iTunes abandons flat-rate pricing and DRM protection

Apple’s decision to switch to variable pricing for iTunes tracks has led to general price rises among its competitors, though there’s something of a price war.

From yesterday, iTunes tracks no longer costs a flat rate of 99c. That’s now the standard price for most recent songs, but older tracks are down to 69c, while the most popular new releases are $1.29.

The music industry has been calling for such a variation for some time, believing that the flat-rate system was deterring people from buying older songs, while the latest hits were underpriced and thus throwing away potential revenue. Apple used to have enough clout to resist this, but competition from the likes of Amazon has left it more at the mercy of the music publishers.

Immediately following the iTunes price changes, both Amazon and Wal-Mart changed their pricing structures, which were already on a variable basis. The two firms have each upped their most expensive price level with Amazon matching iTunes’ $1.29 and Wal-Mart priced five cents cheaper.

However, Amazon has kept several of the most popular songs at 99c, meaning that although it may well be as or more expensive as iTunes overall, it will come off well in many song-for-song comparisons and give the impression that the entire service is cheaper.

Yesterday also marked the end of digital rights management with Apple following through on a promise to drop the copy protection method which many buyers felt unfairly restricted their ability to use the music they had paid for.



Wednesday Geeky Pics: More Geeky Tattoos

By Casey Lynn
Contributing Writer, [GAS]

The last time I found a bunch of geek cred tattoos, I noticed that there were a lot more floating around out there. So here’s a brand new batch of geek ink.

Tagged
Tagged

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A-Pod: The Coolest, Scariest Hexapod Robot Ever

The A-Pod is an ant-inspired hexapod robot featuring a fully animated body composed of an abdomen, a head with a pair of large mandibles, a thorax, and 6 legs. Check it out in the video below. The thing almost looks lifelike!

[Via Trossen Robotics]



Hot New Video Game Consists of Shooting People in The Face

As with everything coming from the Onion News Network, don’t take this news report too seriously. Oh, and if you can’t stand the sight of a bit of virtual gore, you shouldn’t be watching this.

Next-gen iPhone rumors include FM broadcasting and video editing

If the gossip-mill is true, the next incarnation of the iPhone and iPod touch will see the devices add “car stereo” and “moviemaker” to their repertoires.

We reported recently that new generation models of both devices look to be in the works given the version numbers referenced in the newest edition of the iPhone operating system. The latest discovery from the system’s coding is support for Bluetooth streaming. As well as the new devices, the feature will work on the current iPhone and iPod touch once the new operating system arrives in the summer.

The system’s coding also includes references to components which suggest the new models will include upgraded chips which can use more reliable wi-fi connections and transmit FM signals. That would mean the devices could be used for hassle-free playback on any car stereo without the need for adaptors or wiring.

The technology concerned could also make it possible for the iPhone and iPod touch to receive FM radio broadcasts. That’s hardly a major priority, but it certainly won’t do any harm.

Another rumor is sparked by stories that a Chinese firm has received large scale orders from Apple for image sensors. Throw in some job listings at Apple for various camera-related design and engineering positions and several have concluded that means a greater emphasis on camera technology in the new model.

That certainly ties in with reports that the new operating system includes both a reference to an ‘Upload my video’ option in MobileMe and a folder with the type of graphics you’d expect to see as templates and other tools in a video editing package.

By the way, you may remember that in our previous report we noted a mysterious new product code-named iProd which we concluded was likely a reference along the lines of  ‘prototype design’ rather than a clue as to its content. A reader pointed out the name was floated around last April in reports of a patent application for a personal training device (think portable Wii Fit). However, as best we can tell, the name was used by Apple itself and was thought up by a writer for New Scientist in their report on the story.

Bill Gates Facebook Page

Bill Gates Facebook Page

I’m not sure if Bill Gates actually has a Facebook page, but if he does, it probably looks similar to this one.

[via PCworld]

Imperial March Played on Old Flatbed Scanner

You’ve heard Star Wars’ Imperial March played on an old hard drive and a floppy disk before, but why stop there when there’s so many outdated computer peripherals lying around your home or office?

[Via BBG]

From Luke Skywalker To Darth Vader: The Evolution of Cool

By Shea Bennett
Contributing Writer, [GAS]

When we’re very young, certainly before we hit our teenage years, our favorite characters from our favorite movies and TV shows tend to reflect our nature during this period of our lives. They’re often innocents, like us. Possibly naïve and often untrained in the ways of life, our icons at this time almost have a virginal status about them.

As we mature – certainly as we enter and move through puberty – we tend to look for increasingly darker characters for inspiration. These new icons, while rarely all bad or certainly evil, are significantly less good, clean and wholesome than the folk we used to appreciate. They’re mostly heroic, but have an unsavoury edge that is enormously appealing.

Once we are well into our teenage years, and certainly as we approach adulthood, even those guys aren’t dark enough. They’ll always be somewhat cool, but as we age and the demands of life weigh heavily upon us, we become more cynical and appreciative of darkness. Often we will find ourselves, consciously or otherwise, thinking that the mostly bad or downright evil creations are the epitome of style and sophistication.

I present to you, then, four examples of this evolution of cool.

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Astro Boy Theatrical Trailer (2009)

Originally released more than 40 years ago, Astroyboy is a Japanese manga series that was first broadcasted in Japan from 1963 to 1966. It then got fully remade in the 1980s, which is the version I recall watching when I was a kid. Now, it seems that someone thought that the series needed a new beginning with this 3d movie adaptation, which visually looks pretty darn good. For those of you who are old enough, do you remember watching Astroboy when you were a child?

The Celebrity Twitter Diet

By Casey Lynn
Contributing Writer, [GAS]

Ryan Seacrest

One thing I’ve noticed about Twitter is that a lot of people seem very interested in letting the world know what they’re eating. And thanks to the new obsession with celebrity tweeting, I can now have the inside scoop on what Ryan Seacrest, MC Hammer, and Steve Jobs had for breakfast. I’m thinking this could be a new fad diet… after all, we know that everyone wants to do exactly what famous people do, so if they just started tweeting every meal, then we could just follow along and eat the same thing!

As a preview, here’s what some famous twitterers have been eating lately. I’m thinking of writing a cookbook. No one steal my idea!

@Ryan Seacrest had eggs with tabasco sauce at forte in birmingham mich earlier.

@MC Hammer Just finished the fish oil, protein, calcium,fruit and veg(powder) and glucosamine… Now I’m going to dance, rehearse..get my sweat in !!!

@Steve Jobs Mmmm… soy pancakes!

@Ashton Kusher My balls have resurfaced and reported that my liver would like a drink… preferably Vodka tonic no fruit. It’s a picky organ.

@Demi Moore Hamburger fries check Shower check 4 hours to download a movie-sh*t! Bed check Good night!

@Wil Wheaton This is a TRUE FACT: Leftover pizza is the reason pizza was invented.

@Vanessa Hudgens I’m hungry.. Hmm, In and Out burger sounds good

@Dane Cook Sunday = eat whatever the hell I want day. Thinkin’ Fuddruckers burger and fries might do the trick.

@Shaquille O’Neal jam sandwiches two pieces of bread jam togetha

@Felicia Day My goal here is to pose eating a huge ass turkey leg.

@Perez Hilton is craving hash browns!

@Brent Spiner Hitchhiked to a gas station in Flagstaff. Enjoying a Dr. Pepper and a Slim Jim. Best meal in seven years. Hollywood, here I come.