News Archive for 06/02/21

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iTunes lists first pay-for-play podcast

02/21, 4:20pm

iTunes charges for podcast

Apple's iTunes Music Store today listed the first pay-for-play podcast, charging users $10 to download the 20-episode audio book of Scott Sigler's EarthCore. The series is the world's first "podcast-only" novel, and was published in March of 2005 as a free weekly serialized audio book podcast, according to vnunet.com. The series drew 10,000 subscribers, and was published as a print novel by Dragon Moon Press. Mike Warden, owner of Conquer The World Records recognized the podcast as "really cutting-edge stuff," and decided to take action. "I started listening to the book and I couldn't put my ears down, so to speak," Warden said. "I enjoyed the science and the suspense of the story, but Scott puts so much passion in the way he vocalized the characters of his own book. He's like a punk rock author; he just did everything himself."

"Conviction" to debut on iTMS before TV

02/21, 3:05pm

\"Conviction\" on iTunes

NBC's new drama "Conviction" is set to debut on Apple's iTunes Music Store, 10 days before the series actually airs on television. NBC is the first network to premiere a new series on the iTunes Music Store before it airs on broadcast television, and beginning March 4th episodes will be available for purchase and download for $1.99 each the day after airing. "We believe we have a youthful and energetic cast that should appeal to a new audience that is increasingly comfortable with this downloadable format as a viewing option," said Jeff Zucker, CEO of NBC Entertainment. The pilot of "Conviction" will be available as a free download from February 21st through March 3rd, and NBC will be tagging a portion of its show promos with an on-screen graphic promoting the free preview. Conviction is described as a fast-paced character-oriented story, focusing on the lives and loves of the young assistant district attorneys in New York. The show follows their career paths as the passionate but naive ADAs are confronted with tough, emotional cases that challenge their limited experience.

iPod inspires Nintendo's new products

02/21, 1:50pm

iPod inspires Nintendo

Nintendo's sales and marketing VP admitted that the company is making decisions about its new products based on the concept that has driven the iPod's popularity. Reggie Fils-Aime is quoted in a recent gamesindustry.biz article, in which Fils-Aime notes the "disruptive" style of the iPod. The article says that the iPod interrupts "the standard progression of escalating technology by being more low-tech than [its] competitors, but innovating in terms of usability, pricing and broad appeal... it offers an end-to-end experience in hardware and software which is unrivalled by any competitor, which appeals to consumers far outside the gadget geek demographic." The company hopes that it can use some of the same paradigms that helped the make the iPod a success in its new DS and Revolution products, according to the article.

Toy makers look to iPod for inspiration

02/21, 1:20pm

iPod-compatible toys

The iPod "halo effect" is reaching into the children's toy market, according to a recent report. The Australian IT reports that after the success of last year's I-Dog by Hasbro (at right) and the iZ from Zizzle--both can be hooked up to the iPod--other electronics companies are coming out with iPod compatible toys. There is the Baby Einstein, says the report--an iPod connectable rocking chair-- a SpongeBob SquarePants speaker system for the iPod from Emerson Radio, a set including a stage microphone, drumsticks, and guitar for use with iPod, and more. Isaac Larian, chief executive of MGA Entertainment, says "the iPod is the top toy. My view is why fight them, why not join them," MGA makes a chair which doubles as an iPod speaker.