snapshot 5/31/07

Google takes big step to make Web work offline
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070531/tc_nm/google_offline_dc_3;_ylt=AoC7wYDxEiiVl0o0MZHCuQdkM3wV
Google Inc. said on Wednesday it had created Web software that runs both online, and offline, marking a sea change for the Internet industry by letting users work on planes, trains, spotty connections and even in the most remote locations. The technology, called Google Gears, would allow users of computers, phones and other devices to manipulate Web services like e-mail, online calendars or news readers whether online, intermittently connected to the Web or completely offline.


Warner to put ad-supported video archive online
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070531/tc_nm/warner_premiumtv_dc_2;_ylt=AtGbMqtaZiGFgHDAecHqI39kM3wV
Warner Music, the world's fourth largest music group, is putting its archive of music video online and making it available for free to fans. Warner, home to Madonna and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, will work with digital services provider Premium TV to create online TV sites or "digital hubs" that will be organized by artist, genre or label and funded by advertising.

Revenue will be driven by advertising but music fans will be able to download the videos for an additional fee and Warner will also examine syndicating the content to a third party. The deal includes plans to develop subscription-based services and a version to be used on mobile platforms.


Amazon MP3 Download Store Rumor
http://hypebot.typepad.com/hypebot/2007/05/new_music_busin_18.html
We're hearing from multiple sources that Amazon wants to launch its mp3 download store in late June. Only technology glitches will delay the start.


Will music industry dance again to Apple's tune?
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-6187666.html
The move is important on many levels. For the first time, consumers can play music from Apple's iTunes on digital players other than the iPod. For Apple, offering DRM-free songs could hand the company some credibility in dealings with European regulators, who want the company to open up iTunes to third-party hardware makers.

For the record industry, it once again may find itself being herded into a direction of Apple's choosing. In this situation, the record companies can only benefit, said Greg Scholl, president and CEO of The Orchard, a New York-based music distribution and marketing company.

What Apple has succeeded in doing is to raise questions about how the music industry is pursing its digital music strategy, said Susan Kevorkian, an IDC analyst. Chief among the questions is why the record labels place copy protection on digital songs but not on CDs.


HP's Retail Store Assistant: a wallet's worst enemy
http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/31/hps-retail-store-assistant-a-wallets-worst-enemy/
The clever gurus at HP Labs have developed a marketer's dream tool that enables customers to enter a retail store, swipe a card, and instantly receive a printout (shown after the jump) that includes "a personalized shopping list, relevant coupons, notice of associated store discounts or sales, and even a map to where the items can be found in the store." The inaccurately named Retail Store Assistant (we were thinking more along the lines of Wallet Depleter) is currently in the "experimental" stage, and would include an in-store kiosk which customers could access via a loyalty card or by inputting their phone number.


Borders Announces First Quarter Results, Music Sales Down
http://www.coolfer.com/blog/archives/2007/05/borders_announc.php
Borders announced its Q1 2007 results yesterday (read press release or 8-K). Losses deepened, music sales were down and gross margin dropped. The company reported a 2% increase in consolidated sales and a loss of $35.9 million (compared to a loss of $20.2 million last year).

There was no mention yesterday of the company's plans for the music segment, although CDs are generally expected to be playing a lesser role in the chain's plans. In March, Borders issued a press release about its strategy and said it will be incorporating digital centers that will emphasize digital content and hardware.


Listening Test Compares iTunes Plus to iTunes 128kbps
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/ears-on/listening-test-compares-itunes-plus-to-itunes-128kbps-264617.php
Comparing these two bitrates was tough, even when using a pair of state-of-the-art Ultrasone headphones. In our decidedly unscientific comparison, we listened to all the tunes at both bitrates in A/B comparisons with those phones, with iPod stock earbuds, on our kick-ass car stereo, and on our reference Dolby 5.1 home theater system.

The difference between the two types was subtle. Listening to a variety of songs, each encoded in 128kbps and then 256kbps, showed very little difference between the two, if any. Frankly, neither sounded as good as it could have to these trained musician's ears, but to discern the difference would take a professionally-trained


New RealPlayer allows YouTube video download
http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9724302-7.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1040_3-0-5
Real Networks has announced a new version of their RealPlayer today that will be available as a PC-only public Beta in June. The player allows users to download and organize nearly all embedded internet video content (Flash, WMV, QuickTime) including content from popular video sites like YouTube, Comedy Central, and of course, CNET.


GooTube strikes deal with EMI, after label shuns DRM with Apple
http://venturebeat.com/2007/05/31/gootube-strikes-deal-with-emi-after-label-shuns-drm-with-apple/
EMI Music, the world’s third largest music label company, said it has reached a deal with Google and its YouTube property to allow YouTube users to exploit EMI music while creating videos. EMI said it has “agreed to work” on models to allow access for user generated content featuring EMI-owned and copyrighted audio and video works, but didn’t provide many details. EMI did say it will use YouTube’s content identification technology to help it track and monetize its content, and to allow it to request the removal of copyrighted content (suggesting this is far from a straight-forward carte blanche for users to do anything they please).


AT&T to Offer Internet TV on Apple TV?
http://www.macrumors.com/2007/05/31/atandt-to-offer-internet-tv-on-apple-tv/
A well-connected source tells us that AT&T and Apple are working on adding IPTV capabilities to the Apple TV beginning sometime next year. (A launch window hasn't yet been determined, our source says that plans are still being worked out.)