Apparently Depeche Mode is still making music, and Dave Gahan is still alive. And while the Mode isn't necessarily floating my boat, I like this model for individual artist subscriptions. Here it's mostly a promo for DM's new album, Sounds of the Universe—along with the album when it's released, you'll get a trickle of singles, remixes and videos before and after the record comes out (there is no complete list of everything you'll receive)—all in iTunes Plus DRM-free format.

I would probably do this for an artist that I was truly interestested in. Ahem, Mr. Mayer, please stop sitting next to Jennifer Aniston at the Oscars and start printing iTunes Passes. [iTunes Store]

EMI MUSIC DEBUTS FIRST iTUNES PASS WITH DEPECHE MODE

U.S. FANS TO HAVE ACCESS TO NEW AND EXCLUSIVE SINGLES, REMIXES, VIDEO AND OTHER CONTENT OVER COMING WEEKS

INCLUDES DEPECHE MODE'S UPCOMING 12TH STUDIO ALBUM, "SOUNDS OF THE UNIVERSE," PLUS ADDITIONAL EXCLUSIVE CONTENT RELEASED ON iTUNES

NEW YORK – February 24, 2009 – EMI Music today announced the debut of the first iTunes Pass with groundbreaking electro legends Depeche Mode. With iTunes Pass, music fans can get new and exclusive singles, remixes, video and other content from their favorite artists over a set period of time, delivered to their libraries as soon as they're available.

The first iTunes Pass debuts today in conjunction with Depeche Mode's forthcoming 12th studio album, "Sounds of the Universe," to be released on April 21 in the US. Fans who sign up starting today get the alternative/dance pioneers' new single, "Wrong," as well as the Black Light Odyssey Dub Remix of the new track "Oh Well." They will also receive the new album on its street date plus great music and video exclusives before and after the album's release over the next fifteen weeks. The Depeche Mode iTunes Pass can be purchased starting today for $18.99.

"As we work to better understand music consumers and help create stronger connections between fans and artists, we are pleased to work with Apple and Depeche Mode to kick off iTunes Pass," said Ronn Werre, president, Music Services for EMI Music. "We think it's a great new platform that will change the way artists engage with their audiences and also a powerful new way for us to build value for our artists' music. And with iTunes Pass, Depeche Mode are once again demonstrating that they are true trailblazers and innovators when it comes to creating amazing music and connecting with their fans."

"iTunes Pass is a great way for artists to give exclusive music and video, on their own schedule, directly to their fans." said Eddy Cue, Apple's vice president of Internet Services. "iTunes customers are going to love getting additional content directly from their favorite artists right when they make it available."

"The relationship between Depeche Mode and their fans has always been our top priority," said the band's manager, Jonathan Kessler. "We are thrilled to be the first to participate with Apple in giving fans the kind of deep musical experience they expect from Depeche Mode."

Today also marks the launch of the worldwide iTunes album pre-order for "Sounds of the Universe."

As one of the most influential bands of the post-punk era with global sales in excess of 100 million, Depeche Mode belongs to a select premier league of supergroups who have survived from the early 1980s with their ideals, creative vision and core members intact. Formed in 1981, Depeche Mode - Martin Gore, Dave Gahan and Andy 'Fletch' Fletcher - continue to win critical and commercial acclaim across the world both in the studio and on the road. All of the band's 11 studio albums have reached the Top Ten in not only the UK and USA but 20 plus countries around the world including Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, and Belgium. Since their inception, Depeche Mode's live shows continue to be a must-see attraction, with the group playing to 2.8 million people across 31 countries on their last tour alone.

They're also announcing the addition of Universal Music Group and Sony BMG to the MP3 DRM-less format (DRM-less as long as you buy the music), the last bits to complete their "majors" MP3 collection. We think the deal is hotness as long as you're OK with the fact that you're renting, not buying; well, you're now "buying" those ten tracks a month, in essence. [Zune]

Me being an all-you-can-eat hater (not of the buffets, of course) does come from the somewhat hypocritical position of someone who, ahem, occasionally pirates music. And I don't think I'm alone here; once we all discovered you can find an instant high-speed download link to just about any album after less than five minutes of Googling with almost no exceptions, it's hard not to succumb. With a music subscription you can at least pretend like you're supporting the artists you love, but in the end, your $20 a month is far less potent than buying the records you love on vinyl or a T-shirt straight from the band, or going to a show and bringing all your friends.

Also, I use iPods. There isn't an elegant all-you-can-eat solution there yet, but an unlimited iTunes subscription would change the scenario. And if it was for life, like some of the rumors have mentioned, well, we've got a tough decision on our hands.

So today's question is an epic three-parter (this has been on my mind for a while). First:

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For those in the "hell no" category:

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And finally:

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HOUSTON —(Business Wire)— Aug. 8, 2008 System of Proof, Inc. (systemofproof.com) has delivered the ultimate in recording any conversation that so many people wished they had recorded, i.e., sexual harassment, police profiling, business deals gone wrong, class room lectures and many more. The System of Proof technology simply turns your cell or land phone into a microphone. There is NO software installation requirement and NO other equipment, "Just the Phone You Have!"

How It Works:

This technology can be used with any cell phone, land line, VOIP at home or at your office. It's as simple as dialing a phone number. The user dials a number that is assigned to them upon subscribing to the service (they can use speed-dial or voice activation) that automatically activates recording. The recording gets stored on a mainframe computer at the company. When the recording is completed, a voice email is automatically generated to the user's email address that user assigned when subscribing. This email file can be archived to the subscriber's hard drive, to a CD, iPod, mp3 or any other data storing device to be retrieved at a later date. There is no log-in process to retrieve your recording—it comes directly to you! No time limit to your recording!

Uses for the System of Proof Technology:

— Deter profiling of an individual whether it be race, sex or religion

— Provide proof in the case of harassment, civil rights abuses on the job or in other public settings

— Capture evidence of spousal abuse whether it be physical, verbal or mental that can now be admissible to law enforcement

— Record your lectures to make sure you don't miss pertinent exam notes

— Provide a recording device in board and business meetings to avoid miscommunications

— Do 3-way calling recording of threatening bill collectors or other disgruntled callers

— Record your spouse or your significant other

Plans & Cost of Service:

Silver Plan: 1,000 minutes for $4.95 per month*

Gold Plan: 1,500 minutes for $6.95 per month*

Platinum: Unlimited recording for $9.95 per month.

*here is a $0.15 per minute surcharge for additional minutes.

Both Napster and Virgin used the PlaysForSure, a spec Microsoft may or may not continue to support in the future, thanks to its own competing Zune DRM. If we had to choose a service now, we'd probably go for Apple's iTunes, Rhapsody (with Sansa), or Microsoft's Zune, but only the latter two have subscription plans. – Jason Chen

Free Offer [Napster]

Virgin Shutters U.S. Music Subscription Service [Wired]

Incidentally, we figured out it was because there's something wrong with my eyes or brain—we forget which—that caused me not to see 3D in the monitor. – Jason Chen

Update: The deal runs until Jan. 8, even though the page says Jan. 2. They'll fix that soon.

Update Deux: Looks like the offer's ending early due to some technical difficulties. Darn.

3D Monitor Review [Gizmodo]

This change goes along with the launch of their new LG Chocolate phone, which has a microSD expansion slot for memory. To get the maximum amount of money per subscriber, or to use industry terms, "bilk", Verizon's new plan charges twice the amount of an iTunes song for the convenience of downloading music on the go. To fill up a 1GB microSD card with songs on the go with this plan (at 4MB each) would cost you nearly $500. – Jason Chen

Press Release [Verizon via Mobile Burn]

I personally signed up and got all three magazines—April, May and June—at the same time. How generous of you guys to save me two trips down to the mailbox!

The free sub is courtesy of VGXPO consumer video game convention. There's no obligation to sign up, but they'd probably be happy if you did. – Jason Chen

EGM Subscription [Thanks to Ziff Davis Game Group and VGXPO]

Microsoft's concentrating on features the iPod doesn't have, instead of trying to beat Apple at their own game. The tipmeister reiterates that ad-hoc networking feature will be there, as well as a possible buffered internet radio streaming feature. If you're within range of a WiFi signal and you're listening to a station, the device will snatch as much of the feed as it can so when you wander out of WiFi signal, it'll keep playing the stream as if you were in range. This might not make its way into the final product, so don't get your hopes up too high.

More on games, Xbox integration, and possible other devices after the jump.

Image courtesy our hombres at Engadget

The Zune is going to have some gaming, but it's not going to be nearly as powerful as an "Xbox portable" would be. Crecente over at Kotaku ponders the idea of having a device that can actually play all the Xbox Live Arcade games in full detail, and not some dumbed down version. This may be possible in the Xbox portable, but not in the Zune.

There probably is going to be Xbox 360 integration though, as your "music subscription authorization" is held on the device itself. This means if you take your Zune to your friend's place, plug it into his 360, the console will automatically have access to your Zune music. The iPod does this already, but not with iTunes downloaded music.

There's also going to be a next generation PlaysForSure starting with this player, with a better name than "PlaysForSure 2". Oh, and that rumor about being able to import all your iTunes tracks automatically? That's probably not true. The tipster speculates that you may be able to convert your iTunes songs into DRM WMA files, but that opens up a whole new can of worms with Apple and the record labels. We'll wait and see on that one.

Lastly, there's going to be an iPod Nano competitor called, tentatively and possibly, the Pixas. The tipster's only around 20% sure about the name, but 100% sure of the player's existence. Oh, and it will support video.

As always, we'll post more stuff as it comes in. Thanks to all our tipsters! – Jason Chen

True, there's an essential lack of Crecente and Ashcraft, but you gotta doo what you gotta doo.

Offer lasts through Friday. Registration with the Cyber Games is not required.

EGM Subscription [Thanks to Ziff Davis Game Group and World Cyber Games]

Amazon is already in a good position to develop a music service because it already has 55 million customer accounts, and these users are already set to seamlessly buy music with a single click. The company has been preparing for this new service, hiring 3,000 people to work on digital content initiatives over the past year.

Another likely aspect of the Amazon service would be a subscription business model, where its digital music player would be offered for free or at a low price. Amazon would also use the information about what its customers have previously purchased to preload these players with music. Pricing is expected to be competitive with other subscription services—around $15 a month.

Amazon Plans Music Service To Rival iPod [The Wall Street Journal via Tech Dirt]