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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Comments
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61
If I get the gold, can I have Jeremy read all of the recent posts to me via a podcast?
Very funny, welcome to April!
Posted by dodette on April 1, 2006 at 5:24 PM (PDT)
62
nice joke guys. but i can still pray that you have the all-nude ipods around the world galleries.
Posted by skott on April 1, 2006 at 5:51 PM (PDT)
63
An April Fool’s joke is supposed to be believable; this was not believable. Try again next year…
Posted by Galley in Greenville, SC on April 1, 2006 at 6:13 PM (PDT)
64
Guys, I’m really disappointed.
This is SO BLATANT. I expected something at least a little more subtle.
I mean, come on. . .“open ourselves up to viral marketing”?
Posted by JoshSpazJosh on April 1, 2006 at 7:07 PM (PDT)
65
ok its 9 and no locked pages. Jokes offfffffffficially over
Posted by eric on April 1, 2006 at 7:10 PM (PDT)
66
greed!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by loadocrap on April 1, 2006 at 7:14 PM (PDT)
67
ROFL! The iPod nude gallery was a nice touch, especially for those who aren’t looking for these things.
Every April 1, I look forward to all the crazy things websites come up with! Thanks for not disappointing me!
Posted by maidmirawyn on April 1, 2006 at 7:17 PM (PDT)
68
The mere fact that a subscription model being a good idea is comical shows how bad Napster and the rest are.
Posted by David Crowe on April 1, 2006 at 7:17 PM (PDT)
69
oh good prank guys, but i would have payed that cause this site is the bomb! keep up the good work guys
Posted by johnson84 on April 1, 2006 at 7:27 PM (PDT)
70
You had me for about ten seconds, thanks for the prank guys!
Posted by LM1964 in New Jersey on April 1, 2006 at 7:28 PM (PDT)
71
LOL..LOL…LOL….LOl….LOL…LOL
Posted by yuesph on April 1, 2006 at 7:46 PM (PDT)
72
haha, for a few hours i had just read the title and was just like, oh.
and i finally just read it all.
Posted by tyler on April 1, 2006 at 7:57 PM (PDT)
73
Did someone says nudes?
Posted by jbelkin on April 2, 2006 at 12:06 AM (PDT)
74
#### i thought that was real!!!!!!!!!!
:( god i am dumb
Posted by jaque custourde on April 2, 2006 at 4:09 AM (PDT)
75
I thought that was real!!!!!!!!!
I am dumb :(
Posted by jaque custourde on April 2, 2006 at 4:10 AM (PDT)
76
Sorry but not funny. Is it because there is no new iPod news and no keynotes around at the moment? Nude iPod gallery sounds a great idea though.
Posted by Cccccrazy on April 2, 2006 at 5:28 AM (PDT)
77
What about : “Update: Happy April Fool’s Day, everyone! Expect a real announcement soon!” ?
Expect a real announcement soon? I mean, if you guys are really thinking on taking this project foward you might be shooting your own feet.
Posted by Nossa on April 2, 2006 at 8:22 AM (PDT)
78
Apple users must be smarter than everyone else, because every other site that has April Fools jokes get these dumb emails and comments from people who think it is real.
Posted by Adam on April 2, 2006 at 4:50 PM (PDT)
79
That was teriffic! I fell for it….OK I’d pay….great advice….
Posted by rMOM on April 2, 2006 at 5:10 PM (PDT)
80
hey guys, if anyone believed this prank then your the stupidest person in the united states!!!!!..... hey, thatd make a good tv show…
This is the series starter of the stupidest person in the united states(music plays)and this is our host, Hunter!!!!!!!!!!(everyone claps)
Hunter:What is you talent, contestant?
contestant:i believed this thing on a site called ilounge
Hunter:good job!!! you just became the stupidest person in the united states !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (audience claps)
Posted by Hunter on April 2, 2006 at 5:16 PM (PDT)
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