Special edition Beatles iPod could be in wings
30 November 2006 10:07 EST
Jason D. O'Grady
On Monday Fortune magazine reported that Apple is negotiating with The Beatles to distribute their music online via an exclusive arrangement with the iTunes store. The deal would be a coup considering that The Beatles have yet to license their music to be sold online and they are one of the last major holdouts that people mention when criticizing online music sales.
The buzz began in April 2006 when Apple Corps Ltd. (The Beatles record label) head Neil Aspinall mentioned that they were re-mastering the entire Beatles catalog
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iTunes 7.0.2 Addresses Stability and Performance Issues
01 November 2006 12:01 EST
Jason D. O'Grady
iTunes 7.0.2 adds support for the Second Generation iPod shuffle and addresses a variety of stability and performance issues found in iTunes 7 and 7.0.1.
Apple - Support - Downloads - iTunes 7.0.2
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DVD Jon Selling the Keys to Apple's FairPlay DRM
03 October 2006 10:23 EST
Jason D. O'Grady
DRM-buster
DVD Jon has a new target in his sights, and it’s a big piece of fruit.
He has reverse-engineered Apple’s Fairplay and is starting to license
it to companies who want their media to play on Apple’s devices.
Instead of breaking the DRM (something he’s already done), Jon has
replicated it, and wants to license the technology to companies that
want their content (music, movies, whatever) to play on Apple devices.
This may not be good news for iTunes the store, but it could make the
iPod even more popular.
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iTunes 7.0.1's Mobile Phone Mentions
28 September 2006 01:18 EST
Jason D. O'Grady
Normally, an iTunes update wouldn't be much news. But this one has lots of mentions of a "mobile phone" that can play video and display pictures. As far as we know, the ROKR and RAZR V3i can't do that.
Here's a taste of the strings:
"4301.022" = " ^0 was not copied because the video format is not supported by the mobile phone ^1 ."; "4301.043" = "Are you sure you want to manually manage music and videos on your mobile phone? You will need to manually eject your mobile phone before it can be disconnected safely."; "4301.045" = "Are you sure you do not want to manually manage music and videos on your mobile phone? All existing content on the mobile phone ^1 will be replaced with content from your iTunes library.";
iTunes 7.0.1 Has Buttloads of Mobile Phone Mentions - Gizmodo
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Why iTunes Works
25 September 2006 09:40 EST
PowerPage Contributor
The iTunes Monoploy/Failure Myth debunked the idea that Apple has a stranglehold on the digital media market by demonstrating how Apple contends in a competitive market for both music players and digital downloads. The other half of the myth--that the iTunes Store is being "shunned" by users--is taken apart by showing that not only is Apple's online strategy a success, but that there are clear reasons why Apple has maintained its lead while rivals have failed miserably: Why iTunes Works
Contributed by: Daniel Eran, RDM
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REVIEW: NFL Follow Your Team and GameDay on iTunes
20 September 2006 10:15 EST
Jason D. O'Grady
One of my favorite new products on the iTunes Store (in addition to the games, of course) is the NFL's Follow Your Team subscription. Being a huge fan of the NFL and the Philadelphia Eagles I was excited to sign up for the service which went online on Monday.
It works like this, a subscription (or Season Pass) to Follow Your Team costs US$24.99 or US$1.99 per episode. The day after your team's game you receive an email notification to download an 8-12 minute video with highlights of the game. It was perfect for me to catch the highlights of the Eagles game that I missed while I was at ACL this weekend. Too bad the 'birds lost in OT and Kearse got a season-ending injury. I'm actually glad that I missed the game.
In addition to individual team highlights iTunes also sells a Season Pass to the NFL Network's NFL GameDay for US$19.99 or US$1.99 per episode. NFL GameDay is hosted by Rich Eisen with Steve Mariucci and Deion Sanders. The all-inclusive Sunday night wrap-up show offers the most comprehensive NFL coverage on television, with highlights from every NFL game plus post-game reaction and expert analysis. New episodes are supposed to be available each Sunday night at 11:30pm ET, but week 2's GameDay didn't arrive until midnight eastern time last night (Tuesday). Perhaps it was delayed to include the Monday night game?
NFL GameDay is 90 minutes on the tube, but only 70 minutes on iTunes thanks to the lack of commercials. If you're into football and can't always be planted in front of the plasma screen all weekend. Check it out!
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Free iTunes Giveaway at Austin City Limits
20 September 2006 09:06 EST
Jason D. O'Grady
I mentioned in a post yesterday that I attended my first Austin City Limits over the past weekend (Matisyahu, Tragically Hip and The Flaming Lips were my favorites). Anyway, on the way into Zilker Park people were handing out lanyards with laminants that included a redemption code for "30 free iTunes" on the back.
I thought that this was really cool until I realized that the code wasn't redeemable for any 30 iTunes, it was for "a special collection of songs from this year's artists." Ok, no such a a bad deal, I thought. Once I got home, I fired up iTunes 7, clicked on the Store, then Redeem (hint: it's a text link on the right). Here is the list of free iTunes that the redemption code gave me...
(Click through for the list and a free redemption code to the first reader.)
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Apple's Artwork Olive Branch is a Treasure Trove of Data
19 September 2006 08:10 EST
PowerPage Contributor
This just hit me. Allowing customers to download album artwork for their whole library, regardless of where the music came from, is brilliant, instant market research by Apple.
Apple's been careful this time to tell the user that iTunes will have to send data to get the album art back, and to say that no personal data is sent, and that's good. But nobody ever said they're not keeping the statistical info, and it's an insanely smart move.
How should the iTMS team know what they're missing in their catalog, what their customers want but aren't getting from iTMS? That's hard to know, because customers are reluctant to take the time to share that sort of thing. But when iTunes goes to iTMS to get album art, it has to send info (artist, album, track...) and I'll bet that they know whether or not the track was purchased from iTMS.
Apple, in turn, gets a massive database of missed hits. And good hits, too. They can instantly find what tracks and artists people want and aren't able to get via iTMS. They can learn what percentage of tracks they do have didn't come from iTMS. If they're smart they're analyzing much more from what they are getting, and all of it for free, instantly, without causing any customer to do anything (actually while giving them a gift), and all without running afoul of anyone's privacy concerns.
It'll be interesting to see what happens. If I'm right, those holes that iTMS left in your album art because it didn't have the art will miraculously start filling in across the coming months.
And frankly, everyone wins. Insanely brilliant.
(Contributed by: Steve Abrahamson)
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Float that window...
19 September 2006 08:01 EST
PowerPage Contributor
I've seen several rants about iTunes 7 floating around the web, but no one ever seems to ever talk about what I consider to be an essential feature that's continually been missing from the iTunes application. And one, I might add, that's trivial to add.
What is it? Simple. There's no way to make the movie/TV/video playback window "float" on top of all of the other windows.
This, in my mind, dramatically reduces the usefulness of those types of media, as it's extremely difficult to watch a TV show or movie AND engage in other work at the same time. This is especially true if you're on a smaller screen system like a MacBook, or when working with full-screen applications like Excel or Dreamweaver.
C'mon Apple it's not that hard. Provide an option to float the window.
For an example of how to do it right, check out Trans Lucy, a DVD player that allows you to float the window, and that even gives you the ability to make it translucent so you can "see though" to your other applications.
Make it a right-click or preference option if you don't want to clutter up the interface, but let us watch our movies and get something useful done at the same time.
Please?
Contributed by: Michael Long
(You can open iTunes videos in their own window, just double-click on the video window in the lower-left corner of the iTunes window. However, there's no way to change the opacity of the player window - Ed.)
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iTunes Icon Timeline
14 September 2006 09:16 EST
Jason D. O'Grady
iTunes Icon Timeline.
macteens Gallery > iTunes Icon Timeline
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The Apple Core: Best iTunes 7 feature: gapless playback
13 September 2006 09:26 EST
Jason D. O'Grady
Being a DJ I've been complaining about one of my biggest grievances in iTunes for a while: the silent gap that iTunes (and the iPod) insert between songs. For a lot of people this "gap" isn't a big deal because the music they listen to was intended to have a second or two of silence between tracks. The problem is with music that was intended to play from one song into another without gaps like DJ mixes, live performances, operatic rock 'n roll, jam bands and classical.
Read the rest of the story on my ZDNet Blog: The Apple Core.
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Apple Acquires CoverFlow From Steel Skies
12 September 2006 03:25 EST
Jason D. O'Grady
Anyone who has used Steel Skies Cover Flow application for iTunes probably couldn't help but notice that the feature is now built into iTunes 7. With the same name, no less. It is confirmed on the Steel Skies Web site that "all CoverFlow technology and intellectual property was recently sold to Apple. It has been incorporated into the latest version of iTunes."
With Cover Flow, you can flip through your digital music and video collection just as you would CDs.
Apple - iTunes - Jukebox - Cover Flow
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iTunes Video Store Confirmed
12 September 2006 09:26 EST
Jason D. O'Grady
It appears that the QuickTime 7 page on Apple's German Web site has let the cat out of the bag. A graphic in the lower left hypes "iTunes Videos" such as Transporter 2, Red Eye and World of Warcraft Burning Crusade. Clicking on the links jumps to a page that simply says:
It's Showtime
The iTunes Store is being updatedTake a look at the bottom left of this page; Transporter 2 (20th Century Fox), Red Eye(Dreamworks S.K.G.), World of Warcraft Burning Crusade, Enigmo 2 This also confirms that the video store will not be limited to the U.S.A.
digg - iTunes Video Store Confirmed!
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"iTunes Store" Being Updated
12 September 2006 08:40 EST
Jason D. O'Grady
As of approximately 8:30 AM Eastern in the US, the "iTunes Store" (note that the word "music" has been omitted) is unavailable. Like many ofyou, I got the message pictured at right when I went from the main pageto the TV Shows page and back again.
The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)
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Think Secret: iMovie Video Store Coming Next Month
18 July 2006 01:27 EST
Jason D. O'Grady
With three weeks until Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, Think Secret has learned exclusively that CEO Steve Jobs will use his keynote address to announce the debut of movie rentals through the iTunes Music Store. While the announcement will undoubtedly be billed as a further extension of iTunes' dominance in digital media downloads, it represents a coup for the movie industry, which will have succeeded in standing its ground against Apple's pressures to offer consumers the option of owning movie downloads.
Think Secret - WWDC surprise: Apple to announce iTunes movie rentals
technorati tags:iTunes, ITMS, WWDC, Video, Downloads, iMovie, Movies
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Beatles Lose Apple Court Battle
08 May 2006 08:40 EST
Jason D. O'Grady
The Beatles have lost their court challenge against Apple Computer over its iPod and iTunes download service.
Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and the families of George Harrison and John Lennon control the Apple Corps label. They claimed the US firm broke a deal aimed at ensuring there would not be two Apples in the music industry.
But Mr Justice Edward Mann ruled that the computer company used the Apple logo in association with its store, not the music, and so was not in breach.The ruling means iPods and iTunes will still be able to carry the Apple name and logo.
BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Beatles lose Apple court battle
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Two New iTunes Features
24 April 2006 08:20 EST
Jason D. O'Grady
Pixel from iPodBank posts this:
Ever heard a song on TV and wished you could buy the song but just didn't know what the song title was? Well, Apple has debuted two new iTunes "features" that may help you out.The first is "Commercial Success." There are currently 26 songs available for download and they come from commercials for various companies including Apple, Old Navy, Budweiser, Jaguar, AT&T, Cingular, Motorola, Dockers, Diet Coke, Candies, Honda, Hilton, Citibank, Nike and more.
Apple's other new "feature" is "As Heard On" which makes it easier for American Idol fans to download songs contestants performed on previous episodes. An interesting navigational feature here is the use of tabs which let you browse songs from "This Week," "Last Week," "Previous Weeks" and the "Complete Set."
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iTunes 6.02 not Spyware
11 January 2006 09:19 EST
Jason D. O'Grady
It appears that the 6.0.2 update to iTunes sends information to the Apple Music store about what's currently playing, and will make recommendations. BoingBoing has the story, and some analysis about what's happening at the bottom of the page.
In case you're wondering the Apple recommend-ware is disguised as a "mini store" that appears in small window under your playlist. Long story short: you can hide it by clicking on the little up-arrow button in the lower right corner of the iTunes window (to the left of the EQ button) or by selecting Edit -> Hide MiniStore.
According to the updates at the bottom of the BoingBoing article hiding the MiniStore will disable the spyware behaviour.
Is it just me or is anyone else concerned about the direction Apple is taking here?
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iTunes 6.0.1 Released
20 October 2005 10:49 EST
Jason D. O'Grady
Apple release iTunes 6.0.1 tonight via Software Update (although some people weren't getting it). iTunes 6.0 was listed as build number 17, while 6.0.1 is listed as build number 3. According to Apple "iTunes 6.0.1 features several stability improvements over iTunes 6." The 6.0.1 update appears to fix the broken TV show previews in iTunes 6.
My favorite comment about iTunes was about the application icon posted by Ronald Schoedel:
...we are waaaaay overdue for a change in the icon. Version 1 was pink notes, version two was blue notes, version 3 was a single purple note, and version 4 and ever since has been the single green note. THREE VERSIONS (4, 5, and 6) with the SAME ICON? What is happening!? Are Apple asleep on the job? Too busy worrying about adding new features to get around to updating the icon???? I swear, this is the last free software from Apple I will download if they don't get on the ball. Steve, are you listening to your loyal fans????
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PowerPage Wishlist: iTunes (Mega Update)
05 May 2005 08:59 EST
Jason D. O'Grady
Let's face it. iTunes 4 is getting a little long in the tooth and is in desperate need of an update. The industry-standard application for syncing the iPod and for buying music online is beginning to show signs of old age. If Apple is going to continue its domination it needs to revise iTunes pretty soon. Don't rest on your laurels Cupertino!
Updated with over 40 of your tips. Read on...
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Nokia Announces iTunes Compatible Phone - 6230i (Updated)
01 March 2005 11:19 EST
The guys at PhoneScoop have posted a news item about Nokia's brand-new 6230i mobile phone that plays M4A protected files from the iTunes Music Store. Read More..
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Nokia Announces iTunes Compatible Phone - 6230i (Updated)
01 March 2005 11:19 EST
The guys at PhoneScoop have posted a news item about Nokia's brand-new 6230i mobile phone that plays M4A protected files from the iTunes Music Store. Read More..
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iTunes 5 "Mixing Table" Screenshot a Fake
25 December 2003 04:49 EST
Apple-X has posted what looks to be a screenshot of a future version of iTunes which features a new "mixing" feature. The image clearly shows a new section on the sidebar entitled "Mixing Table" which is most likely for mixing and crossfading music selections. It allows you to choose two songs from your library and then use what looks to be an enhanced equalizer to tweak the audio, crossfade, enhance different aspects of the song, and even adjust the pitch. There is also a red recording button in the bottom right hand corner of the window which would presumably be used to record your mixes. There also seems to be a slight change in color scheme.
More at MacTeens.
UPDATE: According to a note posted on Apple-X, the image is a fake.
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iTunes 5 "Mixing Table" Screenshot a Fake
25 December 2003 04:49 EST
Apple-X has posted what looks to be a screenshot of a future version of iTunes which features a new "mixing" feature. The image clearly shows a new section on the sidebar entitled "Mixing Table" which is most likely for mixing and crossfading music selections. It allows you to choose two songs from your library and then use what looks to be an enhanced equalizer to tweak the audio, crossfade, enhance different aspects of the song, and even adjust the pitch. There is also a red recording button in the bottom right hand corner of the window which would presumably be used to record your mixes. There also seems to be a slight change in color scheme.
More at MacTeens.
UPDATE: According to a note posted on Apple-X, the image is a fake.
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