APPLE REPORTEDLY IN TALKS WITH LABELS FOR “ALL YOU CAN EAT” MUSIC DEALS Apple is reportedly in talks with major record labels to offer unlimited access to iTunes music for its devices. iPod purchasers could pay a one-time fee for a “comes with music” option enabling unlimited downloads for the life of the device; iPhone customers could get the “comes with music option” or add a monthly subscription fee to their carrier bill. Apple execs intimated to the Financial Times (here, subscription required) that the hold-up at the moment is the price Apple would pay the labels for the deal. Apparently, Apple research indicates consumers would be willing to pay up to $100 extra for an iPod that gave them unlimited music, and iPhone subscribers would be willing to pay $7 or $8 a month extra for the same. Apple head Steve Jobs had long maintained that he wasn’t interested in music subscription deals for iTunes.

REDISCOVER RADIO, SAYS NOKIA Nokia has been developing a number of impressive Internet radio-capable devices for Europe, and sprucing up their streaming content offerings to boot. The YouTube video below shows one of the N series players in its full glory, complete with attractive young people and slick camera work. The whole positioning of the products in this promo clip make Internet radio look outstandingly hip. Check it out for yourself:

(via Hear 2.0)

A SLIGHTLY LOWER-TECH ALTERNATIVE Foneshow will try their hand at delivering audio content like podcasts over a more traditional medium: your cellphone (and apparently, not the data streams, but the actual voice line!). Silicon Alley Insider reports that the content offerings will be made up of “audio versions of The New York Times front-page stories, CNN news updates, Politico.com podcasts, popular NPR content, or The Onion’s radio news.” The company, which is run by former Yahoo exec Erik Schwartz, plans to start monetizing its efforts through ads in text messages that are sent to users when the content they want to listen to becomes available. Read the full story here.

MICROSOFT WILL USE FLASH LITE IN MOBILE PHONES Microsoft’s Windows mobile phones will use Adobe’s Flash Lite technology, increasing the already-widespread use of what may be a wireless streaming solution. Adobe told the San Jose Mercury News (here) that of the top 20 mobile phone manufacturers, 18 — including Motorola, Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson — also use Flash Lite in their devices. One major device manufacturer that doesn’t use Flash, keep in mind, is Apple. Moreover, Flash Lite offers a far more limited experience than the desktop version of Flash.

LEGENDARY RECORD INDUSTRY GOOFS, IN CONVENIENT “COUNTDOWN-ABLE LIST FORM Check out Blender.com’s “20 Biggest Record Company Screw-Ups of All Time” here. “Trying to stomp out Internet radio” did not make the list, but there’s plenty to show that record industry has a long history at balking at technology — and of not giving customers what they want. For example: Thomas Edison making recordings that only worked on his machines (#17), the industry killing the single (#19), the Sony BMG “root-kit” debacle (#9), the RIAA suit against Jammie Thomas (#5), and, of course… well, we’ll let you see what got the top spot (it’s here, though the image should give it away!).

Comment

1. I was really excited about the Nokia internet radio capable devices. I contacted them about, its unavailability in the USA. I only listen to Internet radio & CDs. They stated in an email they have no idea if/when it will be available in the USA. A major dissapoinment!

   — John Blanchard · Mar 20, 01:09 PM · #

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