#FF00AA

@music@

Zune pricing revealed. As expected, the device’s price is aligned on that of the equivalent iPod (which is more mass-produced, has a slightly smaller screen and doesn’t do wifi, so Microsoft is taking a loss on this one, as they are wont to do); songs are sold for 99 cents, too, but they’re paid with the same Microsoft points as used on the Xbox Live Marketplace. I dislike the whole idea of points as much as anyone else, but I guess it makes perfect sense for them to consolidate all their Marketplaces. People are all the more likely to offer Marketplace gift cards when they know the recipient will be able to buy whatever they like with them — Xbox games, Zune songs and videos, and whatever may be in store next. (Vista sharewares? They have to offer that functionality to Windows developers at some point.)

Of more interest to me, though, is the $14.99 Zune Pass that lets you download everything you want, Napster-style. I know most geeks hate the subscription model, but I really like it (seriously, how unlikely are you to download fifteen songs per month? don’t you like music, or what?), and I like that its inclusion in the Zune business model gives incentive for Apple to finally implement it (and it’s also additional leverage in their negotiations with the majors).

 

@music@

Real Tech News:

Sounds like they are taking the same approach that they do with the Xbox, get the consoles out there and make your money on the accessories and the games, or in this case, songs. But with recent reports coming out that Apple makes all of its money upfront on the iPod, and not many people actually purchase music from them, has to make you wonder exactly how many years they are going to give it.

So, yes, it’s more of an Internet Explorer vs. Netscape strategy (aka, scorched earth), than Xbox. Let’s just lose a few billions dollars just so we can drag Apple into the ground.

 

@apple@

Crazy Apple Rumors Site on the iPhone (if you don’t know the site, that’s humor, not real rumors — sorry for the oxymoron):

The iPhone will come in silver, black and white, but not brown because that’s stupid. I mean, who would do that? Brown’s a horrible color for an electronic device. You’d have to be an idiot to try to… OK, I think I’ve made my point.

 

@apple@

Gizmodo on PC Guy:

Radar interviews John Hodgman, you know, the PC Guy from the Apple ads. And reading it makes me feel just stupid. You know he works for the Daily Show, but did you know he’s a full fledged NY Times Magazine editor and writer, and was a reporter for NPR’s This American Life? Justin Long, the Mac Guy, is best known for working with Lindsay Lohan in Herbie Fully Loaded, Vince Vaughn in Dodgeball, and his cameo on That 70’s Show. Well then.

I guess PC users are really smarter than Mac users.

Oh, and he’s a Mac fanboy, too (of course).