News Archive for 05/10/04

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Memory deal with Apple may hurt Samsung MP3 sales

10/04, 2:05pm

Samsung deal may backfire

Samsung's aggressive move to offer large price breaks to Apple for flash memory may cut into own profits. Samsung's move to offer volume discounts on NAND flash memory for Apple's iPod nano may cut into sales of its own branded MP3 players, according to The Korea Times. "The latest case in point is the decision by the semiconductor division of Samsung Electronics to give big volume discounts on NAND flash memory to Apple Computer of the U.S. at the expense of sales by the electronics firm’s MP3 player business unit.... The agreement is forecast to deal a direct blow to the sales and profitability of smaller MP3 player makers worldwide and Samsung Electronics’ MP3 player unit is no exception. Earlier this year, the company announced its bold vision to beef up its MP3 player business."

Boostaroo Revolution: compact amplifier for iPod

10/04, 1:50pm

Boostaroo Revolution

UpBeat Audio’s new Boostaroo Revolution lets users listen to digital music or movies in 3-D surround sound on-the-go. At six ounces, and the size of a disposable lighter, the UpBeat says the Revolution is the market's smallest portable amplifier and two-way splitter. It can be plugged into any flavor of iPod, including the Nano, plus iBooks, PowerBooks or other portable players. It drives up to two sets of high-end headphones (greater than 60 ohms), or mini-speakers, to share tunes or movies. It also quadruples the volume and demultiplexes compressed digital music files and images stereo into high-definition 3-channel surround sound. The $80 Boostaroo Revolution is available immediately for online purchase, and begins hitting the shelves later this month at Dr. Bott, ThinkGeek.com, effiliate.com, Airport Wireless, In Motion, AltiTunes, and Hedonics in Canada.

EMI says iTunes pricing doesn't prevent piracy

10/04, 1:45pm

EMI rebuffs Apple\'s claim

EMI Group Chairman Eric Nicoli Tuesday rebuffed Apple's assertion that a single price and/or a lower price for songs sold over the internet helps prevent piracy in the music industry. "I'm not persuaded by the argument that a single price deters piracy," Nicoli said at a news conference in response to comments from Apple's CEO Steve Jobs, who last month called music companies greedy for seeking variable prices for song downloads. "I'm not persuaded of the fact that a lower price deters piracy. What I am persuaded of is that making music more convenient and better value is a deterrent to piracy." According to the Dow Jones Newswire report, Apple's iTunes Music Store website accounts for around 82-percent of all legally downloaded music in the U.S., where Apple charges $1 per track. Variable pricing would allow record labels to levy more for the most recent hits and less for the older tracks in their back catalogues.

Apple's "Silhouettes" cause uproar in Toronto

10/04, 1:45pm

\"Silhouette\" problems

Apple's Sillohettes ad campaign, which was awarded two "Gold" awards for its effectiveness, is apparently causing an uproar in Toronto (Canada), where the ads are the focus of a group trying to get the city to adhere to local legislation governing the placement of ads in public spaces and transit shelters. Advertising the iPod and iTunes Music Store, the "Sillohettes" are placed throughout Toronto on glass panels of the transit shelters, a public safety concern and violating the city's contract with Viacom Outdoor, according to the website. "Viacom Outdoor seems to be breaking the rules of [its] contract with the city for providing transit shelters. We don't know what's worse; an outdoor ad company treating our streets like their playground, or city staff turning a blind eye. We call on City Councillors to raise our concerns at Community Council, Planning & Transportation Committee and City Council."

Think Different ships invisibleSHIELD for iPod nano

10/04, 1:20pm

invisibleSHIELD for Nano

The Think Different Store is now shipping invisibleSHIELD, a "super-strong," full-body wrap that protects the iPod nano without masking its distinctive look and feel. Covering both front and back of the nano, invisibleSHIELD is built from the same film originally designed to protect helicopter blades; the clear wrap is designed to stay on under the roughest circumstances and "will not come off unless you take it off," according to the company. "Thinner than a blade of grass yet possessing unimaginable strength, invisibleSHIELD is easily removed and it won't damage your screen. Nor will it leave behind any sticky adhesive. It even has a self-healing property, ensuring that many of the bangs and bumps the film takes will simply disappear." It is available now for $20.

PodSmith 1.2.0 encrypts sync data to iPods

10/04, 12:30pm

PodSmith 1.2.0

Maki Enterprise today released PodSmith 1.2.0, its utility synchronization application that uses an iPod as a key for security. Version 1.2.0 encrypts sync data to the iPod, increasing security of data. PodSmith auto-syncs between Mac and iPod, and provides options such as temporarily replacing Safari's bookmarks on a Mac system with the iPods bookmarks until the iPod is unmounted. Screen and file locking are accomplished by mounting and unmounting the iPod, while PodSmith optionally disables all applications except those specified. Macs are unlocked by typing a password should the iPod be stolen or misplaced. PodSmith 1.2.0 requires Mac OS X 10.3 or later, and is available for $20.

Microsoft ends licensing talks with music labels

10/04, 8:40am

MS ends music talks

Microsoft has broken off licensing talks with the four global music companies, placing the company's plans to start a subscription-based music service on hold. The labels were reportedly seeking royalties of $6-$8 per user per month, similar to what other services currently pay for licensing fees. The Wall Street Journal reported that negotiations broke down Friday "over what Microsoft considered high royalty rates sought by EMI Group, Warner Music Group, Vivendi's Universal Music Group and Sony BMG. "Microsoft has not announced a subscription music service, but it was widely expected to make such an announcement soon," according to Reuters. The break in talks would indefinitely postpone a launch, according to the WSJ report; however, other reports have indicated that Microsoft has also been in talks to acquire a stake in Time Warner's AOL service, which has a music subscription plan.