Oct 8, 2006 | blog
Since installing Vista RC1, I decided to check out URGE, the new online media service from MTV. Since I’ve always been an “I need to own the CD” kind of guy, this is a bit of a change. Also, I’m not a real big music person – that’s my wife though!
The recurring monthly charge makes me think a bit as well – again, mostly because I’m not into music in a big way. I like what I have, a few dozen CDs from my favorite groups so I have my favorite tunes. By the way, they’re called “oldies” now – I’m not that old am I? Guess that makes my dad’s Beach Boys and such “classics”; which sounds more, …well, classy – guess I can’t poke fun at dad’s oldies any more.
Anyway, being the frugal fellow I am (read: cheap), I signed up for the 14 day free trial.
I have to admit right now that I’m impressed. The full URGE library is available, along with numerous videos, many I haven’t seen in over a decade, and other great music-related info and services.
As far as price goes, I’m on the fence. Its $10/mo. and $15/mo. for the ability to sync every track to a MS-based media player. They’ve got annual fees that end up giving you a 2-month freebie. I’m going to look into a subscription – mainly because Amy would make huge use of it.
I’m warming to the idea of a subscription-based model for media consumption, as long as I can really use it without running into the DRM enforced walls. As I don’t intend to pirate the music, I’ll be disappointed to find the limits, unless MTV and MS have done their homework on this area.
Technorati tags: URGE, Windows Media Player, WMP11
Oct 6, 2006 | blog
I have to agree with Lucas, the future of all media will be as downloadable files or streaming media. The concept that any of us owns the music on a CD or movie on a DVD is of course incorrect.
We purchased a license to enjoy whatever recording, and according to fair use clauses in the license, can enjoy that media either in a traditional player or a digital player. Of course there is examples of media companies and the RIAA ridiculously going after their customers 
, and individuals engaging in media piracy 
.
Now the key to all this is a common “fair use” policy that allows us to enjoy any media in a venue we prefer, using a player or format that we choose. In return, we consumers need to agree that there is some type of accommodating digital rights management (DRM) technology to thwart piracy.
In the future, George is right on the money. Whether its a computer, wireless media player (Zune or future iPods), home media center, etc… we will likely not have to worry about where the movie/song is located, we’ll simply select it from a catalog of our preferred online media service and enjoy.
With a mass market, the scale of economies kicks in and for some reasonable charge per month, we’ll have access to huge volumes of recorded works. The differences in these online media services is their pricing, and the type and quality of value-added services they offer. That may simply be an extended library, or maybe conversion of a DVD to an old Beta videocassette that is mailed to you (who knows).
This will be the next generation of media enjoyment.
Neowin.net – George Lucas Sees Movie Downloading as the Future
Oct 6, 2006 | blog
This post is directed to the Windows Live Writer team! I really enjoy the WLW tool for blogging, in fact I’ve been using the latest build since it was released a week or so ago and have not blogged about it.
I could rave about all the features, but I’ll simply say that the tagging, category improvements, performance, PNG support and the WLW Gallery at Windows Live are great improvements to WLW. Keep up the good work!
Now my one negative comment. Pre-set post date info does not work with WordPress. If I want to set the date a post appears on my blog, sometime in the future, the blog mysteriously travels back in time to December 31st, 1969! Is there a chance that this could be fixed? I’ve seen the same behavior in Word 2007 B2.
Fixing this one feature would make this already fantastic tool, indispensable.
Link to: Writer Zone
Oct 2, 2006 | blog
Steve Rubel has a great answer to the “news” that people turn to “traditional” outlets for breaking news.
Link to Micro Persuasion: Duh, Of Course Consumers Skip Blogs When Big News Breaks
Oct 2, 2006 | blog
Robert Scoble makes a great point, blogs make for a great PR tool for CEO’s and corporations. Why can’t more CEO’s make public statements using a blog?
In my own employer’s industry, we could make use of a corporate or CEO blog on many levels. We could speak to product questions, to company initiatives in the community, and so on.
The instantaneous and free-form nature of a blog is such a great tool to communicate with customers, partners and clients – wish we could make use of them where I work.
Link to Scobleizer: Why can’t CEO’s use Web sites/blogs to disclose things?
I have to admit right now that I’m impressed. The full URGE library is available, along with numerous videos, many I haven’t seen in over a decade, and other great music-related info and services.
