The company has been trying to move into the entertainment theater for quite sometime and they have managed to flop at each and every try. Why, their Apple TV venture is still struggling to make a profit with many customers expressing their opinions with the system’s lack of competitive and interesting content. The company has been trying to push streaming video and other content through the system but the amount of acceptable content has failed way below their promised mark. Many media giants have expressed interest but are still holding back as they try to see what the futuristic TV system that is hooked up to the internet rather than to a cable system is faring out.
Even the company’s CEO Steve Jobs is calling their company’s venture into Apple TV a hobby rather than a major money earning venture as they have invested much into the project with little returns in terms of profit. The promise of distributing content for the iPhone and iPod’s series of multi-media players has indeed perked up the area but still, major profits remain to be gained.
Apple, though it is quite a median player in the PC and portable markets with their Mac’s and Mac Books is recognized by many in the technology business as one of the most performing companies in terms of stock per stock value which is worth around $15.4 billion dollars with $5 billion added in the past year alone according to Fortune. The company continues to reign supreme with their iPod’s and iPhone which are some of the most wanted gizmos and gadgets on earth as far as multimedia is concerned. As more and more cheaper gadgets with similar capabilities come onto the market, the reign of the multimedia giant would be challenged a lot but not as much.
Tags: Apple TV, Flunking Expectations, iPhone, iPod
Categories: Downloading Legally, DVD Videos, ipods, Mobile Phones, Music, Providers, Videos
In attempts to get music stores into the digital music band-wagon, they have come up with a form of digital music purchase system, well sort of. Several music stores have started to sell digital music cards much the same to prepaid cards that allows users to log on to the online store and get them to download their songs for the nifty price similar to the cost of a current audio cd which is $12.00. These cards have a code which they enter that gives the user a sort of consumable account from which their selections are deducted from from the store in CD purchases or for online use. They download the music/albums they wish to get and even get perks such as additional tracks that are offered only to those who purchase the digital cards.
iTunes has been offering Digital Release Cards for sometime and Sony-BMG has their own Platinum Music Pass which is said to have the rest such as Best Buy and Target on their heel to be offering them soon. These cards would allow more and more people to sample the digital music revolution which is still new to some users. They offer digital download only available add-ons such as bonus tracks you don’t get on the original CD. They may need to hurry it up for physical music stores may be going extinct soon for studies are showing that by the year 2012, digital music sales would account for around 40% of all music related sales.
There seems to be lessening ground for these music stores for the ever-expanding reach of the internet which makes digital music possible. Piracy which still accounts for the majority of digital music’s problems is getting heat from all sides and is said to be addressed with the advent and introduction of more digital music copyright controls.
Tags: iTunes, Sony BMG Platinum Cards
Categories: Downloading Legally, ipods, Mobile Phones, Music, Providers
Some Service Packs have been hailed as a total waste of time, as in the case of Vista SP1 which many users hailed as a partial flop due to the un-noticeable difference in the performance and security of those with them installed and those without them. So for savings in time and effort, one is advised to carefully read the upgrade/service pack descriptors so one knows what is about to be installed and if they are really needed. Some updated may have already been installed by auto update so installing the SP isn’t that essential. There are however some things that these developers do not tell you which comes in forms of very critical updates that are done non-verbosely meaning without the user’s knowledge or detailed knowledge. These may come in the form of patches that are to correct a very elementary problem that leaves a desktop or just about any system vulnerable that was unknowingly left out of the programmers and developers. The auto update feature of windows has the ability to tell you that updates are ready for your system from the Microsoft web page but clicking install and update simply updates them without giving you the details of what and which programs are to be updated. Like the Windows Genuine Advantage tool Microsoft included with patches that suddenly left users unable to connect to the Microsoft Update site itself leaving people pissed and mad about the incident. Microsoft was suppose to use the tool to search for pirated copies of it’s OS’s which would result in denial of access to resources such as the update site. These problems were corrected after a deluge of complaints; the WGA program was also suspended for sometime, but re-instated after the bugs were identified and fixed. Others looked at the tool as spyware with most not opting to install or even trying to uninstall the said tool which was automatically installed by AutoUpdate.
Be mindful of the updates that are being installed onto your computer and try to learn as much as possible about the process by going to the auto update FAQ’s so you get the stuff you need as you need them. That way, you avoid loosing precious space on your hard drives while keeping your system in tip-top shape. More info on the following posts from the IT Security Blog regarding the need for such updates and the problems that arise from them.
Tags: Apple Leopard, Linux, Microsoft, Service Packs, System Updates
Categories: Downloading Legally, Providers, Resources
All of the most commonly used Operating Systems in use require constant upgrades and patches from their developers who may have found some weaknesses and vulnerabilities as they go live online with the millions of users everyday. These patches may be allowed to do their thing automatically which means that the Operating system is configured to check for updates and patches when it detects a connection to the internet during a user-specified schedule. Some come in bundles forms such as the Vista SP1 and the previous XP SP1, SP2 and the upcoming SP3. Apple has also released a service pack for their OS X Leopard and the many open-sourced OS systems like Linux constantly have upgrades for specific modules that may need attention.
Most of these upgrades are security and privacy related which has become the number one priority with the growing number and increasing complexity of hacker attacks. Some of these updates are quite publicized but if one wishes to optimize the usage of space on their computers and they know the workarounds of their operating systems, there are quite a lot of patches and upgrades that can be quite useless therefore the user can opt not to install them. Advanced users can opt to have in Windows for example, to have the OS check for updates but let you choose which ones to install and which ones to ignore. This action is advised only for advanced users and if one does not know which system files are vital and may need updating, just leave auto-update do the whole process for you.
Tags: Apple Leopard, Linux, Microsoft, Service Packs, System Updates
Categories: Downloading Legally, Providers, Resources
One of the new generation music downloads sites that offer music for a fee at very low prices. The site offers something for the casual music surfer and musician alike giving them what they love the most, exposure and access. The new structure of the net has the power delegated to the user or the surfer and out of the hands of the big companies. These sites allow budding artists to showcase their stuff and the established ones access to the biggest social network, the internet. They offer paid downloads of individual song to whole albums (for a price of course). Bands get a chance to create their own blogs site where they can showcase their work for the whole world to view, listen to and enjoy all in the convenience of their desktops or laptops.
Registration to the site is free but music downloads and videos are paid for by users who want to download them for private use. Major labels and artists also showcase their work through live video and audio streaming allowing them to maximize their potential on the ever changing web. They also allow you to get in touch with your favorite bands and artists through online chat giving you more than the usual wave from them making the relationship more productive. Producers of independent bands can have their work broadcast over the net allowing them to reach people from the farthest reaches of the earth.
Have talent and want exposure, they can do it for your band with their many users and live streaming technology, you get to market yourself sometimes even for free which makes it all worthwhile for the budding artist and band. Want to search for your favorite old-time bands, they also have them. The vast collection of songs from all genres allows people from all ages to share and enjoy music like never before. No need to go to the specialty shop to search for long lost records from your high school bands, they make it easy as pie to get your hands on them. No premiums to buy that limited edition CD only to end up converting it to more manageable formats wasting time and effort on your PC. The songs you purchase and get for free come in the most widely used audio formats allowing you easy use and unparalleled quality. MusicMediaFactory.com, where artists and fans meet to enjoy their similarities.
Tags: Free-music, Free-Videos, Paid-Downloads, Pay-per-Download-Service
Categories: Downloading Legally, Music, Providers
It may be easier to find a needle in a haystack than to find a site which offers free music and videos on the web nowadays. Pay for download sites have at least made it more affordable for the music lover to get their hands on the latest and hottest hits off the web which they can use for personal purposes. MP3How.com is a portal which gives you access to music from several sites that are hailed to be the best on the net. They offer some of the lowest rates for people who love music and don’t want to spend a fortune doing so. This is the best option for music labels for DRM has proved to be quite ineffective even to control illegal/pirated music within their borders. Some sites have opted to give free downloads that have advertising included within the tracks as their major source of income. They can be accessed through a proprietary player which also acts as the download interface and conversion platform (for conversion into formats that the myriad of players support some of which have proprietary formats) for the downloaded tracks.
The next, most viable option for music labels is to sell music already in digital format that avoids piracy with included DRM solutions embedded. Major labels have done so through affiliation with music downloading sites in hopes of getting revenue from their music, making it so cheap that people would opt to buy the licensed songs rather than the pirated ones. Asia is still one of the most notorious regions on earth where piracy has become a source of livelihood for the many citizens of developing countries. China, Taiwan, and other countries in Asia have long been at war at these piracy rings but sometimes arrests and stopping one, results in several replacing them and the cycle goes on and on. The key would be to prevent the demand so as to affect the supply which is why sites like MP3How have started to offer membership for less than a dollar to access over 3 million strong collection of songs, videos and TV shows.
Tags: Free-Hits, Free-songs, Free-Videos, MP3
Categories: Downloading Legally, Music, Providers
If you are a college student and you love music, well then you’re in luck for Ruckus is specifically designed for you. College life is hectic and filled with immense pressures (and of course, also filled with party time in between the hectic academic lectures) of having to master and take in different subjects and courses as you go along for a few years till graduation. Some hail this as “the life” for it is filled with hard partying and other forms of entertainment to diffuse the tensions that accumulate through the years spent in classrooms and lecture halls.
With over 3 million music tracks available for down load by college students, it truly is a relief for you PC and Laptop bound kids and allows them to enjoy the music they love for free. The site fuels their free music with revenue from advertising and they do encourage others to sign up and refer as much as they can. Membership, requires a valid “.edu” extension to your email address (which means you are a student of a valid college and they can also verify the said info through the admin of your school) for you to become a legit member of the community. Created by college students, for college students is what makes the site so appealing to the younger generation for they know these people understand them in their music choices and favorites.
With over a thousand member US schools and colleges, the list just keeps on getting bigger and longer everyday. Membership is allowed for, current active students, faculty/staff and even alumni as long as the email address they use has the .edu and that you can provide your graduation date (this allows them to verify your true affiliation). The site’s terms of use is quite specific that the music you get cannot be used for any commercial application and that it is copyrighted according to US copyright and US electronic media laws so be sure to read the by-laws to prevent any unto wards incidents.
” Ruckus, the site for college students, by college students.”
Tags: Free-music, Free-music-for-College-Students
Categories: Downloading Legally, Music, Providers
They have been in business for so long (well actually since the early days of the MP3 format which revolutionized the world of music forever) that they can be considered as pioneers in the area of digital music. Nullsoft, the company who developed Winamp (the media player that is considered to be the first player to accommodate all major formats and some of the not so major ones) have been in use by many a personal computers for many years. The media player Winamp, can be downloaded for free along with music tracks which they update from time to time. They have also developed and released free skins, plugin’s and visualization plugin’s that turns your PC into a disco ball. From psychedelic displays to slideshows, they have them all.
Having been operating in the business for sometime, they have a lot of stuff that as they say is for all music lovers where ever you may be. They also have an internet radio which utilizes powerful Shoutcast streaming technology for audio and content allowing seamless music and unparalleled clarity being one of the best and first streaming music systems on the net. They also have a wide array of video for download and use on their player which you can update from their website as they release new versions. Their affiliation with AOL with AOL Music only strengthens their presence in the market allowing them to drive through many rough times where free music is as hard as a truffle in the ground to sniff out ( well, except for P2P which still allows illegal file sharing of music and other stuff).
Free music is now as hard as concrete to find for even the previously free sites now require registration and payment of a small fee for membership for you to get music and videos. Winamp and Nullsoft can be considered a small to medium scale operation but they will surely be there for the foreseeable future. More power Guys.
Tags: Free-Music-and-Videos, Free-PC-Media-Player, Nullsoft, Shoutcast, Winamp
Categories: Applications, Downloading Legally, Freeware, Music, Podcasts, Providers, Resources, Videos
If one is not much of a download fanatic but loves music just the same, well, then streaming music sites may be the choice for you. You can get the latest sounds for you to play again at the time of your choice and you get to share your choices with your friends online (yes, it’s a social network and you only get to hear the music but not download it). Getting your hands on legal downloads can be a pain nowadays, even with the sudden demise of DRM for most of the major record labels.
Pandora, one of the free download sites for music and videos has restricted access to users in North America only and blocks those from outside of their license area using IP address detection. They do let you specify your email address so you do get notified when they do get permission to share content in your country (which can be close to never). We7, another free download site gets you free music with advertising which is advantageous to all concerned (please see previous post about We7). From the artist, record company, the Sharing company (We7) and the end-user. Who all get what they want with a few ads to bug you from time to time (It’s those embedded ad’s that make them free and legal). Other than those ads, paid downloads and P2P sites, they are all you have in terms of getting your hands on the hottest tracks from the best to the not so famous types(budding independent types) of artists. Then, there’s streaming music or radio straight from the internet (that is if you don’t have digital radio support yet). Imeem, for some of the best music on and friends anywhere on earth, and music too.
Tags: Free-music, Internet-Radio, Streaming-music
Categories: Music, Providers
One of the rising stars in the music download business which offers free digital music for download. It’s free and legal which is the upcoming trend with respect for music downloads. The revolution comes with the inclusion of advertising along with the music or video you download that allows the download site to pay artists a small fee as royalty for their work. This might be the best option for it stands between two sides of music lovers and artists who both want music to be shared and enjoyed. On the other hand, these same artists need a source of income for their work in order to further their art while allowing their fans to enjoy and play their music without the mumbo-jumbo of major record labels.
The idea is novel and the ads might be annoying, but hey, you get free music anyway. For those who don’t like the ad, then you’d have to pay up for your picks. Are you an artist who needs cash and publicity to get you going, become a member and get you music tested by their people to see if they are worth any cash and who knows the heights you’d be able to reach if your music gets enjoyed all over. Their so-called ‘Tasters/Reviewers’ sample music from artists and give ratings or recommendations to other users who in turn end up downloading your work and you get the cash flowing into your pocket for each and every download your work gets (just like all the other artists). We7, the place to be in the next couple of months when it comes to music downloads. Download your tracks onto your mobile devices (which will also show or play the ads that come with the downloads, by the way) and take your picks with you anywhere you go. So be sure to check them out for your free music and video at We7.com for more details.
Tags: Free-Music-and-Videos, Free-Music-downloads
Categories: Applications, Freeware, Music, Podcasts, Polyphonics, Providers
The company has been trying to move into the entertainment theater for quite sometime and they have managed to flop at each and every try. Why, their Apple TV venture is still struggling to make a profit with many customers expressing their opinions with the system’s lack of competitive and interesting content. The company has been trying to push streaming video and other content through the system but the amount of acceptable content has failed way below their promised mark. Many media giants have expressed interest but are still holding back as they try to see what the futuristic TV system that is hooked up to the internet rather than to a cable system is faring out.
