We're Not Who You Think We Are
Last week, Jim wrote a concise analysis of “why people download shared music”. I’m going to continue that theme — possibly ranting a bit more than Jim. Today’s hot news is that the studios are (gasp! sigh! swoon!) going to allow consumers* to download movies on the same day the DVD is released.
Needless to say, this isn’t the giant step forward for mankind that you’d imagine. And not just because “same day” can mean “same day” or within 45 days. Your choice. As the Los Angeles Times notes:
by Jim Connelly
As ever, there were dozens upon dozens of April Fools sites up this year. Many of them involved new looks for established sites, or new products or services. While we would never mess with our audience this way, we sampled several others — no way to get them all, of course — but one I really enjoyed is the TeeVeePedia, done by the people at TeeVee.org.
Two of the MediaBistro Fishbowls recently provided similar, but different, coverage of the satellite wars. In one corner, we have CBS eyeing (ha!) the purchase of XM*. In the other corner, we have the apparent trouncing of XM by Sirius.
Of course it’s too early to declare a winner, and given the fact that it’s a big planet, we don’t really need a winner (though at least one ‘loper has predicted a merging of the two satellite providers, at which point, you really will need a “Super-High Intensity Toggle Controller”).
[Read more…] about Satellite Radio: The Game Is In The Bottom Of The First
When we built the Medialoper Review Labs, we had great hopes that our first major product review would be something special, like a sneak peak of a 6th generation iPod or maybe a preview of an Origami UMPC.
Neither Apple nor Microsoft responded to any of the emails we’ve sent requesting review units. Instead, the subject of our first review is the latest digital audio player from the little known DuroSport Electronics Company. You’ve probably never heard of DuroSport – we certainly hadn’t. The company contacted us earlier this year to offer us an exclusive review of their newest mp3 player.
At first, we weren’t interested in reviewing a generic media player from an unknown company—that was before the company’s persistent marketing rep dropped hints that the player in question would be licensed to a well-known Internet company as the audio player associated with a new online music service to be launched later this year. The only thing we know is that the “well-known” company’s name “begins with an A and ends with .com”. Whether this is a legitimate claim or a desperate attempt to obtain media coverage for yet another mp3 player, we were intrigued enough to evaluate the new Prism DuroSport 6000.
Regardless of whether or not the new Prism DuroSport is part of a new online music store launch, we’re certain DuroSport will be a household name in no time – but not necessarily for the right reasons.
[Read more…] about The Prism DuroSport 6000 – Worst Digital Audio Player Ever!
While it may seem hard to believe, the Prism DuroSport 6000 is not the worst product we’ve been asked to review. The DuroSport company produces a line of accessories that are every bit as unique as their digital audio player.
[Read more…] about How To Make A Bad Product Worse: Accessorize
by Lopy
Todays links of interest:
The RIAA tells us that piracy hurts artists, so we all try to be good little consumers who acquire music legally whenever possible. Who wants to hurt an artist? It’s like hurting a kitten.
Fortunately, in the 21st century there are quite a few ways to acquire music legally. Thanks to iTunes it’s possible to build your music collection while draining your bank account in 99 cent increments.
If you’re “of a certain age”, you probably still buy quite a few CD’s to round out your music collection. And, if you are a serious music collector, you probably buy a fair number of used CD’s. Serious music collectors have to buy used CD’s because new CD’s are priced for people who like to acquire music in small doses.
Now I’m going to tell you something you probably don’t want to hear: Buying used CD’s hurts artists.
by Jim Connelly
The thought process, in 4 easy steps:
OMG, OMG, OMG! I so wasn’t going to finish the week with another article on the shrinking windows issue, but I just can’t help myself. How can I, in good conscience, let this reasoning for theater owners freezing out Steven Soderbergh’s Bubble pass?
We want to put up on the large screen a product made with that format in mind. Bubble, and some of these other direct-to-video titles, are simply not. We want to serve steak, not hamburger.
Now setting aside the satisfaction that comes with a good hamburger, hello? Has this guy (Peter Brown, CEO of AMC Entertainment) watched any of the crap that masquerades as a “feature” film? We’re not talking hamburger. Think dog meat. He’s clearly forgotten that DVD is where the money is printed with black instead of red ink. Of course, every film is made with the DVD format in mind — one way or another.
by Jim Connelly
Time-Warner Cable has initiated talks with the big 4 TV networks about a on-demand TV service — but only for the top-rated shows.
It’s an interesting twist: while previous on-demand concepts have concentrated on categories of shows(sports, porn) or specific shows themselves (like HBO’s or Showtime’s on-demand services) — this is the first one with a capability of on a regular basis, based upon what what Neilsen has decided that various pluralities of the American Public deem worth watching.
Call it The Watercooler Shows On-Demand service.