Joshy84au said:

Not True: Assuming you have paid to subscribe the songs can be directly downloaded from their server -- they just haven't added direct links. For example, I have downloaded "Reflection" (it is a 96kb CBR mp3!!!). The site is using a simple Flash player to play the mp3 but it is an mp3 without a doubt -- it even has ID3v2 tags! I wish he would release them at a higher bitrate but it sounds good using my Sony MDR-7506 headphones. So just to clear things up -- the original songs can be downloaded directly.

javier

2020 said:

I'm sure some kind souls will record the songs from the stream and make an mp3 out of them. I may do this myself for my own use. I guess you could do the same with the video if you have a program like Camtasia.

TonyC -- you don't have to record the streams. You can save the orginal mp3 to your pc.

javier

javier said:

I just tried to do this, but I can't find the file. How do you save it? Do you have to access the HTML version of the site to do this? Please post a link if you can to the mp3 and to the video files too, or at least explain how to get to them if you don't mind.

Once you get in its really amazing.

The price of membership gets an A+++!

I think Prince needs a good spell-checker. "Subjegates women?" Jeez.

My thoughts and critique on the NPGMC new website.

Very, very reminiscent of the '93 Interactive CD-ROM.

The imagery is intersting, the two guards are Funky wierd. I like that. In the Flash version they hold flame swords, in the html version they hold regular swords...hey, what's up with swords?!?? That's rather militiristic and guard-ish. Hmm.



Also the gate metaphor, that's kind of odd. I don't know. It feels like an institution. Like nothing fun is in there. Don't like it. It may turn off casual fans or people just curious but with a spare $25.

Now mind you, $25 is a great price! No complaints about that. I thought it was going to be $100 or something again!

Whew, I can afford that. Wonder why so drastic from last years price to this? Did they realize more fans would join up if it was affordable? Who knows, but it's a relief on my pocket and I'm thankful!

The intro Flash is interesting if you hang on for a while. It seems to load new quotes after a few minutes. I saw 777-9311 moving across, but didn't make the connection to the Superstition theme.

As for the actual design of the Flash intro...kind of early 90's cheap PC screen saver-like. Not really exciting. Just bad type/font stating superstitions, some of which I agree, are silly.

The message could have been delivered more effectively and interestingly. The arrow at the bottom just seems so cryptic and not intune with the rest of the design. The religious things are expected from Prince so no suprise. No biggy.

The Flash file is huge. On a 56k modem it takes almost 4 minutes to load.

It's not memory you need if you already have enough, it's just maybe allocating more memory to your browser and maybe downloading and installing the latest Flash plug-in. Try switching browsers too.

The HTML version is cool though for those on regular modems. Still kind of large, maybe it's all the Javascript or something.

There's a subtle nature/garden theme too. The sign up page has that nasty font/typeface but the background is like leafs and in the gate page the plants and stuff.

As always, it's fun to decipher what Prince is communicating even in the small details. Much like MTV VJ's were analyzing the Raspberry Beret video for secret or subliminal messages way back in '85!

Overall, the design gets a C- from me. It lacks sophistication in execution. The ideas are there but, just kind of elementary executed/done.

But again, the typography is yuk, the galaxy superstition flash intro, enh, But the two guards are interesting yet odd, since they are guarding the club with...swords?!?? Can't get over that. And if you mis-login, they point the swords at you! What is that?! Eeeew.

That's kind of not good, people may take offence to that or something subconsiously.

Cyberclips? Okay. Sure. But I want Vault Clips!

There are no pictures of Prince anywhere before entering. That's cool, he may think he's over exposed or something and fams might be tired of photos, but it would have been cool to see a photo before or something.

I just think Prince has a great idea but it's done cheaply. With designers that...I don't know...aren't there yet, you know?

The price of membership gets an A+++!

The ease of use get's a hopeful B-. Ease of sign up could improve, but I like what the description says you'll get and how workers won't stop working on the site. That's nice. The "Home" metaphor. I think the sign up could be much better and be somewhere in the first homepage of the site or in the early navigation.

I will be joining, but I rather do it from a DSL or T1 connection. Can't wait!

So Until then have fun, hopefully it's a warm creative beautiful place this NPGMC "Home" since it looks rather daaark and cold from the outside.




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[This message was edited Fri Apr 18 19:53:39 PDT 2003 by FlyingCloudPassenger]

The NPGMC 2003 site is beautiful.

FlyingCloudPassenger said:

err, year BARGAIN of the year. you get the following...

Live from Las Vegas 2002:
1. "Pop Life"
2. "Money Don't Matter 2nite" / "The Work Pt.1"
3. "Push & Pull" feat. Nikka Costa

also:
"Jam Of The Year" live in Brixton '98

$25 for 3 video's (which by all accounts are streaming only) from a DVD that will be in the shops (you WON'T be getting this as part of your Mbership, don't kid yourself).

oh and an old Live track, plus the new song reflection.

AMAZING value, cuz a FULL DVD retails at about $15 and the same for a CD.

before you flame me, the irony is that with the new Apple / Music service which is about to start (it's basically like a legal Napster with ALL the record companies on board) they will be charging 60 Cents a track / deals like $100 for the entire back catalouge of The Beatles, Stones, James Brown, etc. And to think that P went round claiming they were greedy offering bad value for money.

cheers Prince.

I bet Prince is a Myst/Riven/Exile fan.

I fooled around a little playing these files locally by copying a shortcut to Internet Explorer to my 'Send To' folder, then right clicking on the .swf file and 'sending' it to the browser, which has (or should have) the flash plugin to decode/play the file. There may be other/easier ways to do this etc.