Entertainment Roundup: AppleTV, Shoptext, iTunes
You Call That News
Sure we all love apple but my questions is, does anyone (who is not an crazy apple fanboy) actually own an Apple TV? I read an article about the lack of success with Apple TV, do they think You Tube will help?
My question is, would you sit down on your couch and watch You Tube videos, or are they really something you pass around at workand watch sitting in front of your PC?
The Medium Is The Message.
The Future Of Live Music Meets Short Codes
I actually saw this yesterday and did not have a chance to write about it so for all of you who missed it, here it is! The service will allow concert goers to purchase tickets on the go with Shoptext short codes. While this seems very cool to me, is it really valuable?
It would be one thing if billing could be handled through you mobile provider, thus removing the need to pull out a credit card. It does not seem that this is the case. Until that is part of the agenda I am not sure how well this will do. After all, the whole point is to be able to buy with speed. If I have to text my credit card number and a short code, I may as well just wait until I get to my PC. Or better still, go on my cell phone and open a browser….
Free The Music
In case you have been living under a rock, Apple had announced a while back that they will begin to peel back the layers from the smelly DRM onion (terrible metaphor). Yesterday they announced the process had begun…at a premium.
$1.29 to be exact. iTunes Plus users will have the freedom to copy music as they please; no restrictions on usage!
You will even have the chance to go back and "plus" tracks you have already bought for 30 cents. I would say that this is a step in the right direction for the music industry. I don’t think it will be lucrative, but music tracks are not the real product of the future of the music industry anyhow. I like to think of the actual music as a marketing tool for a professional musician to capitalize on other parts of their franchise (live show, merch etc.)
Tags: Apple, AppleTV, YouTube, PC, Music, Knitting Factory, Entertainment, Live music, shoptext, DRM, iTunes
May 31, 2007
This is great news for consumers. Apple TV is going to be an open platform for new ways to deliver video to the family room or dorm room.
We at http://www.hungryflix.com are very excited about the future of Apple TV and similar devices.
May 31, 2007
Thanks for covering this story.
A few quick notes – You only have to provide credit card info the first time you order via the ShopText platform. From that point forward you just confirm a purchase with your PIN code. The initial credit card info can be provided directly to ShopText’s automated voice recognition system, or if you prefer via their website.
As for linking to a credit card… our feeling was that this provided more billing flexibility for consumers – you can choose your preferred credit card.. and hence, payment terms.
We hope people have fun with this, it *feels* like a great step forward. We hope that proves to be the case!
Best,
Jared Hoffman
President
Knitting factory Entertainment
May 31, 2007
Thanks Jared!
This is why I love the blogosphere. I can be sketpical about a product and hear from the president himself why my skepticism may be unfounded