Mike Butcher

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Digital Music Weblog reviews iTunes 6: It concludes it is “functionally and cosmetically the same as iTunes 5 for the most part; the big difference, of course, is the presence of videos in the iTMS catalog. Music videos form the bulk of that catalog addition, but the most significant part of the iTunes 6 package is the TV section. It does not replace DVRs or revolutionize television habits, as iTunes 6 opposes bit Torrent distribution of TV episodes, it might not affect that distribution. As a podcast aggregator iTunes will face intense competition, but its first-mover advantage in the mainstream market will serve Apple well.”

So, to wrap up from the Apple announcements. A new iMac G5, with nice DVD controls. iTunes with music videos (2,000 of them) to buy, and the ability to subscribe to video podcasts – plus user recommendations and collaborative filtering which will increase the “Long Tail” of the store. The new iPod plays video. A deal with Disney to time-shift 6 leading US TV shows (not a big deal, but it has long term implications). Ok, a question: The event was at BBC Television Centre. We all expected a deal with the Beeb for video, but the lawyers couldn’t hammer out a deal in time for the announcement. Come on guys, get with the programme! Lastly, and not leastly, the new ability to provide recommendations on iTunes will act as an olive branch to the indie labels who have had trouble getting onto the front page of iTunes. The question is, will it cool the industry’s desire to move to subscription services. We’ll have to wait and see.

So, to wrap up. New iMac G5, with nice DVD controls etc. iTunes with music videos (2000) to buy and the ability to susbcribe to video podcasts – plus user recommendations and collaborative filtering (Long Tail etc). New iPod plays video. A deal with Disney to time-shift 6 leading US TV shows (not a big deal, but its monetising time shifting, so significant). Ok, questions: Where is the camera on the iPod? Haven’t they heard of video blogging? Where is the Bluetooth on the iPod? Why are we still having to deal with all these wires? Moreover, where is the Wi-fi on the iPod? Why doesn’t Apple want to kill a few mobile phone companies? The last couple of points I’d say relate to battery life. Add wireless and you drain batteries. Not great for a consumer device essentially designed to play music on the go. Last question: the event was at BBC Television Centre – geddit? But the lawyers couldn’t hammer out a deal in time for the announcement?! Come on guys, get with the programme!

Steve Jobs, cracking jokes about Disney – movie file.

Note that the new iPod supports MP3, MP3 VBR, AAC, Protected AAC (from iTunes Music Store, M4A, M4B, M4P), Audible (formats 2, 3 and 4) and WAV. So all the basics then…

Barney Wragg, vice president of eLabs at Universal Music International, told MusicBites, that the new iPod made the business downloading both music and videos just plain simple. Pllus, the new iMac was a potential TV-killer. “I had been thinking about getting a Windows Media Centre at home. But now it’s definitely going to be an Apple,” he said.

Barney Wragg, vice president of eLabs at Universal Music International, told MusicBites at the launch of the new video iPod, that the new iPod made the business of downloading both music and videos just plain “simple”. Plus, the new iMac was a potential TV-killer. “I had been thinking about getting a Windows Media Centre at home, plugged into the TV screen. But now it’s definitely going to be an Apple,” he said.

Barney Wragg, vice president of eLabs at Universal Music International, told MusicBites at the launch of the new video iPod, that the new iPod made the business of downloading both music and videos just plain “simple”. Plus, the new iMac was a potential TV-killer. “I had been thinking about getting a Windows Media Centre at home, plugged into the TV screen. But now it’s definitely going to be an Apple,” he said.

Barney Wragg, vice president of eLabs at Universal Music International, told MusicBites at the launch of the new video iPod, that the new iPod made the business of downloading both music and videos just plain “simple”. Plus, the new iMac was a potential TV-killer. “I had been thinking about getting a Windows Media Centre at home, plugged into the TV screen. But now it’s definitely going to be an Apple,” he said.