Tonight, MySpace kicked off its new commercial free music service which doesn’t include any of that bullshit DRM business.  Using its ever popular Flash player, users can purchase songs or add them to a playlist. It’s now possible to create a streaming playlist of as many as 100 songs each that can be shared and ranked.  MySpace music will also offer on-demand, ad-subsidized playback of full tracks in addition to allowing users to purchase unprotected MP3s of songs through Amazon.

Could MySpace music be another competitor for iTunes? It’s certainly looking that way. Just wait until Facebook joins with iTunes commercially. The “Great Social Networking” war is upon us.

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The rumor that Amazon will be launching a music and movie store for Android-based cellphones has been confirmed by Vince. Like Vince mentions, this will make Amazon a direct competitor to Apple’s iTunes Music Store. The Apple advertisement team is probably hard at work making up some nice bashes they can throw in Amazon’s direction.  I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how this one plays out.

Oh snap! Today will mostly consist of news about Google’s Android platform and the T-Mobile G1 smartphone. The latest rumor to hit our inbox involves the almighty Amazon.com and content distribution. Apparently, Amazon could be releasing a music and movie store just for Android-based cellphones. That would instantly make Amazon a direct competitor to Apple’s iTunes Music Store and we’re not talking sibling rivalry here. Right now it’s too early to tell if there’s truth to this but hopefully, come the end of the day, we’ll really know what’s up.

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Finally, Amazon has made a move that will no doubt shake up the world of online video. One of it’s hottest properties, IMDb.com, will now be offering over 6,000 full-length films and TV episodes for - wait for it - free. Yes, free. Amazon is actively promoting this and is encouraging other directors and filmmakers to get involved. The flicks will be available for streaming from any computer, save Michael Arrington’s Fantasy Tablet. Still, with only ~6000 movies and shows available, how could could the lineup be?
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Music can be really costly these days, especially if you’re the one guy caught leaking the Guns N’ Roses album on to the net.  Even music stores mark up prices on both uses and new CDs at an outrageous rate. It almost seems like everyone is out to get anyone who loves listening to music.

Well, Amazon wants you to know that it’s not out to get you with overpriced music from classic artists.  I mean afterall, you’ve probably heard most of the songs on a CD you’re willing to buy, anyway. Amazon wants to hook up all those in the KISS Army by letting the Greatest Kiss album go for just $1.99. That’s like 12 cents a song! This album has all the hits, too! Deuce, Strutter, Detroit Rock City and more! It seems like all it’s really missing is Love Gun. This deal will be going on the whole weekend through Monday. If you’re a KISS fan that doesn’t already have this album, don’t miss out.

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Microsoft claims that come September 9th, you can kiss laser goodbye. Everyone was quite confused as to what Microsoft meant, that is until this picture of the mystery product that would put laser in its place showed up on Amazon’s Germany site.

It’s called the Blue Track and it allegedly uses a blue LED teamed up with a wide-angle lens for better tracking on more surfaces than laser and optical are capable of. Hey, I’m all for improved tracking and getting rid of mouse pads, but why blue?. With the wireless adapter and small size, could this be a more ideal mouse for the traveling laptop user than Microsoft’s Arc? With better tracking, definitely, but the price has yet to come into play.

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I think my mom is into The Replacements but no matter. When an album costs 49 cents, you and every bum in Manhattan can afford a copy. No excuses. Paul Westerberg, frontman for the band, decided to release his latest album this way. He originally wanted to do it for 44 cents but Amazon wouldn’t let him (they’re the only retailer carrying it currently). The music on the CD has been described as “freewheeling, choppy, (and) chaotic.”

If you’re really cheap and still can’t afford the 49 cents (you bastard) or you’re not into Paul Westerberg, you can always listen to WHYY free of charge!

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• Amazon launches first Black Friday sale [Electronista] - Prices can get even lower?!
• Wireless Blow Dryer / Spy Camera [Gizmodo] - The next version of Taxi Cab Confessions
• Official Rock Band Bag [CoolestGadgets] - For taking your gigs on the road.
• Road Cone Lighting [GeekAlerts] - God spite you if you run over one of these.

As I was browsing around Amazon, I came across an interesting entry when I searched for World of Warcraft. The page in question is a pre-order page for the WoW expansion Wrath Of The Lich King. Amazon says the shipping date is November 30th, 2008, with the game retailing for $39.99 on the online superstore.

Now, we know Amazon sometimes leaves this up to speculation, putting a guess-timation date when no such date is confirmed, yet after I placed my order, the order status maintains that it will arrive between December 4th and 8th, confirming a November 30th release. Last we heard from Blizzard was their interview about the new Death Knight class, with the exception of a few screeshots. — Andrew Dobrow

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The Victorinox SwissBeat 1GB MP3 Player is probably the only MP3 player you can kill a man with. Or cut a rope. Or skin a rabbit. Or any other cutting need a good boyscout might need in the wild. SwissBeat combines the popular Swiss Army Knife multi-tool with some technological spin of portable audio goodness. So now you can work on your slip knot while listening to Slipknot.

Aside from holding 1GB of media, SwissBeat comes with a knife blade, a combination nail file and screw driver, a scissors, a retractable ballpoint pen, a LED mini light, and a key ring. Any music lover in the wilderness shouldn’t leave home without it. Check it out for $99. — Andrew Dobrow

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