Archive for August, 2007
Somthing Funny I Heard Tonight
Friday, August 31st, 2007
“Heck, Britney Spears jumped Michael Jackson’s shark!”
Apple Comes Out Swingin’
Friday, August 31st, 2007
“..after Apple declined to pay more than double the wholesale price for each NBC TV episode, which would have resulted in the retail price to consumers increasing to $4.99 per episode from the current $1.99. ABC, CBS, FOX and The CW, along with more than 50 cable networks, are signed up to sell TV shows from their upcoming season on iTunes at $1.99 per episode. ”
Um, wait a minute. The wholesale cost was absorbed by the original $1.99 price tag. Doubling the wholesale cost caused the retail price to increase by a factor of 2.5? The redistribution cost didn’t increase at all. That’s some pretty screwy iMath. If the wholesale cost doubled, at most the increase for Apple’s price should be around half to three quarters of that of the original iTunes price, depending on the margins. The margins on songs are rumored to be around .30 per, so a guess would be that for a television show, they’re making .60 cents. Sounds like Apple more than doubled their margins in making up these numbers.
Since other services charge much less and have newer contracts (XBLM – $3.00), I sense these numbers are just, well, sour apples.
“Apple’s agreement with NBC ends in December. Since NBC would withdraw their shows in the middle of the television season, Apple has decided to not offer NBC TV shows for the upcoming television season beginning in September. NBC supplied iTunes with three of its 10 best selling TV shows last season, accounting for 30 percent of iTunes TV show sales.”
Wow. Now that’s ballsy. This is going to be fun to watch. Apple never made much off the margins on songs and shows compared to the hardware. Apple is biting the hand that feeds it, because it’s the content that sells the hardware. Jobs has always had a habit of screwing himself over things like this. History repeating itself? NBC is the first, but not the last network seeking to renegotiate a contract with Apple.
Another thought, when the Zune came out, the deal with Universal involved a cut of player sales. So possibly the $4.99 includes the cost of a player percentage Apple isn’t willing to give up.
The blogs are of course, blaming this all on NBC, which is what Apple wants. But I think they are missing the bigger picture in their zeal for Apple. NBC chould counter with more accurate figures in a similar press release. Hopfully some more level headed reporting by the MSM will help clarify the situation as well.
Overall though, this is a huge opportunity for the other players. It will be interesting to see if they take advantage of it.
Update - wholy crap, it’s not just NBC –
“Availability of Web-popular programs like USA’s “Psych,” NBC’s “30 Rock” and Sci Fi’s “Battlestar Galactica” are all affected. Programming from NBC and cable properties like USA, CNN, Bravo and CNBC will be cut off from iTunes at the start of the season on Sept. 24, Apple said.”
NBC Pulls Content From iTunes
Friday, August 31st, 2007
The media conglomerate — which is the No. 1 supplier of digital video to Apple’s online store, accounting for about 40 percent of downloads — notified Apple of its decision late yesterday, according to a person familiar with the matter who asked for anonymity because negotiations between the companies are confidential.
Among the most popular NBC Universal shows available for sale on iTunes are “Battlestar Galactica,” “The Office” and “Heroes.” The company has been talking to iTunes about offering Universal movies, but has not done so to date because of piracy concerns.
This is Universal playing hardball, the original deal is not over yet, and I seriously doubt Apple will let this content get pulled for real. But iTunes users can no doubt expect changes in pricing and bundling of NBC content by the time it’s all over.
In the end though, don’t fret, because NBC shows and Universal films can currently be found on Amazon Unbox and XBox Live. 
I Can Has Cheezburger
Friday, August 31st, 2007
I know I’m late to the party on this, I just recently subscribed to the ICHC blog. It’s had me laughing all week. Too funny.
Back To School
Friday, August 31st, 2007
For everyone out there who had a crush on their hot high school science teacher.
Producing HD
Thursday, August 30th, 2007
Engadget HD has a really neat visual walk through of all the hardware required to pump out HD from a local station in Tampa. Mmmm production equipment – high end geek pron.
Katrina
Wednesday, August 29th, 2007
Two years after the devastating floods that followed Hurricane Katrina, the rebuilding of New Orleans, and much of the Gulf Coast, has largely taken two paths: communities that have rebuilt themselves using private funds, insurance money and sheer will — and publicly funded efforts that have moved much more slowly.
Federal, state and local governments have struggled to speed up the release of funds and restore infrastructure. None of the 115 “critical priority projects” identified by city officials has been completed.
Translation: depend on yourself, you’ll be fine, depend on government, you’re $%&*ed.
A really good USA Today article actually, highlighting what number of folks have accomplished on their own in recovering from Katrina.
One Sweet Looking MP3 Player
Tuesday, August 28th, 2007
The YP-P2 by Samsung. Check out the video at the end, the screen, UI and touch based input are just fantastic. Its even got visualizations. The menuing system is also incredible. Due here in the states by September.
Engadget has higher res video of the interface..
Walter Reed
Sunday, August 26th, 2007
Not sure how I missed this –
The chairman of a House panel holding hearings today on the care of wounded veterans at Walter Reed Army Hospital said problems at the facility are only the “tip of the iceberg” of poor treatment that extends throughout the military health care system. “This is the wrong way to treat our troops and serious reforms need to happen immediately,” said Rep. John Tierney, D-Mass., in opening hearings in the hospital’s auditorium.
..
The newspaper reported on moldy walls, rats and roaches at the outpatient facility where soldiers are sent after their initial treatment at the main hospital. The series also examined the frustrations of wounded soldiers from the Iraq and Afghan wars who face a bureaucratic nightmare in seeking medical help.
Step right up folks, come one come all, and see just how great a government run, tax funded universal healthcare system for all (veterans) can be.
Did The Bubble Ever Pop?
Sunday, August 26th, 2007
Graphs courtesy of the Angry Bear blog and the NYT.
