December 4, 2005 • 11:22 am 0
I’ve uploaded a few pictures to Flickr comparing my old iPod with the new 5G video iPod. Amazing what a few years can do for a product.
It’s great that Apple has returned to the same look as the original iPods. I can’t say that I miss the mechanical scroll wheel – the reason I bought a mini iPod orginally was the form factor- I think the click wheel is a really elegant implementation. Plus, I really hated the 3G iPods with the buttons above the wheel.
Filed under: Apple Computer, iPod
November 5, 2005 • 7:00 pm 3
Business Week reports that Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers have invested $10 million in Adam Curry’s podcast network:
This month, pioneer Adam Curry is launching a podcast network, with 30 to 50 shows that will split ad revenues. The concept won Curry a $9.8 million investment from Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Sequoia Capital, two top venture firms in Silicon Valley. "We saw the amazing adoption across the Net, and it was obvious that there was a big opportunity," says Mark Kvamme, a partner at Sequoia.
After spending 5 minutes with my 5G iPod (VidPod, VodPod?) the killer app is the video- not the voice. I already have several Podcasts (Vodcasts?) that are video-based. Jamming advertising into those podcasts would be a piece of cake. (Check out Channel Frederator if you haven’t already)
With acquisitions like Weblogs Inc. by big media- there’s an incentive to grab viewers/listeners/readers. I’m not sure how they’re going to spend that $10 million, but I’m sure they’ll find a way to do it. Will it give KPCB 50x their money in a (few) year’s time? Doubtful, but they have the connections to sell the network on at a healthy return.
Filed under: iPod, Mergers and Acquisitions, Venture Capital
October 31, 2005 • 5:43 pm 0
“Selling one million videos in less than 20 days strongly suggests there is a market for legal video downloads,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Our next challenge is to broaden our content offerings, so that customers can enjoy watching more videos on their computers and new iPods.”
This is exactly why I downloaded the entire first season of Lost immediately: to support the format and promote its expansion. Anyone for old Seinfeld episodes?
Filed under: Apple Computer, iPod
October 16, 2005 • 9:05 pm 0
I’ve just downloaded the first season of "Lost" from the iTunes Video store. I agree completely with C.K’s comments over at tuaw. Even if the format might be considered "small" by some people, I think the format and distribution channel should be supported.
Since it’s introduction, I’ve become a real fan of the iTunes Music Store- I very rarely buy physical CDs anymore- usually only if there is a DVD included- and this is something that is going the way of the dinosaur with Videos being included along with the music.
I don’t have the new iPod with video (yet), but this will make my evening commute much more fun. Also, since American shows tend to run 1 season behind, I can download the entire season in one fell swoop- at an attractive savings per show.
Filed under: Apple Computer, iPod
March 11, 2005 • 7:07 pm 5
This one is straight from Apple’s eNews March 10, 2005 newsletter:
If you’re after the highest quality tunes and regularly import songs at bit rates higher than 128 Kbps, iTunes offers you the best of both worlds, letting you keep your high-quality songs in iTunes while exporting leaner versions of the songs, sized just right for iPod shuffle.
Here’s how: Connect iPod shuffle, open the iPod Preferences dialog, and click the iPod tab. Click the check box next to “Convert higher bit rate songs to 128 kbps AAC for this iPod.” Then click OK.
The next time you Autofill iPod shuffle, iTunes will automatically convert songs to 128 Kbps as it exports them to iPod shuffle. The original versions in your iTunes collection, meanwhile, will remain in your library at their higher encoding rate.
Filed under: Apple Computer, iPod
March 4, 2005 • 8:11 am 2
Nokia introduced three new phones at the 3GSM event. One of them, the 6230i, plays iTunes Music AAC files. I seriously considered buying the 6210 almost one year ago- now that the 6230i plays iTunes files, I think I know what my next phone will be…
March 4, 2005 • 8:11 am 0
Nokia introduced three new phones at the 3GSM event. One of them, the 6230i, plays iTunes Music AAC files. I seriously considered buying the 6210 almost one year ago- now that the 6230i plays iTunes files, I think I know what my next phone will be…
March 4, 2005 • 8:11 am 0
Nokia introduced three new phones at the 3GSM event. One of them, the 6230i, plays iTunes Music AAC files. I seriously considered buying the 6210 almost one year ago- now that the 6230i plays iTunes files, I think I know what my next phone will be…
March 2, 2005 • 7:59 am 0
Again, it looks like the Music Industry just doesn’t get it:
Some leading music labels are in talks with online retailers to raise wholesale prices for digital music downloads in an attempt to capitalise on burgeoning demand for legal online music.
The moves, which suggest the labels want a bigger slice of the fledgling market’s spoils, has angered Steve Jobs, the Apple Computer chief executive behind the iTunes online music store.
Steve’s not the only one furious.
As I said before, music prices should be *lowered* to reflect lower delivery costs, among other things. I have bought more music through the iTunes music store in the past year than I have purchased in the past 10 years combined. Honestly.
If Big Music raises prices, I will stop buying. Period. I will simply download from dark nets and private servers. The funny thing is, I will be the one they call a criminal.
Via FT.com
Filed under: Apple Computer, iPod, Other
February 24, 2005 • 8:45 am 0
I was very impressed my Apple’s iPod Mini announcements yesterday. Mainly two things:
1. $199 price point
2. 18 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE
Wow. I love my mini- it goes with me everywhere. The size is perfect and the aluminum finish still looks great after almost 1 yr. The only gripe to date has been battery life. I’ve been caught half way between London and Oxford when the battery would die several times…
Now with 18 hours and 6GB of storage, the mini has become a monster….Go Apple!
At least I don’t feel completely out of date though- had Apple introduced color screens also for the mini I might be singing a different tune though.
