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BusinessWeek: The Chili Peppers’ Sour Grapes Over iTunes

“These guys call themselves rock musicians? Where, I ask you, is their sense of storming the Establishment ramparts, of thumbing their noses at authority? Instead, by refusing to let Apple (AAPL ) sell their music online at the new iTunes Music Store, the Red Hot Chili Peppers are leading a vanguard in the wrong direction. They might as well put their clothes back on.

In truth, opposition makes little sense. Even some execs from the biggest labels have signed on to iTunes. Says Universal Music Group CEO Doug Morris, one of the album format’s inventors: ‘iTunes is pushing us into the future of how music is produced and consumed.’”

46 comments.

“What’s Missing From the iPod?”

Wireless Supersite Editor Ross Rubin writes about “the glory as well as some gotchas in Apple’s iPod and music strategy.”

“Will this week’s Macworld CreativePro Conference and Expo herald an update to Apple’s success with the iPod and the Apple Music Store? Along with iTunes, they compose the tune triumvirate that should represent an important new revenue source for the company. The combo also constitutes what for the moment is likely the world’s largest digital music marketplace—outside of mobile phone ringtones—thanks to the contract terms that Apple negotiated with the five major record labels.”

10 comments.

iPod 20GB for Mac $299

MacWarehouse has a great deal on brand new iPod 20GB for Mac at $299.

4 comments.

Refurbished 20GB iPod for PC for $359

Delamac: MegaMacs.com has the factory-refurbished Apple 20GB iPod for PC for $359.49 plus around $5 shipping. That’s around $10 less than the best price we know to be available for the latest 15GB model. (20GB iPods are no longer produced.) A one-year Apple warranty applies.

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Mercury News: Buy.com to start music service

“Buy.com will unveil a new music download service next Tuesday with a $40 million promotional campaign and launch celebration in New York’s Times Square.

Like the iTunes Music Store, Buy.com will sell individual music tracks without collecting an up-front monthly subscription fee; even though it has yet to secure licensed music from all five major record labels, knowledgeable sources say.”

1 comment.

iPod Coming to Bose and Circuit City

  • July 15, 2003
  • iPod

“Apple® today announced that iPod(TM), its phenomenally popular portable digital music player, will be available in August at Bose and Circuit City retail locations nationwide, as well as CircuitCity.com. The third generation iPods, which hold up to 7,500 songs in a stunning enclosure that’s lighter and thinner than two CDs in their cases, will be sold in all Bose retail stores and Circuit City Superstores. [...]

Bose retail stores will carry the 15GB and 30GB iPod models, and Circuit City will offer all three iPod configurations—10GB, 15GB and 30GB. Consumers can call 1-800-444-BOSE or visit www.bose.com to find a Bose retail store near them, and call 1-800-THE-CITY or use the Store Locator at www.circuitcity.com to find their nearest Circuit City store.”

2 comments.

‘Pods Unite’ : VW & Apple Team Up in New Beetle

  • July 15, 2003
  • iPod

It’s exciting to see two companies that fit so well together acknowledging that harmony they enjoy. What interested me most was the mention of a “Volkswagen iPod connectivity kit.” Maybe VW is solving the problem of so many messy wires being needed to connect an iPod with decent sound. Here’s hoping it will be available for current VW/iPod owners.

“Volkswagen’s iPod connectivity kit completes the pairing, with the ability to create and remotely access a road-ready digital music library.  Together, the estimated retail value of the iPod and VW connectivity kit is about $600. [...]

Each New Beetle iPod is custom-engraved with Volkswagen’s “Drivers Wanted” logo and comes with a coupon for $100 off a purchase of $999 or more, from apple.com, Volkswagen’s exclusive Street Mix CD collection, a free e-book from audible.com, a VW Music-zine, and a “Pods Unite” window sticker.”

Editor’s note: We had first heard about a possible partnership in April 2002 in a report from one of our readers. But instead of the Jetta, it is the Beetle which is getting the special iPod connectivity kit.

7 comments.

“Kazaa Derivatives Offer RIAA-Blocking Features”

“Both Kazaa K++ and Kazaa Lite, two very similar modifications to the Kazaa file-sharing system by Sharman Networks, now contain several features designed to foil scanning attempts by the RIAA. Both updates were published to the Web at the end of last week. [...]

Neither developer released any official statement explaining the addition of the new features designed to defeat the RIAA’s scanning efforts, which the agency reportedly began at the beginning of this month in an attempt to discover which users are illegally sharing copyrighted files. Once the IP addresses are matched to individual users, the agency will begin filing copyright infringement lawsuits this fall.”

9 comments.

Fossil Does iPod

  • July 14, 2003
  • iPod

Apple has updated its Pro section with a story about watchmaker, Fossil and how the in-house design team uses Apple products. In a sidebar story titled ‘iPod Does Booth Duty’, Tim Hale, Fossil’s Senior VP tells how he and his workers use iPod to play music at trade show booths and manage their to-do list.

“‘I use a 10G iPod to run the music,’ explains Hale. ‘We plug it into the house system in the booth and let it play. Because it was on iPod instead of a CD, we get eight hours of music or more. Next year, music trends will change and we can go back and recustomize it. This allows for a large amount of flexibility in an in-house environment where you want to control that experience.’”

Source: MacMinute

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Blender 100 names iTMS No. 2

The iTunes Music Store was awarded the number 2 spot in this year’s Blender 100 of the most sizzling stars, gadgets, bands and booties. The list is only available in the print edition. What’s really strange is that the iPod did appear anywhere in the list of 100. How could this be?

“Apple’s new music service is saving the record business, one download at a time,” writes Rob Tannenbaum in the August 2003 issue of the popular music magazine. ‘It’s a phenomenal success,” says Lyor Cohen, CEO of the Island Def Jam Music Group. ‘Kids are the laziest human beings on Earth, so I was thankful that someone made it easy to get music delivered in the comfort of your home.’”

Source: MacMinute

7 comments.

Bacardi DJ Contest 2.0 gives away 12 iPods

To be eligible to win, you have to register and mix a track using Bacardi’s online music mixer then enter the contest. The music mix with the highest number of online votes will be selected the Grand Prize Music Mix Contest Winner. Grand prize consists of (1) 2,000 gift certificate toward DJ equipement, 2nd prize is twelve 10GB iPods and 3rd prize is (100) t-shirt, CD and sticker. There are also random winners who will recieve one set of Harmon Kardon SoundSticks. Contest ends on July 15, 2003.

3 comments.

Wired: Give the DJs What They Want

  • July 12, 2003
  • iPod

For all the DJs out there… wouldn’t it be nice to have pitch control on your iPod for mixing live sets? Wired magazine (August 2003) reports that Apple invited world famous DJ, Ritchie Hawtin to perform at the opening of the Soho NY store, but Hawtin’s mixes were ‘choppy’ due to the lack of pitch control on the dualing iPods.

“At Hawtin’s SoHo appearance - and at some sets by other DJs at Apple’s 53 retail outlets - rumors circulated that he might get his wish. Don’t trade in your needles yet, though. ‘We can’t confirm that pitch control will be a feature,’ says an Apple spokesperson. ‘But DJs are a constituency we’re interested in reaching.’”

17 comments.

New Bill Proposed to Restrict Digital Freedom

Not sure if you guys already know about the CBDTPA bill, but it is an important bill for us iPod users and music listeners in general. The “Consumer Broadband and Digital Television Promotion Act” is a plan to restrict our freedom through computers.

“The law would force all new personal computers and digital home entertainment devices sold in the United States to have government-approved “policeware” built-in. This policeware would restrict your use of copyrighted material on these devices—including music files and CD’s, video clips, DVD’s, e-books, and more.”

Sign the petition to tell these senators their bill is out of line and against our rights as citizens of the United States.

52 comments.

John Mayer says iPod ‘instrumental’ for song writing

  • July 10, 2003
  • iPod

Launch Yahoo reports musician John Mayer praises his iPod for helping him write songs for his new, upcoming album.

“He tells LAUNCH Apple’s iPod has been instrumental in his writing. “I have the Apple iPod, it’s great. Because I can burn my demos and put them into the iPod and then listen to them as I’m driving, or as am going to a radio station, and just really just have time to sit in it and think about it,” Mayer said.”

4 comments.

BBC News: Q&A: Will I be sued for music-swapping?

As the articles’ title notes, an interesting Q&A has been published by BBC News regarding the possible suing of individuals by the RIAA and the state of digital music.

“Could I be sued for swapping a few songs?

Theoretically, you could. But the RIAA says it is suing file swappers who have consistently trade large amounts. 

It recently took action against a college student in Michigan who ran a network offering more than 650,000 files - the equivalent of more than 43,000 albums. They have chased other users who have again uploaded thousands of files.”

3 comments.

iPod DJ saves the day

  • July 10, 2003
  • iPod

Below is a copy of my letter printed in MacUser Magazine (UK) dated 11 July 2003:

Last week a friend was having his 40th birthday party. As he was born in 1963, a Sixties theme was decided. You know: Sixties dress, music, food, psychedelic drugs and so on (well maybe not the drugs).

Additional details and 6 comments.

Target.com: 10% off iPods

Deals on the Web: Target is once again carrying iPods. You can save 10% on any iPod if you click the link in this deal post and use coupon code “TCAF2SAVETEN ” during checkout. With the coupon, the 10GB iPod is $269.99, the 15GB is $359.99 and the 30GB iPod is $449.99. Search for “iPod” to find the deal. Expires 8/31/03.

3 comments.

10GB iPod for Mac for $269 shipped

Dealmac: ClubMac knocks $25 off the 10GB iPod for Mac for dealmac readers. It costs $269 after the discount, the lowest price we know to be available, and shipping is free. Offer ends tomorrow.

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The Sun: 600 albums in ‘cig packet’

  • July 10, 2003
  • iPod

Dominic Mohan has written a general article about iPod culture.

“The iPod’s distinctive white headphones are a sign that you’re part of the cult — owners have been known to acknowledge one another when they spot the trademark earpieces although, in my iBook, that’s taking things a little too far.”

10 comments.

BBC News: File swappers ‘buy more music’

“Market research company Music Programming Ltd (MPL) said 87% of its respondents who downloaded music admitted they bought albums after hearing tracks through the internet.

An MPL spokesperson said: ‘Downloading is actually a ‘try before you buy’ tool for a significant amount of people.’”

14 comments.

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