iTunes

APPLE unveiled an impressive suite of iPhone developer tools and demoed iPhone applications created by major software companies. EA showed the game Spore running on an iPhone, displaying impressive graphics. Salesforce.com, Sega and AOL also showed off new iPhone applications. Starting in June, iPhone apps will be sold through iTunes as well as through a Continue Reading →

KEVIN MARTIN said he is willing to conduct testing of the digital transition in a few markets before taking the switch national next February. The FCC chairman had formerly claimed there was not enough time for testing. However, FCC member Michael Copps has continued to push hard for the tests and appears to have persuaded Continue Reading →

THE RECORDING INDUSTRY lost a major ruling in Atlantic v. Brennan when a federal judge in Connecticut ruled that merely making music available to other users is not evidence of copyright infringement. The judge also found that no proof of infringement was supplied by the record companies that brought the suit. With two of three Continue Reading →

THE OSCARS drew 32 million viewers, the lowest since 1974. That’s a 20% drop from last year’s 40 million viewers. This year’s broadcast averaged an 18.7 rating and a 29 share, compared to last year’s 27.7 rating and 42 share. The falloff is being blamed on the dark nature of the top films, such as Continue Reading →

TOSHIBA has officially announced that it will stop producing and marketing HD DVD players. Shipments to retailers will cease by the end of March. The company said it “simply had no chance to win,” and that continuing the format would harm consumers. APPLE has signed a multifaceted deal with American Idol, making iTunes the exclusive Continue Reading →

NBC has asked NIELSEN to move sweeps to January next year to avoid complications associated with the transition to digital television. If accepted, the February 2009 sweeps would start on January 15th and conclude on February 14th – 3 days before all analog television signals are turned off. The impact of the digital transition is Continue Reading →

MICROSOFT has made an unsolicited offer of $44.6 billion to purchase YAHOO, a 62% premium on the company’s market price at the close of business on Thursday. If successful, this would be the biggest technology takeover in history. Yahoo’s value has plummeted 18% during this year and the company has faced a losing battle against Continue Reading →

“I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened.” — Obi-wan Kenobi (Long, Long Ago, In A Galaxy Far, Far Away) Many people believe that Obi-wan was referring to the destruction of Princess Leah’s home planet Continue Reading →

APPLE announced DVD-quality iTunes movie rentals and direct AppleTV rentals in HD. Rentals will cost between $2.99 and $4.99 and be available 30 days after the DVD release. Users will have 30 days to begin watching a download and 24 hours to finish after it starts. All the major studios are supporting the venture. For Continue Reading →

iTunes Rentals Apple announced iTunes movie rentals with support from all the major studios. DVD-quality rentals will cost $2.99 for library titles and $3.99 for new releases. The service launches today and expects to have 1,000 titles available by the end of February. Apple TV has been updated to include support for direct rentals — Continue Reading →