 RAIN 10/16: Mossberg likes first Android phone, but not for media ·Oct 16, 11:26 AM WSJ TECH COLUMNIST CALLS G1 “WORTHY iPHONE COMPETITOR”Wall Street Journal Personal Technology columnist Walt Mossberg found lots to like about the T-Mobile and Google G1
phone (which comes out October 22), calling it “a worthy competitor to the iPhone.” The G1 is a little cheaper (as is the connection plan) and has a physical keyboard, and in some aspects Mossberg found it easier to use.
But, the G1 sets a 128MB memory limit on third-party apps, the interface isn’t quite as slick as the iPhone’s, and “the G1 also is a greatly inferior multimedia device… Its music player, while adequate, isn’t as nice as the built-in iPod on the iPhone.” Finally, T-Mobile’s 3G coverage is just a fraction of AT&T’s, and the network speed on the iPhone was consistently faster in Mossberg’s tests. Read Mossberg in The Journal here. CANADIAN WEBCASTERS AWAIT TARIFF DECISIONS ON ROYALTIESTwo proposed tariffs now being considered by the Canadian government would create a legal framework for both publishing and performance royalties for Canadian webcasters. The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) first proposed Tariff 22 for royalties for composers and publishers in 1996. It has been partially enacted, which reportedly means webcasters may possibly be charged retroactively. A 2009 tariff proposal by the Neighbouring Right Collective of Canada would mandate royalties for performers and record labels. CKUA General Manager Ken Regan, in a letter to listeners, spells out the situation in more detail here. Ryerson University’s The Eyeopener’s story is here.
LANE LOOKS FORWARD TO WIRELESS, UBIQUITOUS NET RADIOIndustry expert Jennifer Lane says two recent developments are moving us closer to the day when “wireless (Internet) access becomes easy and ubiquitous… (and) Internet radio… become(s) a utility of everyday life — as broadcast radio is today.” In her Audio4Cast blog (here), Lane calls Sprint’s new XOHM WiMax platform (RAIN coverage here) “the kind of platform that will bring Internet radio to life… XOHM opens that up to all devices, and provides a platform for invention of endless additional ways to use a ubiquitous broadband connection.” Referring to the FCC green-light for a free, nationwide wireless network (in RAIN here), Lane writes, “Open platforms where it’s easy to listen are exactly what listeners want.”
MCDONALD’S SIGNS ON TO PANDORA’S AD SERVICEInclude McDonald’s among the companies advertising on Pandora. The fast-food chain will geo-target listeners in Texas, Kentucky, Missouri, and North Carolina for its “McRib Farewell Tour” campaign. HP, Microsoft, Honda, Procter and Gamble, and Nike have also bought advertising space from Pandora, as have Beck’s and Best Buy for the Internet radio station’s iPhone application. McDonald’s, RAIN readers may remember, was the advertiser when Pandora briefly experimented with audio ads in early 2007 (more here). Digital Music News has more on this latest news here.share: del.icio.us.  Reddit  Digg  Yahoo  Wink  Windows  Google  Newsvine 
CommentCommenting is closed for this article.  Other stories RAIN has upgraded (and moved)! RAIN 9/13: RAIN Summit Chicago takes place today! RAIN 9/12: First Summit in RAIN's hometown takes place tomorrow RAIN 9/9: Summer holidays, "doldrums" impact July Webcast Metrics, but audience up over last year RAIN 9/8: Clear Channel launches new customizable iHeartRadio beta; RAIN goes hands-on RAIN 9/7: Meet more speakers you'll hear at RAIN Summit Chicago in less than a week RAIN 9/6: Clear Channel taps The Echo Nest to take on Pandora RAIN 9/2: RAIN reviews Spotify's radio-like product Artist Radio RAIN 9/1: UK online radio aggregator Radioplayer campaigns b'dcasters to create "all radio" ratings RAIN 8/31: Execs from Merlin, Triton Digital, jacAPPS and more to appear at RAIN Summit Chicago |
