iPod
Rhapsody ditches (some) DRM, selling MP3s with Verizon and Yahoo
Rhapsody, the digital love-child of Real Networks and MTV, is best known for its DRM’d subscription music service. As such, the globe’s population of sheep-white-earbudded, sidewalk zombies have been completely off limits to its charms. Until today. While its DRM’d subscription deals remain in place, Rhapsody is now offering unprotected MP3 downloads via its Rhapsody MP3 store and via partners including Verizon’s VCAST over-the-air service and Yahoo. We’re talking 5 million DRM-free tracks (generally priced at $0.99 per song, $9.99 per album) from Indies and the four majors. Uniquely, all tracks can be previewed in full before downloading. Rhapsody VP, Neil Smith said, “We’re no longer competing with the iPod, we’re embracing it.” Perhaps, but Rhapsody’s planned $50 million marketing assault on iTunes with the help of MTV’s TV networks doesn’t exactly make them best of friends. We’re not DRM-free across the industry yet (in fact, far from it), but things are certainly moving in that direction.
Update: Signup now with the Rhapsody MP3 store and get a $10 credit which can be applied to your first album.
[Via Reuters]
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Surprise! Apple to refresh iPod nano / touch, make tons of iPhones
Analysts love to come up with all sorts of conjecture based on history, numbers, and general guesswork. In this case, FBR Research analyst Craig Berger has a few predictions to give us regarding the future of Apple’s iPod and iPhone lines. We’ll keep them short and sweet here and leave the static mulling to you. First, he expects an updated, lower-priced iPod nano in the near future along with product refreshes for both the iPod classic and touch. That sounds about right, as Apple is almost due for updates of those products anyway. As far as Apple’s production rate, he says Apple has increased iPod production around 15 percent and sees Apple shipping 15 million iPhone 3G by the end of the year (he’s a big fan of the number “15″). Nothing really surprising here, but if all this pans out, Apple will dig deeper into the smart phone market while tightening its stranglehold on the PMP landscape.
[Source: Electronista]
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Obama’s iPod Filled With Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z and Bob Dylan
Proving that politicians can have good taste in music, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama spoke with Rolling Stone magazine about his favorite artists — which include Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Jay-Z, and Stevie Wonder — and how they’ve affected him personally.
“If I had one musical hero, it would have to be Stevie Wonder,” says Obama, who grew up in the ’70s, on bands like Earth, Wind & Fire and The Rolling Stones. “When I was at that point where you start getting involved in music, Stevie had that run with Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Fulfillingness’ First Finale and Innervisions, and then Songs in the Key of Life. Those are as brilliant a set of five albums as we’ve ever seen.”
Wondering what’s on Obama’s iPod? Well, he keeps it iPod varied with “everything from Howlin’ Wolf to Yo-Yo Ma to Sheryl Crow.” And he says he has probably thirty Dylan songs on there as well. “Maggie’s Farm” is “one of my favorites during the political season,” says Obama. “It speaks to me as I listen to some of the political rhetoric.”
He’s also friends with and fans of some new-schoolers as well. “Every time I talk to Jay-Z, who is a brilliant talent and a good guy, I enjoy how he thinks,” says Obama. “He’s serious and he cares about his art. That’s somebody who is going to start branching out and can help shape attitudes in a real positive way.”
We’ve been counting, and Obama’s got 99 problems … but musical taste ain’t one.
[Source: Rolling Stone]
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Leak: Apple Memo Prepares the Retail Employees
Apple doesn’t send its brave retail employees into the trenches without proper training. To prepare the Apple Army, the company has issued an internal document outlining how to deal with customers on July 11.
AppleInsider allegedly got its hands on the internal memo and reports that Apple isn’t leaving any inane customer question to chance. For starters, employees have been told:
- The iPhone 3G will be sold on a first come, first serve basis.
- There will be no Personal Shopping sessions offered by Apple stores until later into the 3G’s debut.
- Customers can buy several 3G units for their business, if they use a consumer rate plan. Those with a corporate plan are to purchase the iPhone from the AT&T store.
- If questioned about the price discrepancy between the iPhone and iPod touch employees are to respond, “iPhone 3G is offered at such a terrific price because, like most cell phones, it requires a 2-year carrier contract.”
Here are a few things not to ask your friendly neighborhood Apple employee.
- Don’t ask if you’ll be able to upgrade to a 3G at a discounted price. The store rep will just tell you that he doesn’t have any information.
- Don’t ask what the point is behind the iPod touch, or if the price will lower.
- Don’t ask any of the Mac reps about detailed rate plans. Chances are they have no idea.
Apple is allegedly planning to hold worldwide retail meetings on July 6 to share the official launch plans with employees.
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iLuv’s i1255 desktop iPod / DVD player combo now shipping
Hey there partner, we just know that troubled look on your face is due to the inability to find yourself a DVD player / iPod dock combo that looks ever-so-slightly like an Atari console, right? If so, you’ll be completely relieved to find that iLuv’s CES-announced i1255 is now on sale and shipping to whomever pays the stated asking price with a non-stolen, non-maxed out credit card. If you couldn’t tell, this unit acts as a vanilla DVD player and enables iPod owners to play back audio / video clips on their television or sound system without messing with additional cables. Shoot, there’s even an iPod-tailored on-screen display to sort through your playlists and such. Lasso yours now for just $149.99.
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