It looks like some of the rumors regarding iTunes that came out close to the event on Wednesday were true.  Apple has turned it’s attention to social networking, and has built it right into iTunes, making it almost impossible for many to avoid.

The new social network is called Ping, and it seeks to draw you together with your friends, favorite musicians and strangers through music.  To do this, Apple added Ping as a tab in the iTunes app for desktops as well as iOS devices.  The design of the service takes a few cues from Facebook, but also works in the realm of iTunes.  You can comment on any items in your news feed, as well as “Like” anything on the feed and albums on iTunes.  On your profile you can choose three genres that you enjoy (though unfortunately it follows the iTunes store model, so there’s no choices for techno, metal or indie, just to name a few), and it can show a collection of eight tops songs.  Those top songs don’t have to be there, Ping can choose them for you, or you can choose them.  If Ping chooses the songs for you, it only selects them based on songs you bought from iTunes. {Apple}

Therein lies the biggest fault of Ping: it doesn’t really take into account people who buy music from other services.  You might want to share your music with friends, but if you buy music off Amazon MP3, BeatPort, or even (gasp!) physical media, you need to go through extra steps to share it on Ping.

Ping does seem to address a problem that exists: sharing music with your friends.  It doesn’t always work through other social networks like Facebook or Twitter, nor in person.  Ping helps bring your music social network right next to where (Apple hopes) you buy your music.  At least it brings it to where you probably store your music, even if you pirate all of it.

Rdio is almost exactly like Spotify, it’s a platform for streaming music from the cloud.  Rdio has about 7 million songs, and is continuing to add more.  The music can be streamed via web browser, an Adobe AIR desktop app, or a mobile app.  Streaming to the mobile apps does cost more, $10 a month as opposed to $5 a month for just desktop streaming.  Rdo also allows users to create playlists or “save” music to their collection for easier access.

Today Rdio is finally opening the doors to those who weren’t able to secure an invitation.  After playing with the service for about a month, it can be worthwhile to some.  Being able to access almost any song you want from Rdio makes it a nice service to have.  Also, having that access on a smartphone is spectacular, so you don’t have to take up all your storage space with music you may not always listen to.  For those who listen to a lot of music, and tend to just hit the shuffle button on a 5000+ iTunes library, Rdio is a nice experiment, and a great way to try out new music, but it falls a bit short.  Unless you want to create a huge playlist with all songs you have in a library, there’s no way to just play through a collection.  At just $5 a month for the desktop version, it is worth trying fora one month test drive though.

"Lalalalala, not listening"

Prince, in an exclusive interview with the Daily Mirror, proclaimed that his new album “20Ten” will not be sold online.  The reason Prince won’t sell his music online?  “The Internet is completely over.”  The pop star also pointed out that online distributors “won’t pay me in advance for it, and they complain when they don’t get it.” {Mashable}

Rather than distribute the album online, Prince will release the album to readers of the Mirror and other print publications in Europe.  Surely that’ll work, because we all know how well print publications are doing at the moment. Or perhaps it could help increase sales of the publications that have Prince’s album packed in.  In the US, the album will be sold more traditionally through Warner Bros., presumably in physical form only.

In 2007, Prince banned the use of his music on sites like YouTube, Pirate Bay and eBay, going so far as to levy lawsuits against the sites.  It wouldn’t be all that surprising if his new album shows up on the Pirate Bay or other sites shortly after release, just to spite the artist.  Not that we would ever condone pirating music.

Perhaps Prince’s next album will be released on 8-track and Betamax (for you retro video lovers) only so nobody can easily get it online.  With the way the world is moving, saying the Internet is over is just silly. He’s still a legend, but the internet is a big, flashing sign of the times.

Spotify, the European music streaming service is adding some new plans, as it launches into a new country.  Unfortunately for Americans, that country is the Netherlands.  The plans, however, might be another indication that the service is looking into the US market.

The new plans are called Spotify Unlimited and Spotify Open.  Spotify Unlimited will cost users £5, or the equivalent thereof, for unlimited, ad-free streaming to a single computer, not unlike how MOG works for US customers.  Spotify Open doesn’t need any payment or even credit card information.  It includes 20 hours of listening per month to anyone that lives within a country that supports Spotify {Spotify}.

The problem with Spotify, for would-be American users is that despite constant promises from Spotify and it’s purchase of US servers in March, there is still no planned launch date.  We’ve already gone through a few this year alone ranging from “early 2010” to “Spring,” “Q3” and the latest “before the end of the year” {Wired}.  As Wired points out the new plans are similar to the sort of deals that the RIAA approves for other services such as MOG.  Meanwhile, MOG is working on a mobile app that could possibly be similar to Spotify, Rhapsody continues it’s service, and rumors are flying of Apple announcing an iTunes streaming service sometime soon {Gizmodo}.

If Spotify fails to get in the US market soon and either MOG or Apple come out with high-quality mobile apps that do the same thing, the chance could be easily lost.  Despite it’s social features, Spotify likely can’t win unless it has a presence before Apple expands their iTunes offerings.

H&M’s third-annual Fashion Against AIDS collection, done in partnership with Designers Against AIDS, and new festival-inspired collection (featured here) are slated for release on May 20th. {DAA} In support of the campaign to support AIDS prevention and education, an official launch party will be held to host the first-annual H&M Battle of the Bands contest.

The popularity of music festivals in the summer is outrageous and they are the perfect place to relax, have fun and show off your great style. Bonaroo and Lollapalooza are yearly events that host thousands of attendees for days at a time. H&M has put its own spin on festivals by hosting their own, which will feature the first Battle of the Bands contest. Winners will receive a $200 H&M giftcard, round trip airfare and hotel accommodations to New York City to play live at the H&M Fashion Against AIDS launch party and a custom H&M apparel package. {Nitrolicious}

Katy Perry in a bodycon dress from the upcoming Fashion Against AIDS collection

Previous guest t-shirt designers for the Fashion Against AIDS collections released in 2008 and 2009 include Rhianna, Good Charlotte, Timbaland, Katy Perry, Roisin Murphy, NERD, Tokio Hotel and Cyndi Lauper. {DAA} The 2010 designers haven’t been announced yet, but needless to say you’d be in good company.

If you play in or know of a talented band who should enter here’s how:

1.Upload the video of your band playing to YouTube.

2. Submit name, email and YouTube Video URL here.

3. The ten (10) highest rated bands will move on to a final round on May 8th, where an H&M panel will select the winner! Good Luck!

Peter DaSilva for the New York Times

But even we didn’t think the iPhone would be replacing your cello any time soon.

The newest fad in iPhone adventures? iPhone orchestras. From the University of Michigans’ Mobile Phone Ensemble to the Stanford Mobile Phone Orchestra, these crazy kids are using their iPhones as their instruments to make some pretty out-there music.

Want to see/hear more? Check out the links below for videos of these mobile phone masters in action:

Read More {Switched}

Read More {The New York Times}

Audiophiles rejoice: streetwear brand WeSC and Stockholm design agency Norra Norr have teamed up to release a set of super-portable headphones that will look equally great hooked up to both your big-boy turntables and your super-sleek iPod, without sacrificing sound quality like those [stylish, yet] puny little default Apple earbuds.

The Maraca and Pick-Up models feature oversized ear units for a surround-sound music experience and exhibit obvious throwbacks to the analog mix equipment used by old-school hip-hop and reggae artists.  We love the sound quality of large headphones but always have trouble transporting them; the WeSC x Norra Norr headphones fold up easily for compact storage and easily portability, which is a huge plus.  And with prices starting at $59, you simply can’t go wrong.

A few of our favorites, available at WeSC stores in LA and NYC, as well as online at tobi.

WeSC Bongo Headphone

Maraca Headphones

Oboe Headphones

Sitar Headphones

Pickup Headphones in Black/Orange

Dim Mak Bongo Headphones

Read the full story {SwipeLife}