The iPod Nation

It has come to our attention that Apple’s iTunes Store has sold over 200 million episodes making it the world’s most popular online TV store. In addition to the 200 million episodes sold, iTunes has also sold more than 100 million HD episodes since the launch of HD programming on iTunes last month. iTunes, which already boasts one of the largest online catalog of TV programming, will be offering primetime programs in high definition quality from all four major television networks. iTunes will be offering shows such as Desperate Housewives, CSI: Miami, 30 Rock, Heroes, etc. Go check the iTunes Store for more information.

- Geoff

[Source: Apple]

The Apple iPhone has just been released in Russia recently, yet they do not have an iTunes Store available for customers. As of the moment, Russia is a App Store-only country. But Apple is currently working on a deal with the three Russian wireless carriers who offer the Apple iPhone to allow customers to get a full iTunes Store ready by 2009 for Russian iPhone users. Out of the three Russian wireless companies, only MegaFon seems to be the closest to closing the deal. According to Vasily Kuzichev, the business development director of MegaFon, has stated that the negotiations with Apple is taking time because content in Russia is more expensive than any other country and the prices iTunes is considering for content in the country isn’t high enough for copyright owners. More details have yet to be announced regarding the iTunes store in Russia, but some speculate that it should come as early as early 2009. Please stay tuned as more information comes our way.

- Geoff

[Source: iLounge]

Check out this article regarding the status of the digital music market. Who can overcome Apple’s stranglehold on the digital music industry? Who can create a better digital music organizer than Apple’s iTunes? Well this article was written by Rory Cellan-Jones for BBC News and he addresses these very same issues.

Digital music – who can beat iTunes?

Every day seems to bring a new announcement from the world of digital music. Yesterday it was the ailing Napster subscription service being bought by Best Buy (sorry, too much alliteration). Read the rest of this entry »

Great artice on some fresh ideas/features for itunes 8. Check it out:

While iTunes 8 won’t cause customers to flock into Apple retail stores like the new iPods probably will, it is arguably one of the most important releases we heard at Apple’s “Let’s Rock” event yesterday. As the epicenter of Apple’s media ecosystem, iTunes is (mostly) in charge of everything that moves between your media collection, the iTunes Store, iPods, iPhones, and Apple TVs. We’ve had some time to spend with iTunes 8, so let’s take a look at what’s new and notable.
Apple’s Genius enters your living room Read the rest of this entry »

I swear Apple never ceases to provide news for the public to consume. Steve Jobs introduced iTunes 8 at the “Let’s Rock” event in San Francisco. So what’s so special about this version of iTunes. Well first off, the new iTunes 8 will introduce the new genius playlist feature. With this new feature, iTunes 8 will create playlists for users as well as recommend which songs would go well together. Additionally, iTunes 8 will have a grid view in which users can view their music through the music artwork. Also, a new magnetosphere visualizer has been added. And lastly, HD TV shows will be made available through the iTunes store. All this in one download. So go download iTunes 8 today and come back to tell us what you think.

- Geoff

[Source: Gizmodo]

Blogger Kevin Rose, of kevinrose.com, has just posted a mock up draft of what he believes the new iTunes 8 will look like. Check it out.

According to the draft, users will be to view album arts through a iPhoto-like grid view. Users will also be able to directly play albums just by hovering over the album art. Sounds amazing. Remember to leave us some comments and tell us what you think?

- Geoff

[Source: MacRumors]

Last week, we reported that iTunes 8 will make its debut at Apple’s “Let’s Rock” event this Tuesday, September 9. Later in the week, we then reported that the rumor was deemed false by Ars Technica. Now Ars Technica believes that iTunes will indeed make its debut alongside the new iPod Nano. Ars Technica has also reported that there is a rumor that a iPhone 2.1 firmware will aso be debuted tomorrow. There are rumors regarding the new iPhone 2.1 firmware in which it was “specifically removed from developer seeds in order to to keep it secret from the world”. Developers have noted that Apple has ceased delivery of iPhone 2.1 firmware beta, which only means that the Gold Master firmware will be ready to make it debut to users. What should we expect from the new firmware? Well if Apple has to hide it from the public, there may be some new features and surprises that we should expect. Check back as we gain more information regardint these rumors.

- Geoff

[Source: ArsTechnica]

This just in! A few days ago, we reported on a rumor that iTunes 8 will be making its debut at Apple Inc.’s September 9 event entitled “Let’s Rock”. It has been reported by Ars Technica, that the rumors regarding the unveiling of iTunes 8 were a little premature. According to the techno blog, unveiling the new software would be too soon as there is much to upgrade and fix on the iTunes before it can be released to the public. Again this is all just speculation. The best indicator of what will happen is to just wait things out and hope Apple will give an announcement soon. Check back as more information comes our way.

- Geoff

[Source: Ars Technica]