Medialoper

We're Not Who You Think We Are

The Prism DuroSport 6000 – Worst Digital Audio Player Ever!

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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.

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The Daily Loper – March 31, 2006

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Todays links of interest:

Piracy, Perks, and DRM

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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.

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You Say Steak, I Say Not So Fast

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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.

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Watercooler Shows On-Demand

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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.

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The Daily Loper – March 30, 2006

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Todays links of interest:

  • DRM and the myth of the ‘analog hole’
    Hollywood and Washington don’t seem to understand how piracy works. The result of their ignorance? DRM schemes that punish consumers while piracy continues to proliferate.
  • FCC Cancels Some Indecency Fines
    How can you trust an agency that can’t tell time? Turns out some of the broadcasts were indecent, but protected. Or something like that.
  • Lift music is not elevating
    Lift = British for elevator. Elevator music is, apparently, brainwashing us. Remember that the next time you find yourself humming "Run, Joey, Run" in a meeting.
  • Agent Rod Brickman: Copy Protection
    I’m afraid THIS is the future of DRM
  • LAT edict: shorter stories
    Sometimes commenting is too easy — suffice to say, we’ll refrain except to note that blaming the writer is like totally forgetting the magic that is the inverted pyramid. Cut, editors, cut. That’s what the delete key is there for!

Questions For The Commander in Chief

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There is something sad about an entire news story devoted to the return of a television show that was yanked for low ratings. Apparently Commander in Chief, a show I’ve never watched (no fault of the show, just one of those things) is returning to television.

What I find sad is the fact that the Washington Post covered this story straight. As in a factual recitation of the facts surrounding the event. No discussion about the ratings process — heck, I’ve been in the industry forever and, frankly, can’t decipher the minutiae of the Nielsen ratings. And if the show wasn’t pulling the right numbers since just after its debut, what makes ABC think it stands a better chance now? Especially since the series is going up against an ostensibly more popular show?

Why is the show returning now? Is the network playing out the final episodes they produced in anticipation of a quiet death? Do they expect to renew the series (have they renewed the series?). Will the programming be available on iTunes as well? The answer to this final question is, yes, as a matter of fact, ABC slipped the series into the iTunes mix with little fanfare.

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The Daily Loper – March 29, 2006

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Todays links of interest:

  • YouTube Imposes 10 Minute Limit On New Clips
    In an effort to avoid future copyright fights YouTube is limiting the length of new uploads. Guess we’ll have to view those rare pilots in three ten minute parts.
  • Film projection
    Patrick Goldstein spreads the religion: today’s kids don’t care about the sensitive souls who run movie studios. It’s time for the majors to stop panicking and learn to love the technology.
  • When computers do the news, hoaxes slip in
    Noted without comment.
  • Sirius Fear Factor
    You know the old saying about spending money to make money? Turns out spending lots of money is really scary.
  • Hurwitz takes a hike
    This should end the petitions, the vigils, the desperate pleas that someone — anyone — pick up "Arrested Development" for another season. Now, we can all get on with our lives and watch "Scrubs."
  • Can In2TV "broadband television" fuel new growth for AOL?
    Possibly, though they are going to have to offer shows that you can’t get as regular reruns, as well as ensure that the shows are watchable across a wider spectrum of computers than just the latest Windows machine.
  • The next picture show
    A very thorough deconstruction of where we are in the HD DVD/Blu-ray format wars.