Apple's iAd Staff Preparing to Handle iRadio Advertising Duties

[astrobill]

If you could stream music based on your iTunes library that would be cool.

But to get random "genre'" music like Pandora is a no go.

Pandora doesn't give "random" music in the genre....it analyzes the specific song you've asked it to build a station around...IN DETAIL....and carefully chooses other songs that share the same qualities. It's all based on the "Music Genome" project that the founder started.

Have you ever actually READ about the history of Pandora and the technology behind it? Doesn't sound like you know the first thing about how it works....at all. Personally, I'm impressed with how well Pandora works, and it gets better every month.

 

[bbeagle]

We have no clue? It says what it is in this article. It's Pandora with Apple integration. You'll probably be able to use it right in the music app or iTunes on the Mac, which will be cool.

The article is a RUMOR. Geez!

I will wait to find out what iRadio is until next week, THEN I will decide.

 

[samcraig]

Last time I reply to you ever because I feel like I'm getting troll baited... I don't care if Google tracks me as long as they don't shove this junk in my history. Their redirect links do just that and also make it take longer to load because Verizon's DNS sucks. Oh, I also just remembered that my YouTube channel is about to be forced to the new layout. Again, more tracking that I don't care about as long as it's not in my face and annoying, which it is. You're desperately trying to defend Google and call me a dumb conspiracy theorist, and it's obvious. You're forced to use their annoying search tracking system unless you go around them.

The rumors are usually true, in fact, more accurate than what Steve Jobs used to announce.

You're not forced. You can opt out. Just like you have to opt out of Apple's tracking.

And YouTube changing their layout has WHAT to do with "more tracking" ? Last time I read - YouTube was free. And not mandatory. Not to mention - like other services - change their layout from time to time. Just like Apple changed iTunes, their website, how iCloud has morphed, etc.

I get that you don't like to be tracked. Or that changes in layout can be disarming (a lot of people go up in arms over FB every time they make a change).

It's not so much about defending Google (for me) as it is to point out that Google is no more/less "guilty" of doing what others do. They just seem to be more successful at it. I guess that's their crime.

Especially when it comes to ads. People keep saying Apple's iAds were never/are never supposed to be a real revenue stream for them. I think that's absurd. And the tie in between iAds and this streaming service is evidence that they'd LOVE for iAds to be much bigger.

 

[typeadam]

Here's hoping this means iAds will be able to serve up audio ads in other apps - I might actually return to making free, ad supported apps, as my understanding is automatically playing audio ads generate a lot more revenue than banner ads like iAds (plus I imagine a lot more people are willing to pay to remove them.)

As a source of revenue I completely understand why this [audio ads] is done.
But as a consumer, nothing infuriates me more than having a sudden explosion of volume from some ad I couldn't care less about rip through my face - worse still is when you can't shut the thing off or mute it.

 

[bennettave]

iPad mini looking more and more like a car console

It seems that a head unit that accepts an iPad mini might be well suited to replace a car's radio and GPS. I know that car companies are working on integration, but this seems like it would improve that fit significantly. Pretty exciting in that regard.

 

[typeadam]

If you could stream music based on your iTunes library that would be cool.

But to get random "genre'" music like Pandora is a no go.

This. Pandora has become nothing more than "background" music to me. Since I have no direct control over what I hear and can't custom tailor any specific tracks, it has become largely useless when compared to a service such as Spotify. Spotify's only downside seems to be that a lot of artists I search for don't exist.
And on top of that, if I do want "background" music but I want it to be more focused and actually listen to, I use Sky.FM for all my Jazz and DI.FM for all my underground - both having genre-specific channels.

 

[GoCubsGo]

I do not feel as though Apple needed to get in on this radio deal. There are already some bigger players there and it seems as though the market is saturated already. Unless Apple does something remarkable, this is one announcement that is more of a "meh" to me than anything.

Judging by all the "Session To Be Announced" and Lab slots, most being in the "services" area I'd venture to guess Apple will be announcing iRadio at WWDC.

That and the write up says it.

You know what'd be awesome? iRadio with ads for free. iRadio without ads bundled with iTunes Match (at the same $25/year price).

That is a good idea. You won't see the price stay the same, but I would ditch Spotify for even $50 a year, iTunes match + iRadio.

It seems that a head unit that accepts an iPad mini might be well suited to replace a car's radio and GPS. I know that car companies are working on integration, but this seems like it would improve that fit significantly. Pretty exciting in that regard.

Some have already done it. Of course, it is all custom and there is nothing specific to the iPad mini yet. But I agree with you here. I paid a lot of money (as does anyone else) to have factory-installed GPS. It is nicely done but in order to get around now I need to update my maps. I haven't yet, but it is going on 4+ years now. I don't rely on it as much as I used to, but I still use it. I wouldn't mind replacing that with an iPad mini myself.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

As a source of revenue I completely understand why this [audio ads] is done.
But as a consumer, nothing infuriates me more than having a sudden explosion of volume from some ad I couldn't care less about rip through my face - worse still is when you can't shut the thing off or mute it.

It wouldn't have to be sudden. Such an app using audio ads would probably already be using the speakers (IE, in a game or in an audio centric app.) And you being annoyed by the apps is desired - from what I can tell, a lot more money is made by a user disabling ads than a user ignoring them (or even opening them.)

 

[toaster64]

You're not forced. You can opt out. Just like you have to opt out of Apple's tracking.

And YouTube changing their layout has WHAT to do with "more tracking" ? Last time I read - YouTube was free. And not mandatory. Not to mention - like other services - change their layout from time to time. Just like Apple changed iTunes, their website, how iCloud has morphed, etc.

How do you opt out of the Google link redirect? I looked everywhere and couldn't find anything. I know that YouTube is not mandatory, and I may quit because of how bad it's gotten recently, but it is an example of tracking not being a privacy concern but an annoyance. It tracks your feed and social networking and CONSTANTLY bombards you to ask you to join Google+, which nobody uses.

You keep saying that I don't like being tracked. I don't mind tracking as long as it's done behind the scenes and doesn't waste my time.

 

[samcraig]

How do you opt out of the Google link redirect? I looked everywhere and couldn't find anything. I know that YouTube is not mandatory, and I may quit because of how bad it's gotten recently, but it is an example of tracking not being a privacy concern but an annoyance. It tracks your feed and social networking and CONSTANTLY bombards you to ask you to join Google+, which nobody uses.

You keep saying that I don't like being tracked. I don't mind tracking as long as it's done behind the scenes and doesn't waste my time.

Understood.

Although I'll add that Google+ - while not a social networking behemoth - has gained HUGE buy in on the corporate side for video conferencing/webinars/etc via hangouts.

 

[toaster64]

Understood.

Although I'll add that Google+ - while not a social networking behemoth - has gained HUGE buy in on the corporate side for video conferencing/webinars/etc via hangouts.

Yeah, that's true. The video conferencing capabilities are great.

 

[nec207]

Out of curiosity, why is everyone excited about iRadio? I guess it better be vastly improved being that it's years behind other HQ music streaming options.

iTunes Match? I was glad to cancel it. Luckily, the Apple rep said there wasn't a good reception and offered a refund.

I don't understand what this iRadio is ? Apple has had build in music streaming in iTunes you can select the radio stations , talk shows and many genres.

When Kerbango went out of business in 2001, Apple created its own Internet radio service for use with iTunes 2.0 and later.[78] As of February 2008, the iTunes radio service features 1795 "radio stations", mostly in MP3 streaming format. Programming covers many genres of music and talk, including streams from both internet-only sources and traditional radio stations

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itunes

I don't understand apple has had this all way back to iTunes 2.0 .

 

[theheadguy]

I don't understand what this iRadio is ? Apple has had build in music streaming in iTunes you can select the radio stations , talk shows and many genres. I don't understand apple has had this all way back to iTunes 2.0.

They aren't the same. The original radio that you are saying went back to iTunes 2.0 just linked to other companies (or radio stations) who streamed their music. The most you could do was select "jazz" or something. There was no personalization, no radio playing centered around a particular artist, no ability to stop hearing songs you do not like, etc.

 

[nec207]

They aren't the same. The original radio that you are saying went back to iTunes 2.0 just linked to other companies (or radio stations) who streamed their music. The most you could do was select "jazz" or something. There was no personalization, no radio playing centered around a particular artist, no ability to stop hearing songs you do not like, etc.

So is apple going to discontinue the iTunes radio and have iRadio that have more features? Or is apple going to have both?

I seem to be confused with iTunes radio vs iRadio thing.

 

[theheadguy]

So is apple going to discontinue the iTunes radio and have iRadio that have more features? Or is apple going to have both?
I seem to be confused with iTunes radio vs iRadio thing.

Who knows. Neither service is impressive.