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iTunes, others to launch “the great digital music giveaway”

“In the new year, some of the world’s biggest brands will promote their products and services by doling out millions of free downloads through alliances with digital music services.

‘You’re going to see lots of free music given out via third-party companies,” buymusic.com founder Scott Blum says. “It’s not going to be Apple and iTunes driving the business. It’s going to be companies like Pepsi and other third parties that are promoting digital music on bottle caps and on labels.’

Indeed, Apple Computer has inked a deal with Pepsi to give away 100 million iTunes downloads in a promotion that kicks off in February with a Super Bowl ad.”

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iPod designer Jonathan Ive awarded highest British design honor

  • December 21, 2003
  • Apple
“Few people recognise Jonathan Ive. Few could tell you what he does. But most of us know, admire and use his work. Ive, who has just been awarded the highest British design honour with his appointment to the RSA’s Faculty of Royal Designers for Industry, is ‘Mr Mac’. He is the British designer who has reinvented the computer, the personal stereo and much else besides. By banishing beige boxes and replacing them with sculptural, easy-to-get-to-grips-with products, such as Apple’s iMac and iPod, Ive has transformed the way we look at the electronic stuff that surrounds us.”

12 comments.

2004 Honda Accord iPod Install

iLounger ‘thericky’ shares his step-by-step integration of iPod and his 2004 Honda Accord. You’ll find this and many other auto installation discussions in our ‘iPod-In-Car Solutions’ forum.

“I recently installed the Soundgate SNHOND3 into my brand new ‘04 Honda Accord EX V-6 so that I could use my iPod in the car. I’ve been using an FM transmitter for a long time in my old car and was tired of hearing static and trying to find stations that worked.

Here you will find step-by-step, picture-filled instructions on how to install the SNHOND3 unit into your ‘03 or ‘04 Accord. They are identical installations.”

3 comments.

Apple nets $345 million in iPod sales; 141% increase

  • December 20, 2003
  • iPod

MacMinute reports Apple’s Friday filing of its annual report to the Securities and Exchange Commission indicates the iPod continues to be a big winner for Apple.

“Net sales of peripherals and other hardware rose $384 million or 57% during 2003 compared 2002, which follows a $287 million or 74% increase in 2002 as compared to 2001. The current year increase was primarily driven by the $202 million, or 141%, year-over-year increase in iPod net sales to $345 million. All of the Company’s operating segments experienced substantial increases in iPod net sales and unit sales during 2003. iPod sales during 2003 were favorably affected by the introduction of substantially redesigned new models, which are compatible with both Macintosh and Windows operating systems and by the Company’s introduction of its iTunes Music Store for the Macintosh operating system in April 2003. The Company’s iPod digital music player is sold by a variety of resellers, many of which do not currently market the Company’s Macintosh systems. The Company has expanded this distribution network during 2003, which has contributed to the current year increase in iPod unit sales of 146%.”

21 comments.

iPods remain hot buy in the UK

  • December 20, 2003
  • iPod

“Mike Khalfey, central buyer for electronics at John Lewis department stores, said so many people wanted an iPod they were having to take orders for delivery after Christmas.

‘The demand is certainly outstripping supply,’ he said, adding that the most popular model was the middle of the range 20GB iPod for £299.

‘We are getting shipments once or twice a week but we are selling them almost as fast as they come in.’”

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iTunes 4.2 and new ‘Grouping’ feature

In the latest release of iTunes appears a new feature called ‘Grouping.’ Grouping is another field you can edit and search on. Grouping is useful for Classical music, where a “work” or “piece” of music is multiple tracks but not the whole CD. It shows up in Get Info, View Options, and when you right click on column headers,” as explained by ‘iTunes Mike’ in the Apple Discussions forums.

15 comments.

Apple job posting points to video iPod

  • December 19, 2003
  • iPod

The following job posting has just appeared on Apple.com:

“Seeking a highly motivated engineer to develop next generation iPod product. Must have experience in overall system design of audio and video products.”

Just as an Apple job posting in early 2003 for a developer of iTunes for Windows was a clear confirmation of that product’s arrival (which came six months later), this posting seems to demonstrate very clearly that the iPod is heading toward video.

45 comments.

PCWorld: iTunes is “the greatest, coolest, most insanely frustrating media player”

“An in-depth look at the greatest, coolest, most insanely frustrating media player out there and the store behind it” by Eric Dahl, PC World.

“I’ve spent a lot of time reviewing online music services for PC World this year. Until a few months ago, most of that time was spent waiting for Apple to bring its ITunes Music Store to the Windows world. That’s only a slight exaggeration of the role that ITunes played in defining digital music this year.”

11 comments.

Wired: RIAA Loses Key Anti-Piracy Tool

“A federal appeals court on Friday rejected efforts by the recording industry to compel the nation’s Internet providers to turn over names of subscribers suspected of illegally swapping music online.

The ruling from a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia was a dramatic setback for the industry’s controversial anti-piracy campaign. It overturned the trial judge’s decision to enforce a type of copyright subpoena from a law that predates the music downloading trend.”

3 comments.

Dell stops selling iPods

  • December 19, 2003
  • iPod

“Round Rock-based Dell Inc. stopped reselling Apple’s iPods in mid-November, about two weeks after the company launched its own competing MP3 player.

“We’ve stopped selling them permanently,” said Mary Fad, a Dell spokeswoman.

Both Apple and Dell declined to explain why the two companies scrapped their reselling agreement.”

26 comments.

Refurbished 10GB iPod for $249

  • December 18, 2003
  • Deals

Refurbished 2nd generation 10GB iPods (Windows) for $249 at MegaMacs.com, plus free software with every Fed Ex shipping.

10 comments.

Sessions@AOL Available at iTunes Music Store

“Sessions@AOL are exclusive in-studio performances recorded in an intimate setting.” Artists include Liz Phair, Iggy Pop, R.E.M, Limp Bizkit and more. There are currently 16 sessions available for purchase at $.99 each.

2 comments.

Apple Releases ‘iTunes Essentials’ Compilations

picApple has released its own ‘Essentials’ compilation albums featuring the best in Classic Country, Make-out Songs, Johnny Cash, Disco Ball Reflections, Christmas Classics and lots more. Prices start around $11 for a complete compilation or you can opt to buy individual songs at $.99 and there are currently 41 albums to choose from.

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Windows: iTunes 4.2 Released

iTunes 4 is the best software jukebox in the world, with a great music store inside. With it, you can create your own personal digital music library to manage and listen to your music collection, all with drag-and-drop simplicity. iTunes encodes high-quality MP3s as well as pristine AAC, all in a free application. If you dont like getting charged a subscription fee or paying for additional features like fast CD burning, your digital music experience is about to get a whole lot better.

Additional details and 101 comments.

Mac: iTunes 4.2 Released

  • December 18, 2003

iTunes 4, the stunning new rendition of one of Apples greatest hits, comes with an appealing new feature: the fabulous iTunes Music Store stocked with hundreds of thousands of songs you can preview and own with just one click. The worlds best digital music player now supports the new AAC audio format (think high-quality sound with even smaller file sizes), and lets you share your music with other Mac computers on your local Ethernet or AirPort wireless network. And if you have a Mac with a SuperDrive, you can archive your entire music library to DVDs for safekeeping.

Additional details and 3 comments.

AOL Members Get Access to iTunes Music Store

“America Online, Inc. and Apple today announced that AOL members can now preview, purchase and download songs available on AOL Music, the world’s number one music destination, by simply clicking an iTunes button placed next to featured tracks. The iTunes button will immediately launch Apple’s iTunes Music Store, the world’s number one download music service, and automatically select the featured track for preview or one-click purchase and download. In addition, AOL members can use their AOL Wallet or card-on-file to conveniently purchase and download songs from iTunes. Starting today, AOL is also offering iTunes Music Store customers the opportunity to purchase exclusive and original music from its popular music programs Sessions@AOL and Broadband Rocks.”

1 comment.

iPod prices jump in Canada

  • December 18, 2003
  • iPod

iLounger Alex Horvath reports that Apple Store Canada has raised its iPod prices. “For some reason the price of the iPod has jumped quite a bit in Canada. The 10GB model is now $454CDN ($342USD) from $439CDN ($331USD) and (here’s the whopper) the 20GB model has jumped from $579CDN ($437USD) to $604CDN ($455USD). The 40GB model has jumped to $754CDN, but I can’t remember the original price ...this sucks since I am in the late planning stages of getting one for myself.”

16 comments.

2004 Bluetooth Coming to iPod

  • December 18, 2003
“Infinite Range, a Fremont-based company, has begun marketing circuit boards that iPod accessory maker XtremeMac plans to build into a new product in 2004. The product uses Bluetooth to beam music from Apple’s iPod to nearby audio systems without the fuzzy interference that comes with FM tuners.”

11 comments.

Online Song Sales Help Music Purchases

“Sales of music online may be starting to cure the record industry’s blues. Music fans have purchased an estimated 15.9 million digital songs through licensed online services, including Apple Computer Inc.‘s iTunes Music Store, since late June, research firm Nielsen SoundScan will announce today.”

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MacInTouch Reader Choice Poll Votes iPod/iTunes Best Product

  • December 18, 2003
  • iPod

‘As soon as we began to review the results for this year’s poll it became clear that there was one standout winner: the iPod and iTunes, along with the revolutionary iTunes Music Store. So many people wrote in saying that these products had “changed the way they live’, or they “can’t imagine life without them” that we imagine Apple will use just such a slogan in an upcoming ad campaign.

We have awarded the Best Product award jointly to iPod and iTunes (including the iTunes Music Store). As one reader said, “Even without the iPod or the iTunes Music Store, iTunes is a truly-awesome application, throw in the other two and it’s unstoppable.’”

1 comment.

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