News
iLounge adopts subscription model, establishes hourly Q&A fee
By Jeremy Horwitz
Editor-in-Chief, iLounge
Published: Friday, March 31, 2006
News Category: Site News
Bowing to industry pressures and hoping to boost income from its widely-read iPod and iTunes web site, iLounge.com has announced substantial changes to its free content offerings, refocusing heavily on revenue-generating measures. Effective 9:00PM PST today, April 1, thousands of previously free pages on iLounge.com will be locked, and made available only on a pay-per-page or monthly subscription basis. “Having watched the experts at Napster and RealNetworks practically mint their own money with similar plans,” explained Jeremy Horwitz, Editor-in-Chief of iLounge, “we decided to bet the company on a similarly great idea. Soon, users will be able to unlock the site with individual ‘iLounge Keys,’ sold for 99 cents per page, or monthly ‘iLounge Gold’ site-wide access for only $12.95. Everyone else is trying to sell something to Apple fans, so why not us?”
“Too many times, we’ve passed up opportunities to make an easy buck,” said Dennis Lloyd, Publisher of iLounge, “so starting now, we’re going to change that.” In addition to starting an all-nude version of its popular iPods Around the World photo galleries, the site will begin to publish reviews written by accessory and service providers, and open its Discussion Forums to endless quantities of viral advertising and astroturfing. Lloyd also disclosed that Ask iLounge, the site’s weekly Q&A column, would be cancelled in favor of ‘iPod Buddies,’ a $65/hour consulting service where iLounge editors or high school students (as available) will offer in-person or telephone iTunes assistance and music recommendations to needy readers. “We think that these changes will ultimately benefit both us and our readers,” said Lloyd and Horwitz, “and if they don’t, at least we’ll be able to enjoy the nude photo galleries.”
Update: Happy April Fool’s Day, everyone! Expect a real announcement soon!
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1
April fools!
Posted by Tom on March 31, 2006 at 11:01 PM (PDT)
2
Very funny, Ha Ha.
We all know it’s April 1 so lets stop the childish pranks that nobody with any sense would fall for anyway.
Posted by Richard on March 31, 2006 at 11:15 PM (PDT)
3
OMG those prices are too cheap. I am so getting your new paid services iLounge, thanks!!
Posted by imdaShiy on March 31, 2006 at 11:16 PM (PDT)
4
But it does make you think why you wouldn’t pay to view.
Posted by birkenhead on March 31, 2006 at 11:19 PM (PDT)
5
APRIL FOOLS WOO
RIGHT?
Posted by carlos on March 31, 2006 at 11:21 PM (PDT)
6
Har de Har Har
Posted by JeremytheIndian on March 31, 2006 at 11:27 PM (PDT)
7
We know that iLounge wouldn’t feature nude photo galleries. You almost got me there with that april fools day joke.
Posted by Nick on March 31, 2006 at 11:27 PM (PDT)
8
HAHAH soo funny. GJ! april fools!
Posted by jd on March 31, 2006 at 11:36 PM (PDT)
9
And there’s no page for you to sign up too! April fools!
Posted by hoho on March 31, 2006 at 11:47 PM (PDT)
10
way no fair.
it’s still march here.
Posted by ains on March 31, 2006 at 11:51 PM (PDT)
11
DAMN! I was looking forward to the nude galleries!
Posted by Nate on March 31, 2006 at 11:52 PM (PDT)
12
Can I pay by PayPal??
Posted by Patrick on March 31, 2006 at 11:53 PM (PDT)
13
Dude, they’re not joking.
Posted by Zach on March 31, 2006 at 11:55 PM (PDT)
14
Hey, I didn’t know any better that you were faking.
So I’m getting a lawyer to sue because you didn’t post a signage clearly indicating you were joking.
And that I should turn down my headphones volume…
Posted by Will on April 1, 2006 at 12:01 AM (PDT)
15
Hilarious
Posted by Mike Bargo on April 1, 2006 at 12:10 AM (PDT)
16
mmmm iPod Porn…..
i mean… gross!
Posted by Ernie 2.0 on April 1, 2006 at 12:31 AM (PDT)
17
the finniest thing would be if it’s not a joke…....
Posted by gio on April 1, 2006 at 12:57 AM (PDT)
18
The subscription model is definitely the way to go. I can download as much as I want from iLounge every month for a one regular fixed fee. Fair enough if I stop subscribing then I can’t view any of the iLounge pages any more, but hey most of the time I view them once or twice and then never look at them again!
Only one thing though. Any chance you can outsource the iPod Buddies Q&A service to a call centre in India?
Posted by Magic Rabbits in Aberdeen, Scotland on April 1, 2006 at 12:59 AM (PDT)
19
Ha Ha, very funny! April fool, :p
Posted by Quentin on April 1, 2006 at 1:12 AM (PDT)
20
blood boiling humor… lets hope its all due to the day of bloody april fools… otherwise my trip to disneyland would be completely spoiled
Posted by aaron.mark in Los Angeles, CA on April 1, 2006 at 1:24 AM (PDT)
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