Category: Apple

New iTunes Feature: “Complete My Album” at a Discounted Price

March 29, 2007August 20, 2008 Bob Caswell No Comments

Appleitunes Apple today is introducing a new offering at its iTunes store. Called “Complete My Album,” the new service allows you to purchase the remaining songs of an album at a discount if you’ve already purchased singles from that album. So, for example, if you have already bought two songs for 99 cents, you could buy the rest of the album for $8.01.

Will you go back to buying music the old way? Will this help boost sales of albums? Probably not much, but it’s still a great option, anything that provides us with more flexibility in our music purchases is a good thing.

Apple, Music, Tech News

Booming Game Industry Influencing Stalling Music Industry

March 5, 2007August 20, 2008 Bob Caswell No Comments

Electronic Arts has a new page on its site specifically designed for buying music that has been featured in its games. The music is being sold through iTunes but is more easily found on EA’s site (called EA Trax), which just links you to iTunes when you’re ready to make a purchase. The EA site also offers much of the same music available as ringtones for your cellphone. The buzz surrounding this move is that video games are playing a much larger role in promoting new music, as the game industry is booming while the music industry is stalling.

Apple, Gaming, Music, Tech News

Watch out Netflix! Blockbuster In Advanced Talks to Acquire Movielink

March 1, 2007August 20, 2008 Bob Caswell No Comments

If the deal happens, Blockbuster would be the only company able to offer the coveted video triple-play: combining movies offered online, through the mail, and in-store. Could that be enough for even the diehard Netflix fan to switch? Here are details:

Apple, Media, Netflix, Tech News, Web 2.0

EMI Interested in DRM-Free While Warner Says No Way to Steve Jobs

February 9, 2007August 20, 2008 Bob Caswell 1 Comment

Appleitunes_2 The DRM battle continues! The latest news revolves around EMI being in talks with retailers to sell music DRM-free vs. Warner Music Group’s clear “No!” fired back at Steve Jobs (who recommended a DRM-free music world earlier this week). Here’s the scoop on each side:

Apple, Music, Tech News

Will DRM die or thrive? Apple, Amazon, Tivo, Wal-Mart not sure…

February 8, 2007August 20, 2008 Bob Caswell 1 Comment

So all in the same week we have the following news:

1) Steve Jobs embraces a DRM-free world but says his hands are tied.

2) Amazon & Tivo join forces to bring you Amazon digital movie downloads via your Tivo.

3) Wal-Mart announces digital movie and TV show downloads from all six of the major studios.

Let’s take each of these and have a closer look:

Apple, Media, Music, Tech News

Wal-Mart Goes Digital Movies… Why Netflix May Dethrone Them Again

February 6, 2007August 20, 2008 Bob Caswell 3 Comments

Walmartlogo_1 Wal-Mart today announced a partnership with all six major Hollywood Studios (Disney, Warner Brothers, Paramount, Sony, 20th Century Fox, and Universal) to offer digital movies and TV shows via its site: www.walmart.com/videodownloads. While the company has the first mover advantage (being the only digital distributor to go into business with all six studios), I still think Netflix is the company that will make online movie watching a reality (incidentally, Netflix is the company to which Wal-Mart admitted defeat in the DVD rental market). Here’s why:

Apple, Media, Netflix, Web 2.0

World’s Best Corporate Reputations: Apple #22, Google #4, & Microsoft #1

January 31, 2007August 20, 2008 Bob Caswell No Comments

The results are here of the eight-annual Harris Interactive/The Wall Street Journal ranking of the world’s best and worst corporate reputations. Helped immensely by Bill Gates philanthropy, Microsoft dethroned cutesy Johnson & Johnson known for its emotionally appealing baby products. Interesting that around the same time a report comes out saying Microsoft has the best reputation, another article explains that “Few Rush Out to Buy New Windows Vista” citing consumers waiting for the bugs to be worked out.

Apple, Microsoft, Tech News

Death of DRM Roundup: The World Wants Unrestricted Music

January 24, 2007August 20, 2008 Bob Caswell No Comments

Appleitunes Wow. We’re not even through January and DRM is knocking at heaven’s (hell’s?) door. The latest news comes today with Norway proclaiming that Apple’s DRM via the iPod and iTunes is illegal. France, Germany, and Finland joined with Norway in releasing the following statement:

“We believe consumers have a right to play material purchased online on a portable device of their own choice.”

Amazon, Apple, Music, Tech News