News Archive for 06/02/02

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iTunes U should be changed

02/02, 5:50pm

Columnist: iTunes U too restrictive

While Apple's recently introduced iTunes U has become a useful tool for professors and students at many universities, there are some key deficiencies, according to Infoworld columnist Jon Udell. Although iTunes U works with the most popular digital media player--the iPod--the service leaves out a large population, as non-iPod users would have to alter the file format to playback iTunes U content--something Udell says most people will not know how to do. The column also says that iTunes U uses a URL format that is difficult to share: the podcast URLs cannot be easily copied and pasted in order to share it with others, according to his column. "The Web was first conceived as a means of academic collaboration [and] blogging and podcasting represent the long-awaited fulfillment of that dream. Universities are natural allies of the Web, sharing the values of accessibility and open discourse[;] but the iTunes relationship strikes a discordant note."

Apple to combat AIDS

02/02, 3:30pm

Apple, Bono to fight AIDS with red iPod?

U2's Bono may partner with Apple on a new red iPod in the near future to help promote a new project to battle AIDS. The charity is designed to raise money to help finance the fight against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria in Africa, and hopes to convince the world's largest companies to release special red-branded products while offering a portion of the profits to the fund. The news sparked rumors that Bono may have applied leverage in his relationship with Apple CEO Steve Jobs to persuade the executive to release a product red-branded iPod. Last week the rumors were fuelled when Bono announced an initial list of corporations that have agreed to specially design merchandise for the cause which included Gap, Converse, Giorgio Armani, and American Express. Confirming one rumor, American Express recently announced a new, no-fee credit card in the U.K. dubbed American Express RED3. For every pound spent on the card, American Express has promised to donate a minimum of one percent to the Product Red charity.

Tunecore artists on iTunes

02/02, 1:20pm

Tunecore signs up iTunes artists

A new service has emerged allowing artists to publish their own tracks and albums on Apple's iTunes Music Store, as well as RealNetworks' Rhapsody service without the need for record labels. "TuneCore is a music delivery and distribution service that gets music you created (even cover versions) up for sale on iTunes and Rhapsody without asking for your rights or taking any money from the sale or use of your music." Artists get 100 percent of what iTunes and Rhapsody pay for tracks, and artists keep all rights/ownership of their music. Tunecore charges customers an annual maintenance and storage fee of $8 per Album, EP, or Single, as well as one-time individual delivery fees of $1 per Album, EP, or Single. The service allows artists to publish their works via iTunes U.S., Canada, Japan, U.K./Europe, and iTunes Australia. Users can upload music via the website or mail a CD to tunecore, and the company offers an online art tool to create custom album covers.

iTunes fashion show

02/02, 10:40am

Fashion show to debut in iTunes

Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld will close New York Fashion Week on February 10 with his Fall/Winter '06 line, to be made available as a Podcast on the iTunes Music Store. The debut of the Karl Lagerfeld/Lagerfeld Collection lines will be the first fashion show to be made available on iTunes. An Apple fan, Lagerfeld is using Final Cut Studio to enable the production, which will feature the runway show taped in HD and edited on-site using Final Cut Pro, as well as Aperture to compare the images to be shown on the podcast. The fashion show will be available on iTunes that evening and will link to the fashion house's website.