There’s been a lot of hot air posted in recent hours about Apple’s apparent “threat” to pull the plug on the iTunes Music Store if it doesn’t get its way.
This is, to put it politely, nonsense.
Apple would be insane to switch off the Store now. It has invested far too much of its business in products and services that integrate with the Store to just suddenly pull the plug and go home.
The quote that has caused all the fuss is this one, submitted by iTunes vice president Eddy Cue to the Copyright Royalty Board last year:
“If the [iTunes music store] was forced to absorb any increase in the … royalty rate, the result would be to significantly increase the likelihood of the store operating at a financial loss - which is no alternative at all.”
Let’s say that again: submitted by Eddy Cue last year. This is an old comment on an old issue and in no way reflects today’s reality: which is that Apple has invested a fortune in developing a line of products (iPhone, iPod) whose future is inextricably tied up with the Store. Switching it off would be little short of madness.
Of course Apple doesn’t want to run an unprofitable Store, that’s obvious. But what should also be obvious to all is that it isn’t going to suddenly have a tantrum and switch the whole thing off if royalties have to go up. The far more likely consequence is that you and I will have to pay a few pennies more for each song we buy.
Written by Giles Turnbull on October 1st, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Music and News and iTunes.
If you get excited by watching pictures taken by other people then you must try Foto Lite[App Store link]. Foto Lite is Flickr on the go. Create a Flickr account or login to your existing Flickr account. After that is done, you can relax and enjoy (ad-free) photo streaming from anywhere you're connected. features are:
Watch photos streams from around the world
Share your comments with the Flickr
Written by wakuwaku on September 30th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on iPhone TIPS and TRICKS and iPhone Tips and iTunes and native game.
Have fun fun fun! The app name is Geneblender [App Store link] and currently costs $3,99. Look at the pictures of this app and you know what you can do with it. Q: How to? A: Take a picture or pick existing an image from library. Position it freely with your fingers. Add glasses, funny mouth, beard, big nose, monkey teeth and just blend them together using just your fingers. geneBlender uses
Written by wakuwaku on September 30th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on iPhone TIPS and TRICKS and iPhone Tips and iTunes and native game.
Q: What is it? A: A spreadsheet application like MS Excel simply named Spreadsheet [App Store link] Q: How much? A: Currently priced for $7,99. Q: Is this the only spreadsheet program in the App Store? A: No, the app called Tables was around earlier but this app only can do the sum function. Q: So what are the functions in Spreadsheet? A: These are the features:
Zoomable, scrollable cell grid
Written by wakuwaku on September 30th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on iPhone TIPS and TRICKS and iPhone Tips and iTunes.
Chloe & The iTunes Babysitter from Jason Bedell on Vimeo.
OK, this one might divide the audience somewhat.
Here’s Jason explaining how the iTunes visualizer has saved his day, kept his daughter quiet, and enabled him to do some work. You can hear the relief in his voice as he says: “Steve Jobs, thank you.”
Is this the best concept in babysitting since, um, TV? Or is she a little young for Apple cult indoctrination?
Do share your opinions in the comments.
Written by Giles Turnbull on September 29th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on News and Quickies and iTunes.
