Does buying from iTunes mean you’re committed to Apple for life?
In a word? Yes. “Only digital music players that will play the music you’ve purchased are the ones that include Apple’s Fairplay — a technology that Apple not only controls.”
The Rokr vs. the Walkman
Macworld compares the Walkmand the the ROKR music phones. The final analysis? “Both phones performed well. The Rokr’s ITunes compatibility is a nice bonus, especially for current ITunes users. However, the W800i Walkman phone accommodates my needs a little better: It has comfy earbuds, takes slightly better pictures, and looks good. Alas, it’s too darn expensive. If Sony Ericsson could sign up a carrier that could mark down the price,
Warner CEO believes in mobile future
Red Herring reports that Warner Music Group CEO Edgar Bronfman believes selling music over cell phones is the music industry’s biggest-ever opportunity.
They might be giants – not!
MusicGiants Inc. has launched a new music download service today, reports Reuters, hoping their Windows Media Audio “lossless” format will appeal above the crowd. Are they kidding? It’s reached licensing deals with all the major music labels including EMI Group, Sony/BMG, Vivendi Universal and Warner Music Group. Supposedly lossless files have up to 7 times the sound quality of music files on other commercial music services. As if anyone cares…
Big bang flash cards for the Stones
The Rolling Stones album A Bigger Bang has been released on a a new secured mini flash card from SanDisk. Consumers can preview and purchase more music from the band’s back catalog, through either a PC or a supported mobile phone (Palm and Windows Mobile only, Symbian phones next year). See more at The Register and Business Week. The cards are only available in the US so far. Assuming they
Music, not games to be big on mobile
Music, not Gaming could become more successful than mobile gaming, according to a study released Tuesday by market research firm In-Stat.
Labels sell bootlegs to fight piracy
Music companies sell bootlegs to fight piracy(WSJ): Vivendi Universal SA’s Universal Music and Instant Live, owned by Clear Channel Communications Inc., have announced a blanket licensing agreement that lays the groundwork for Instant Live to issue concert recordings by Universal recording artists – provided the acts want to participate.
Podcasting goldrush? – oh dear
It’s like when they invented Quark Xpress. Or the photocopier. Wired thinks there’s a podcasting goldrush on. Well, maybe. Podcasters are mining everything from commercial sponsors to paid guest appearances in the quest for profitability.