News Archive for 05/09/02

Choose an article from the archive listing on this page or refine your selection using the controls in the gray box below.

EFF on DRM

09/02, 5:55pm

EFF on DRM, iTunes: "The Customer Is Always Wrong"

The Electronic Frontier Foundation has published a report that look at some of the shortcomings of digital rights management (DRM) schemes, which are used to sell music online by companies such as Apple. According to the advocacy group, online stores like iTunes actually give music buyers less for their money than traditional CDs. For example, if music owners want to make more copies of an album (for personal) use than the DRM allows, they may have to turn to various "hacks." Unfortunately, "breaking the DRM or distributing the tools to break DRM may expose you to liability under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) even if you're not making any illegal uses." The article also points out that Apple reserves the right to change at any time what users can do with the music they purchase at the iTunes Music Store. In April 2004, Apple decided to "modify the DRM so people could burn the same playlist only 7 times, down from 10."

Rokr, competition

09/02, 4:50pm

This week: "Rokr", competition, accessories

This week brought more details on the upcoming Motorola "Rokr" mobile phone with iTunes support, first with rumors and then with expectations of the debut September 7th. Despite some fear the phone will be a disappointment due to its presumed low storage capacity, Motorola reportedly completed shooting for a ROKR iTunes phone television ad yesterday starring Madonna, Little Richard, Bootsy Collins, Sum 41, Mya, Lil' Jon, The Pussycat Dolls, The White Stripes, and Billie Joe from Green Day.

Verizon music phones

09/02, 3:05pm

Verizon plans to sell music-playing mobile phones

Verizon Wireless will reportedly start selling three mobile phones capable of playing digital music next week. The phones from Motorola, UTStarcom, and LG Electronics will have detachable storage that allows users to download music from computers, according to the report from Reuters. The phones will work on Verizon's high-speed wireless network, but will not support wireless music downloading immediately, according to the report. The new LG 8100 and CDM 8940 from UTstarcom are set to debut, while the Motorola E815 (which is already available) is expected to gain added music playing and storage functionality.

Artwizz HangPhones Shuffle

09/02, 11:25am

Artwizz rolls out HangPhones for the iPod shuffle

Artwizz today announced its HangPhones for the iPod shuffle, offering a solution to messy cabling problems by allowing the Shuffle to be worn around the neck. This eliminates long, hanging cables while providing stereo earphones which are integrated into the neck strap. The lanyard cords run alongside the Shuffle, while the bottom cap integrates with the earphone jack, and is contoured to fit snugly to the rounded corners of the Shuffle. The stereo earphones feature a 15mm driver unit, frequency response of 20Hz to 20KHz and a sensitivity of 100db at 1KHz. Offered in black, white, and "silikon", HangPhones are available for £18.

Napster vs. iTunes

09/02, 11:00am

Napster evolves to challenge Apple's iTunes

A BusinessWeek report looks at the evolution of Napster from a illegal peer-to-peer music service in 1999 to a legimate music service that aims to compete with industry leader iTunes. "Napster is back. And it's hungry for a bite of Apple. In little over a year, the music sharing application has resurfaced to become iTunes' closest contender for the music download crown. But there's a twist in this cat's tale. Napster was bought back to life-from a bankruptcy auction." After transforming itself into a subscription-based music service, the report concludes "the legitimate music download market seems to be a two horse race between iTunes and Napster, with Apple enjoying the greater lead by far."

New Griffin iTrip

09/02, 9:10am

Griffin redesigns popular iTrip FM transmitter

Griffin Technology announced Friday redesigned version of its iTrip FM transmitter for the iPod. The new version adds a backlit LCD display, a dial to adjust broadcast frequency, and selectable LX or DX modes. According to the accessory maker, the DX mode delivers a noise level "below that of a cassette tape adapter, allowing the music to punch through cleanly." Additionally, the new device allows users to choose between "US" or "International" modes. International mode enables users to select all available frequencies, rather than the standard United States frequency set. A new auto-volume feature helps prevent distortion by adjusting the volume accordingly. The iTrip is immediately available for $50.

iPod manufacturer

09/02, 8:50am

iPod manufacturer sees revenue double

The Taiwanese company that manufacturers much of Apple's iPod supply said its revenue more than doubled in the first half of this year, according to Infoworld. Revenue rose to NT$47.9 billion (US$1.47 billion) during the six-month period ending June 30, from NT$22.3 billion during the same time last year. Inventec Appliances' net income rose to NT$1.4 billion (US$42.9 million) from NT$913 million. "About 80 percent to 90 percent of first-half sales were in contract manufacturing," said a company representative. The company's revenue increased largely thanks to growing iPod sales, said Frank Lee, an industry analyst at Deutsche Bank in Taipei.