iTunes Remains: Music Royalty Payments Unchanged

The Copyright Royalty Board announced on Thursday last week that it would maintain the same royalty rate for CDs and downloadable songs, thus averting what could have been a protracted conflict over music royalties at iTunes and other online venues. Apple had gone so far as to announce that, if the royalties rate had been changed, they might be forced to shut down the music store portion of their site. Aidan Malley of Apple Insider reports, “A three-person panel of judges determining the changes for the Board said labels would still have to pay the same 9.1 cents per song as they do today, rejecting calls by the National Music Publishers Association and connected artists to pay as much as 15 cents per song.”

Although this decision is certainly not what National Music Publishers’ Association had hoped for, it brought a rapid end to the dispute between musicians and store operators. Although Apple is not stating that the musicians don’t deserve to be paid more for their work, they see it as the responsibility of the labels to absorb the increase. Malley writes, “Apple currently operates iTunes on minimal profit and claims it would take losses on each sale if it didn’t raise prices, a move which it also believes would be untenable in the current market.”

The conflict will most likely continue in other forms. But for now, iTunes remains unchanged. The iTunes Store continues on as before, to the relief of many music-lovers, and some would argue, to the benefit of musicians.

Cram: A Great App That Lets You Study On Your iPhone

Is there anything the iPhone can do? Maybe not. In that long, and growing list of things that can be done on the iPhone, you can now add that it is an effective study guide. Jessica Dolcourt writes for CNET, that an application available at the Apple App Store, called Cram, “is a solid application that lets you create and import tests on any topic. You’ll be able to take scored multiple choice quizzes or go into study mode, in which Cram provides you with a series of digital flash cards. Cram will flash the question and you decide with a click when the answer appears.”

It is, she tells us, simple to use, but requires online registration before you get started. That doesn’t sound like much of a problem, since most students are online constantly anyway. Dolcourt offers an interesting suggestion, too. “If you’re planning to create your own test material in preparation of an exam, you should consider crafting that online as well. While you can technically–and fairly easily–compose questions and answers within Cram, typing a series of multiple choice entries is faster work with a standard keyboard. If you intend to reuse multiple choice answers to trip up yourself or others, your computer’s magical cutting and pasting abilities are indispensable.”

Any study aides are welcome, and since an increasing number of students count the iPhone among their most valuable aides, “Cram” might well be an invaluable asset.

To import a test, you log into Cram from the iPhone, then select the tests you want. It takes only seconds for them to transfer; you can even import public tests that others create. Of course, you want to be sure of their accuracy.

Dolcourt says, “Cram makes a good quizzing tool for students who respond well to flash cards, as well as teachers and study groups. You’ll also get ecological bonus points for ditching your paper flash cards and going digital.” It’s also had a price reduction recently, which always makes a product more attractive.

The App Store: Most Successful Mobile Application Store In History

Stories of overnight wealth have driven programmers to rush to sell their own applications through the Apple App Store. Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray had predicted that, should 91% of iPhone and iPod Touch users purchase only $10 worth of applications each year, the App Store would generate upwards to $1.2 billion in revenue in the year 2009. In the two months since the store’s launch, however, the App Store has sold $1 million in purchases daily. That would promise a potential in annual sales of $365 million. It’s not $1.2 billion, but it’s hardly a shabby number.

Richard Doherty, Director of Envisioneering Group is more hopeful than his colleague, and says that Munster’s figures are extremely conservative, since iPhones are selling must faster than was anticipated. He predicts, “It’s safe to say that some time this fall, the App Store is going to surpass revenues of all mobile application stores in history.”

MacDaily News, however, reminds us all that at the start there were millions of iPhones and iPod touches ready to be filled. So of course the sales would skyrocket, but would also inevitably settle down. It predicts that the massive sales of the earliest days may not be seen again. That’s not to say it isn’t still an extremely profitable venture for all involved. They simply mean to point out that the sales and prices will normalize, and at some point become more predictable.

Another point is made by Matt Murphy, who runs the iFund at venture firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield — the company which funds iPhone-related startups, most of them software-based.

Murphy says, “Long term, the money won’t be in the fees, but in advertising, subscriptions, and sales of virtual goods.” Apple currently takes a 30% cute of the fees, but does not take a revenue in those other areas. AdMob advertising network, for instance, currently places ads on about 25 iPhone applications. Jason Spero, their VP for Marketing says “Some publishers make $6,000 or $10,000 a day,” from advertising.

The predictions will fluctuate, as will the market. But, from all perspectives, the App Store is hot and expected to remain so. Owners of the iPhone and iPod touch are enthusiastic about the App Store. And, as long as that remains true, programmers will be enthusiastic about delivering new applications to them.

Atari brings Missile Command and Super Breakout to App Store

Atari has brought two of its classic titles to the Apple App Store. Both Missile Command and Super Breakout are now available to iPod and iPhone owners, with more said to be coming in the near future. Atari President, Phil Harrison, said, “It’s very exciting to be bringing these influential and timeless games in their redesigned form to the iPhone and iPod touch, devices which are leading the global charge in innovative handheld technology and changing the way we consume and interact with media,’ he said.

There is a sense among the game-bloggers that this is an indication that Atari is making a move to become a predominantly online company. In bringing these two titles to the Apple App story, the company sees the games as ‘true evolutions of the original hits, with completely revamped visuals taking advantage of the hi spec screen, and innovative gameplay mechanics making full use of the unique Multi Touch interface and features of iPhone and iPod touch for immersive arcade action’.

Both games include 2-play support. And, as an aside, MacDailyNews notes that, “In 1974, Steve Jobs worked as a technician at Atari where, among other things, he got future Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak to create a circuit board for the game “Breakout.”

An archived article called “Why Breakout is the iPod’s default game,” December 03, 2002.

Apple’s iTunes Store Nominated for Exclusive UK Music Award

The iTunes Store is in the running for an exclusive BT Digital Music Award for this year. iTunes users should be sure to choose the winner with their vote. BT Digial Music Awards are won through a combination vote comprised of panel judges and the public, who are able to vote for the winner online, at the website:
http://www.btdma.com/index.php/dma08/voting?a=6.

Apple’s iTunes Store is in the running in the category of Best Music Store. Voting will continue until September 27, so get your votes in soon. The final results are determined through a 50/50 split between the panel of judges and the votes of fans.

Next Page »