Apple has sent out invites for a music-themed event on September 1st, leading many to speculate that the company will finally announce an updated iPod Touch, likely one with a camera.
Historically, Apple has announced updates for their iPod lineup and for the iTunes media store in September.
Furthermore, many believe Apple will announce a new generation Apple TV, one that uses flash memory instead of a HDD, an ARM processor, and relies more on the “cloud.”
Apple is currently negotiating deals with CBS, Fox and Disney that would allow iTunes users to rent TV shows for 99 cents an episode. All appear close to signing off, at least for some of their programming.
While still speculation, it is believed Apple will add at least one camera to the updated iPod Touch, while updating the display to a higher resolution.
Apple declined to comment further on the event.
Result for: new generation
Popular DVR maker TiVo and ISP Virgin Media have announced a partnership this week, one that will see TiVo develop Virgin’s upcoming HD set-top boxes.
TiVo will create a custom interface and in exchange Virgin “will be the exclusive distributor of TiVo service and hardware in the UK,” says Electronista. Virgin has been losing market share to rival BSkyB in the UK and the company hopes the new generation of HD boxes will help them compete.
The boxes, besides playing back SD and HD streams from Virgin, will include online services such as the BBC iPlayer and itv.com.
The set-tops should go on sale in 2010.
Result for: new generation
The popular bands Blur and Radiohead have teamed up to fight the British government’s plan to begin “three strikes” laws against Internet pirates, one that has pirates kicked off the Internet for downloading unauthorized music three times.
The FAC (Featured Artists Coalition), will represent the “best interests” of the recording artists, and believes that file sharing in fact is better for the artist, as it encourages concert ticket sales and merchandising. The FAC does conceit that file sharing hurts record sales however.
The Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brien adds: “My generation grew up with the point of view that you pay for your music. Every generation has a different method.
“File sharing is like a sampler, like taping your mate’s music. You go, ‘I like that, I’ll go and buy the album’. Or, ‘you know what, I’ll go and see them live’. What’s going on is a huge paradigm shift.”
Blur drummer Dave Rowntree also added: “The fact that file sharing goes on, and is as popular as it is, is an incredibly positive thing for the music industry. The fact is that music is so popular that people are willing to break the law to get it.”
All the bands in the group add that file sharing is bringing their music to new generations of fans, those that did not grow up with a radio, and instead grew up with the Internet.
Says Nick Mason, drummer with Pink Floyd: “The last thing we want to be doing is going to war with our fan base. File sharing means a new generation of fans for us.”
[More]>>
