http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070602/tc_nm/microsoft_dc_1;_ylt=AhTToiOHJNJWJD4D15TXU55kM3wV
Microsoft is introducing an initiative on Monday to promote emerging music acts across its entire digital footprint, Billboard has learned. Called Ignition, the program is designed to expose new artists and their music to consumers for an entire month by featuring exclusive content through Microsoft's multiple services -- including MSN, Xbox Live and Zune.
Microsoft is demanding exclusive content and hands-on participation from the artists involved. "We don't want the same thing that is going out on MTV," Microsoft director of music marketing Christina Calio said.
iTunes crosses language barrier with Foreign Exchange
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070602/tc_nm/itunes_dc_1;_ylt=Av6LvA6gAV7A5Fqj8ysLEXBkM3wV
Apple's iTunes Music Store is introducing a new original programming feature designed to promote foreign-language music in its stores around the world, Billboard has learned. The program is called Foreign Exchange. Under the initiative, two artists from different countries translate and cover each other's music in their native tongues.
Beatles online deal seen for 2008: Harrison widow
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070601/wr_nm/beatles_dc_1;_ylt=Ahn.aK_PIyDbtxyuLZRZww9kM3wV
Beatles fans will probably have to wait until next year before they can buy the Fab Four's tunes from online retailers such as Apple Inc.'s iTunes store, George Harrison's widow said on Friday.
MythTV vs. Vista MCE: First Impressions
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=855576
"There's a nice review on AVS forum of MythTV (Ubuntu) and Windows Vista MCE. The author tried both back to back and explains the pluses and minuses of each system after using them for a month. Helpful if you're thinking about setting up your own home theater rig."
Taiwan's miCard chosen as global memory card standard
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyName=storage&articleId=9022598&taxonomyId=19&intsrc=kc_top
The MultiMedia Card Association has approved a new memory card standard called the Multiple Interface Card (miCard). The card will make transferring pictures, songs, and other data between electronic gadgets and PCs easier. Twelve Taiwanese companies are preparing to manufacture the new miCard. 'The compatibility with both USB and MMC slots means most users won't need separate card readers anymore. MMC cards fit most consumer electronics, while USB connections are built into a wide range of IT hardware...'" Initial cards will hold 8 GB; the maximum the standard supports is 2,048 GB.
Exclusive: A Day in the Life of an Apple Genius
http://www.maclife.com/article/exclusive_a_day_in_the_life_of_an_apple_genius
To get your foot in the door you have to pass a test on diagnosing Mac problems, then if selected you're sent to Cupertino for two weeks of training en route to gaining three Apple certifications. Then comes some "real-world" training at Apple Retail headquarters, before finally ending with some on-the-job training at an actual retail Store locations. If you've ever been curious about how Apple makes their Genius quota, MacLife's look is worth a read.
Maestro: Social Music Streaming
http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/06/01/maestro-social-music-streaming/
Maestro lets you stream music from your computer across the web, for easy listening anywhere. This is a lot like what music locker services Oboe, MediaMaster, and Orb are doing with a social networking twist. Not only can you stream music from your own computer using Maestro, but you can also stream music from your friends on the network (Oboe lets you share channels with friends, but through email links). They plan on expanding to other types of media in the future.
Slacker Gets $40 Million for Growth
http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/06/01/slacker-gets-40-million-for-growth/
When Slacker initially launched their three prong web, desktop, and portable music service, we felt they needed a lot of cash in the bank to take on incumbents like Last.fm and iTunes. It looks like they got that start, with the addition of a whopping $40 million on top of the original $13.5 million series A, according to PEHub . Centennial Ventures and Rho Ventures were new investors, with Austin Ventures, Mission Ventures, and Sevin Rosen Funds returning.
So far Slacker has released two of their three pieces, a web player, and a desktop player. Last.fm, which focused on a web and desktop player, sold for $280 million to CBS after raising $5 million. This additional cash will most likely be going toward product development and manufacturing for the TBA WiFi portable music player and satellite car kit.
Apple says iPhone to go on sale June 29
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070604/tc_nm/apple_iphone_dc_3;_ylt=ApSKc7Syxq3BPFvlvqw2rvBkM3wV
Apple Inc. will start selling its iPhone on June 29, a debut that will test whether the company's design success with Mac computers and iPod media players can carry over into mobile handsets. Apple announced the date on Sunday, with three television commercials showing off the phone's large touchscreen and ability to watch video, play music and display photos. The ads can also be seen on the company's Web site.
Web, computer "widgets" offer branding opportunities
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070604/wr_nm/widgets_dc_2;_ylt=AjbWQP8kk1nuFgZT9pEauJFkM3wV
Simply put, widgets are mini-applications that offer easy access to Internet-based content and information. What makes them special is that they do so without requiring users to visit a specific Web site.
Several companies have used music-focused widgets to promote their own services, such as 20th Century Fox's "Live Free or Die Hard"-themed iTunes player and Snocap's MyStore on MySpace. Other music-related widgets include streaming music desktop players from the likes of Sonific, Finetune, Imeem and various local radio stations, as well as the Warped tour video interview widget for TagWorld.
But until recently, few record labels have dabbled in this world.Universal Music Group created the U Music Gadget, a widget for Microsoft's Windows Sidebar feature in the new Vista operating system. The widget lets users access their entire music and video libraries (regardless of whether they include UMG acts) directly from the desktop. It also provides news, tour information and new music videos from UMG acts based on the users' preferences. Currently, it is available only in the United Kingdom.
Does Steve Jobs Secretly Prefer DRM?
http://hypebot.typepad.com/hypebot/2007/06/does_steve_jobs.html
- Why is iTunes tagging the purchaser's name and email address onto every download?
- Why is Jobs effectively forcing consumers to choose what kind of tracks they want to purchase in advance instead of offering more expensive DRM free tracks alongside cheaper tracks with DRM?
- Why isn't Jobs following Amazon's lead and using his considerable clout to encourage labels to remove copy protection?
- Why aren't millions of tracks from indie labels offered DRM free elsewhere for sale on iTunes? The download store has yet to even set a timetable for removing copy-protection from more tracks.
Yahoo Raises Prices of Music Service
http://www.betanews.com/article/Yahoo_Raises_Prices_of_Music_Service/1180981960
Yahoo is raising the cost of its online subscription music service between $1 and $3 per month, depending on the customer's plan. Initially launched in 2005 at a price of $4.99 per month, Yahoo Music Unlimited will now cost $11.99 per month when purchased annually.
Without a year commitment, the service runs $14.99 per month. The last price hike was made in November 2005, when Yahoo raised the cost by $5 to $9.99 per month. At the time, Yahoo kept a version of Yahoo Music Unlimited without the ability to transfer songs to portable devices at $6.99 per month. That subscription will now cost $8.99, although only $5.99 per month if purchased annually. Still, Yahoo claims it continues to offer the lowest price of any such music service.
Windows test benefits sell-through, VOD
http://www.contentagenda.com/article/CA6448936.html?nid=3038
Releasing movies on video-on-demand and DVD the same day boosts sales of both significantly but cuts into disc rentals, according to initial results from a two-market test between Comcast and six studios begun last year. With that data in hand, Warner Home Video will build on the test by beginning to offer a few titles day-and-date on VOD and DVD nationwide, including July 10 release The Astronaut Farmer, a drama starring Billy Bob Thornton that pulled in $10 million in theaters.
If Warner and other studios decide to do away with the pay-per-view window, that could also benefit movie download services such as Movielink, Amazon and Wal-Mart, which all sell rental downloads. Rental downloads are considered VOD by studios and as such are currently available in the same PPV window that follows DVD.
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