SteveJobs stood on stage in the much-anticipated "Fun New Products" presentation, and introduced two
music-related items: Leather iPod cases and
a portable speaker unit with built-in iPod docking station. Clearly, Apple
is fed up with conceding the lifestyle accessory market, and is attempting to make a splash with pricey, premium
products. The snug, Italian-leather cases will lighten your wallet by 99 dollars. The boombox will set you back $350.
In the latter case, the test is in the sound--no point criticizing the product, as many are doing in this
exceptionally hostile comment section, until you hear the thing. Of course how good can it sound when it will
almost always be playing highly compressed music? ...read full story
Other News
Skype to offer Warner Brothers ringtones- Wednesday, February 1, 2006 How's this for a measure of ringtones' frothiness:
VoIP pacesetter Skype has licensed music
from Warner Brothers to sell ringtones for $1.50 each. Why? Because it's not enough for everyone in a crowded
theatre to know your wife is calling when "The Bitch is Back" erupts from your cellread more...
Napster Not So Dead After All- Wednesday, February 1, 2006 Some guys get all the luck. Put your coffee down because the hot new
rumour to hit the wires is that Google is considering acquiring
Napster. I don't pretend to understand this: if Google wants to get in this subscription music game there seems to
be juicier fruit out there (like RealNetworks -read more...
MTV Networks Announces Deal With iTunes- Wednesday, February 1, 2006 Hot off the heals of announcing their digital media service, Urge, MTV Networks gave a taste of how much
confidence they have in that service by announcing a deal with their competitor, iTunes, to
distribute MTV, MTV2, Nickolodeon and Comedy Central shows through iTunes. This meansread more...
Apple Locking Up Universities With iPods- Wednesday, February 1, 2006 Is it just me or is Steve Jobs following pretty much the same path with the iPod that he
followed with the Apple II way back in the 80's? Today brings news that Apple
is offering college lectures via podcasts through several universities. Basically the deal is they provide the
service andread more...
Nettwerk Vs. RIAA- Wednesday, February 1, 2006 Canda's biggest independent label, Nettwerk, announced yesterday that they are joining the fight
against the RIAA. They are intervening in a suit the RIAA has filed against a family for illegally downloading music
tracks. The privately-owned Nettwerk Music Group is intervening, it says, becauseread more...
