itunes store posts
FeedPosted Apr 10th 2010 2:40PM by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed)
Filed under: Deals, Internet, Apple Inc (AAPL), Technology
Last year, Twitter said it had two goals for 2010: generate revenue and make acquisitions. At the time, the company was still sitting on a significant portion of its last round of capital, and given the $20 million annual burn rate revealed late last year -- plus the revenue it's generating -- it's unlikely that Twitter has had to deplete its coffers. So, Twitter has cash to put to work, and now we're seeing what that means.
On its blog, Twitter announced Friday that it has entered into an agreement with Atebits (aka Loren Brichter) to acquire Tweetie, which is one of the top Twitter clients for the Apple (AAPL) iPhone. In addition to acquiring the application, Twitter is also picking up talent. Brichter's efforts were good for a 2009 Apple Design Award, and he'll be part of future efforts to get Twitter for the iPad off the ground.
Continue reading Twitter Acquires Tweetie, Loren Brichter
Posted Nov 10th 2009 5:30PM by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed)
Filed under: Google (GOOG), Microsoft (MSFT), Apple Inc (AAPL), Technology
Even the thought is hard to believe for anyone who's been watching Apple Inc. (AAPL) over the long run. Once upon a time, the company was presumed dead, while Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) continued its march to market dominance. Today, Apple's $180 billion market value is evidence of a new era. Though it's still behind Microsoft's $250 billion, the company's rapid ascent and substantial market presence make at least speculation of catching up to the Redmond giant worth a few minutes of thought.
Microsoft is currently the most valuable technology company in the world, according to a Reuters report. Even Google, Inc (GOOG), with its astounding brand recognition and position as gateway to the internet, is worth "only" $136 billion. Apple, which was once considered a computer company that sold into education and appealed to some graphics geeks, has reasserted itself as a major global presence.
Continue reading Is Apple closing in on Microsoft?
Posted May 18th 2009 2:30PM by Mark Fightmaster (RSS feed)
Filed under: Apple Inc (AAPL)
An interesting article from the BBC takes a look at how file-sharing web sites can actually make a music act more popular. In fact, the research cited in the article shows that the most-pirated songs tend to be those at the top of the charts.
Think of the potential impact of this on Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL). I remember the halcyon days of Napster and the likes, when you could go online and find songs from various artists (I even found Scruffy the Cat on Napster, not an easy task) and download as many as you want.
Well, when the RIAA and Metallica decided to wade into the fray -- sites like Napster were either summarily shut down or had to start charging for their services.
Continue reading Are music pirates good for artists?
Posted Jun 16th 2007 5:40PM by Richard Driver (RSS feed)
Filed under: Rumors, Apple Inc (AAPL), Starbucks (SBUX)
With the constant back and forth about the purchase of England's EMI Group PLC (LSE: EMI), how much does the often rumored and hoped for reissuing of The Beatles catalog factor? Certainly, if Warner Music Group (NYSE: WMG) or a private equity firm ends up the "winner" in the EMI buyout, the gain that the future release will make must be under consideration.
Of course, that could be the very reason the process has sped up and become so intense in the last month. As Paul McCartney's solo catalog went digital from EMI, his newest album was released by Starbucks Corp. (NASDAQ: SBUX) and fared better than any of his recent albums for EMI. Buyers must be thinking about that success for a former Beatle and what it can mean for the pending remastered Beatles albums. The persisting rumors now indicate that a release will occur later this year or in 2008, but will the buyout be finished before then? Warner has pursued EMI for over seven years to no avail because of regulation concerns in the European Union courts.
In any case, EMI is expanding the Digital Rights Management technology deal that the company made with Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ: AAPL) iTunes Store to other companies. The new deal with PassAlong Networks follows similar agreements with Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) and creates new competitors for iTunes, but all three will sale the DRM-free tracks for $1.29. The DRM deal and the buyout signal that EMI is making gains right now, but will The Beatles release be a part of this growth or the products these developments are intended to benefit?
Posted Jun 30th 2006 3:02PM by Tobias Buckell (RSS feed)
Filed under: Products and Services, Industry, Competitive Strategy, Apple Inc (AAPL)
Something is happening out in the digital world, and it may spell some rough times ahead for Apple. Apple's recent love affair with the mainstream press and non-Apple users has centered around the iPod. The stylish digital media device for many means Apple. iTunes, available for PC or Apple is the reason the brand has taken a more prominent place in the stage.
In order to keep the hold, Apple has to keep providing a great deal of value in its selections. So far the music library has been expanding, and most of the companies are still very cautious. Apple and its similar Fairplay DRM licenses seem like a fair compromise to many. But to get to that involved a lot of hard feelings as record companies sued little old ladies and generated an immense backlash of bad publicity.
Continue reading iTunes store future threatened?
Posted Apr 12th 2006 12:48PM by Sarah Gilbert (RSS feed)
Filed under: Products and Services, Microsoft (MSFT), Apple Inc (AAPL)
Apple has finally found a product, in the iPod, that is an unqualified profit monster. The company is morphing from
niche hipster to provider of music to the masses. And as part of the transformation they're making moves that never
before seemed possible, like using Intel chips and (horrors!) Microsoft software on their computers. New strategies
indicate that Apple is willing to be creative and do some interesting deals, like the one where the Red Hot Chili
Peppers are selling advance tickets to their upcoming tour through the iTunes store.
The obvious next step?
Porn, says Mark
Gilbert (no relation to yours truly). If iPod owners will watch films on their 2.5" screens, surely they'll
watch movies of an, umm, more lascivious nature. It's a huge money business; if Apple could get just a sliver of that
$20 billion in adult video sales each year, they might continue their finally-respectable growth. But is growth
respectable if it's (literally) made on the backs of the naked and promiscuous?
I love profits and all, but
for the same reason I wouldn't invest in cigarettes, I'd feel very different about an Apple (fruit of the tree of good
and evil) sinking its strategic go-juice into porn. Mark Gilbert doesn't agree, with the (flawed) rationale:
"
A search on Google Inc. shows a bunch of companies willing to sell the content and software
needed to view erotic material on an iPod. Apple may as well grab some of that revenue for itself." With this
logic, you could justify anything. I, for one investor, will pass.