, too, like this hilarious force-feedback mouse. Video after the break.
 

Believe unveils new leadership structure in MENA regionLiliana Abudalo appointed Head of Label & Artist Solutions, MENA and Celine Hitti named Head of Artist Services, MENA
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Warner’s ADA appoints Rasti Sryantoro to head up Indonesia, Arisa Maruekatat to lead Thailand, inks deals with DPM, GMM Music“Expanding our operations in Indonesia and Thailand is a crucial step in our strategy to empower artists and elevate their music on the world stage"
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FREE-WILi Turns DC32 Badge Into Hardware Dev ToolWith few exceptions, electronic event badges are often all but forgotten as soon as the attendee gets back home. They’re a fun novelty for the two or three days they’re expected to be worn, but after that, they end up getting tossed in a drawer (or worse.) As you might imagine, this can be a somewhat depressing thought thought for the folks who design and build these badges.
But thanks to a new firmware released by the FREE-WILi project, at least one badge is going to get a shot at having a second life. When loaded onto the RP2350-powered DEF CON 32 badge, the device is turned into a handy hardware hacking multi-tool. By navigating through a graphical interface, users will be able to control the badge’s GPIO pins, communicate over I2C, receive and transmit via infrared, and more. We’re particularly interested in the project’s claims that the combination of their firmware and the DC32 badge create an ideal platform for testing and debugging Simple Add-Ons (SAOs).

Don’t know what the FREE-WILi project is? Neither did we until today, which is actually kind of surprising now that we’re getting a good look at it. Basically, it’s a handheld gadget with a dozen programmable GPIO pins and a pair of CC1101 sub-GHz radios that’s designed to talk to…whatever you could possibly want to interface with.
It’s a bit like an even more capable Bus Pirate 5, which considering how many tricks that particular device can pull off, is saying something. As an added bonus, apparently you can even wear the FREE-WILi on your wrist for mobile hardware hacking action!
Anyway, while the hardware in the FREE-WILi is clearly more capable than what’s under the hood of the DC32 badge, there’s enough commonality between them that the developers were able to port a few of the key features over. It’s a clever idea — there’s something like 30,000 of these badges out there in the hands of nerds all over the world, and by installing this firmware, they’ll get a taste of what the project is capable of and potentially spring for the full kit.
If you give your DC32 badge the FREE-WILi treatment, be sure to let us know in the comments.

Black Friday deals from Soundtoys Soundtoys have announced the launch of their annual Black Friday Sale, with significant discounts now being applied across their entire range of plug-ins until 5 December 2024.

OFFstep Is a Tech-Savvy, User-Friendly Hub for Music DistributionThe following was developed in collaboration with OFFstep, a company Ari’s Take is proud to be partnering with. OFFstep is the simplest, easiest-to-use, and most affordable music distribution platform for independent artists. As a sister company to ONErpm, OFFstep uses the same advanced technology to deliver a seamless experience. OFFstep provides a full range of […]

Bandsintown’s Fabrice Sergent joins NIVA Advisory BoardBandsintown's Fabrice Sergent joins the NIVA Advisory Board expanding on the collaboration that launched the innovative Live Independent certification and marketing initiative earlier this year.
The post Bandsintown’s Fabrice Sergent joins NIVA Advisory Board appeared first on Hypebot.

Music Streaming Fraud Guide For ArtistsMusic streaming fraud is a growing issue that can derail a career. Learn how to recognize, prevent, and protect from fraudulent practices with this music streaming fraud guide for artists.. Continue reading
The post Music Streaming Fraud Guide For Artists appeared first on Hypebot.

2024 Music Trends: Deezer shares data ahead of Spotify WrappedDeezer unveils 2024 music trends, top artists, songs and albums of the year with the release of My Deezer Year. Explore the data shaping the future of music.
The post 2024 Music Trends: Deezer shares data ahead of Spotify Wrapped appeared first on Hypebot.

Flame Sound releases FREE Cinematic Risers Sample Pack (Royalty-Free)
Flame Sound released Cinematic Risers, a free collection of riser sound effects from the premium Blaze SFX ($29) sound library. The library contains 10 royalty-free cinematic risers in 24-bit WAV format. You can use the included content on YouTube without copyright issues. The included sounds cover different types of risers, from simple short bursts to [...]
View post: Flame Sound releases FREE Cinematic Risers Sample Pack (Royalty-Free)

Reloop to launch Stand Hub Pro Aimed at producers, DJs and other creative professionals, Reloop's latest combined stand and hub introduces a larger integrated hub and a rotating base design that allows for flexible positioning. 

Doechii: “I don’t want hip-hop or art to get distracted and lost in trying to make music for a computer”In an era where music creation is increasingly influenced by algorithms, artists must take care not to get “lost” in “trying to make music for a computer,” warns rapper Doechii.
The musician, who recently released her first full-length project – a mixtape titled Alligator Bites Never Heal, tells The Forty Five that while she considers TikTok an “incredible tool” for music discovery, we shouldn’t let it dictate the creative process.

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“I love TikTok, and I also grew up on the internet, so I’m not against anything blowing up on the internet or marketing your music on TikTok and stuff like that,” says Doechii, who rose to fame on the platform after her song Yucky Blucky Fruitcake went viral in 2021.
“TikTok is an incredible tool. But I don’t want hip-hop or art to get distracted and lost in trying to make music for a computer,” she explains. “It’s people who are using the computer to consume the music and I think we’re getting confused.”
As Doechii puts it, it isn’t the “hits” themselves she’s opposed to, but rather the “popularised formula of hits” that she’s pushing back against.
“I’m not against hits. Everybody wants hits, and I’m proud of my hits, and I know I have more to come, but it’s more so about breaking out of this formula of what a hit should be and how hits have to sound like this,” she says.
“That’s the part that I’m challenging in music right now.”
The rapper also emphasises the importance of prioritising authenticity over algorithm-driven content creation, as artists navigate an industry increasingly dominated by data and trends.
“If it feels too much like a TikTok song, nobody thinks that’s cool,” says Doechii, who’s keenly aware of the risk of losing sight of artistry in favour of algorithmic approval. “Me and a bunch of other artists are navigating that because the business is like, ‘This is what’s going to be the future and you should do this because it’s what the algorithm wants’.”
“It’s been an interesting thing to try and navigate. But what’s happening now is I’m continuing to stay true to myself. I’m proving that what I do works, and I’m just going to keep being myself over and over again.”
The post Doechii: “I don’t want hip-hop or art to get distracted and lost in trying to make music for a computer” appeared first on MusicTech.

Shazam has identified 100 billion songs since its launch in 2002Since launching in 2002, music discovery app Shazam has identified 100 billion songs, according to a new report. To put this gargantuan number into perspective, that’s 12 songs for every person on Earth. Or if an individual were to identify a song per second, it would take them 3,168 years to reach 100 billion.
“This monumental milestone not only reflects how much people enjoy using Shazam, but also their appetite for new music,” says Oliver Schusser, Vice President of Apple Music and Beats, in a press release. “Music discovery is at the core of everything we do, and we keep innovating to make sure music lovers around the world can tap the Shazam button no matter where they hear music playing!”

READ MORE: The best Black Friday music technology deals 2024: the biggest savings on synths, DJ controllers and plugins right now

The first iteration of Shazam was a text message service for the UK only. Users could dial “2580” and hold up their phone to a speaker so the music could reach the receiver. Then the service delivered the song and artist info via text message.
The current Shazam format launched in 2008 with the advent of the App Store. By 2011, the company’s new iOS app already recognised over 1 billion songs. Apple purchased Shazam in 2018.
Since solidifying this partnership, Apple Music has used the software as a means to share DJ mixes from events for streaming. By using its song identification technology, Apple Music can distribute royalties to rights holders for each song DJs played in their mixes, similar to if the song was streamed individually.
Further innovations that have come from Shazam and Apple’s partnership include integrating the function into the Action Button on newer iPhone and Apple Watch models. This allows song recognition with the touch of a button no matter what other apps may be running on the device.
The post Shazam has identified 100 billion songs since its launch in 2002 appeared first on MusicTech.