News Archive for 06/02/16

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Free NASCAR preview

02/16, 8:30pm

Apple posts free NASCAR preview

Apple has posted a free, 20-minute preview of this year’s Daytona 500 on iTunes, following weeks of speculation that Apple would land a deal with NASCAR to sell content via iTunes. The single episode, which previews this Sunday's race, contains exclusive interviews with veterans and rookies as well as "never-before-seen" footage from fully-restored historical film and a first-hand look at the 2006 Daytona test cards. "Fans experience the many ways in which the sport of NASCAR has changed. Go on the track and inside the garage, where you'll see and hear behind the scenes sounds from drivers and crew chiefs." Earlier this year, we noted that both NHL and NASCAR were close to signing a deal with Apple that would offer videos from both sources via the iTunes Music Store.

BBC on iTunes

02/16, 5:25pm

BBC adds more podcasts to iTunes

The BBC is set to offer many more programs as podcasts, according to a report. "Broadcasting House," "Front Row," and "Start the week" will all have content available weekly, says MacWorld UK. Twenty-six other programs are set to join the BBC's current offerings on iTunes later this month, according to the report. BBC Radio 1, 3, and 5 Live, as well as BBC Nations and Regions, BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru will be added to the lineup. All of the progams will reportedly also be available as podcasts at the BBC's website from February to June. Listeners can expect sports, Welsh language podcasting, news entertainment, gossip, interviews, unsigned music, political highlights, and more from the BBC podcasts.

iTunes hurts musicians

02/16, 10:45am

iTunes "steals music's soul"

At least one indie label is refusing to allow iTunes to license any of the indie label's music, according to a report. Victory Records' founder Tony Brummel says that iTunes "makes music disposable. It makes it a faceless impulse item. It steals its soul," according to Macworld UK. Brummel asks why consumers should be allowed to "cherry pick" specific songs, thus "cannibalizing full length album sales," with an apparent impact on artist incomes, according to the report. In regards to Apple's influence in the music industry, Brummel points out that if the major labels wanted to force Apple away from the set-pricing model, they would all pull out their music from iTunes. "Focus on the 96 percent which is traditional retail. Traditional retail supports music 1,000 times more than iTunes does."

Tuneview iPod remote

02/16, 10:30am

Keyspan unveils Tuneview iPod remote

Keyspan today announced that it will launch Tuneview, the first remote control to display the iPod’s digital menu on an LCD screen, at the CeBit show in Hanover Germany this March. Tuneview allows users to listen to play-lists through a home stereo, as well as charge an iPod via the docking station. "Tuneview is a world first; available exclusively from KeySpan and is the only remote control to allow you to navigate the full range of iPod functions via the remote control which displays the digital menu, without ever having to leave your chair!" [corrected]

IceBox X-Clip nano case

02/16, 10:05am

GEAR4 ships IceBox X-Clip Nano case

GEAR4 announced the IceBox X-Clip Series of iPod nano cases. The cases are made of a hard, clear plastic, with options for clip-on features. The IceBox X-Clip is the basic model which ships with a belt clip attachment, and the IceBox X-Clip Splitter features both the belt clip attachment and an interchangeabe eaphone splitter, allowing more than one person to plug their headphones into the iPod. The X-Clip Series all come with a two-peice protective film with cut-outs for extra security and access to all controls and ports. The IceBox X-Clip costs $22, and the Splitter version costs $30.

Amazon takes on iTunes

02/16, 9:15am

Amazon preps iPod/iTunes rival

Internet retailer Amazon is prepping a digital music service (subscription required) to rival music ecosystem that it hopes will help it take on Apple's industry leading music player and music store. Amazon is advanced talks with the four global music companies about a digital-music service with a range of features designed to set it apart, according to The Wall Street Journal. The report says that it is working to develop its own branded portable media players that are specifically designed and built for the retailer as well as a "subscription service that would deeply discount and preload those devices with songs, not unlike mobile phones that are included with subscription plans as part of the deal." Music labels are hoping that Amazon's massive customer may base will help it succeed, in the face of Apple's virtual dominance of the digital market. The pending offering could jeapordize the status of Amazon as an Apple reseller who sells iPods and other Macs. Amazon sells about 10% of all digital music players in the U.S., according to the report.