heyriddle said:
I'm pretty sure Sony doesn't use wma. It's their own proprietary ATRAC format, which works only with their players.
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Sony and McDonald's
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I'm pretty sure Sony doesn't use wma. It's their own proprietary ATRAC format, which works only with their players.
nowhere to go but up...
Well, this is true since Sony has 0% marketshare.
Given its use of ATRAC-3, severe DRM, universally-panned UI, I don't think Apple sees this as a threat. Sony Connect is the weakest link in Sony's offering (computer software, music player, and music download): and that's saying a lot when you consider Sony's legendarily bad software and the fact that Sony/Columbia forced Sony Electronics to use flash memory and ATRAC for much too long.
Notice how long it took for Sony to come out with a hard drive player that plays MP3s--not even out yet and very pricey. It doesn't even work with Sony Connect. Sony is running around with their head cut off right now--and Sony isn't Microsoft--they're not managed well enough to turn on a dime. A pity since I like Sony stuff.
It won't be forever, I suspect that Sony didn't really see this as a threat until they iPod Mini. Sure the iPod sales were high, but when the Mini sold like gangbusters when everyone (including Apple by the looks of it) predicted it would do just okay: something crossed the line.
Since Sony all-but-killed off their Palm compatible line, there is some marshalling of forces. But so far, it's been spitballs. I'd be much more worried about Microsoft's entry especially with the new Media Player which they will no doubt bundle with XP Reloaded (which Microsoft may have to give away for free just to plug some the holes in their support/security process).
Not that it'll be any better than an iPod. But then again, when has better won?
OT
I haven't seen SuperSize Me, but it is reasonable to expect that someone eating three square + supersizing whenever offered is going to gain weight and become unhealthy. According to McDonald's own website, the value meal needed to get a free song from Sony would run about 1150 calories (assuming coke), have 50g of fat. I can't get the numbers for supersize but I expect it to be much worse, add in a Double Quarter Pounder sometimes or their Egg McMuffins (basically your daily intake of fat right there) and there is simply no way you can lose weight. So please, do a little research before you take the contrary position.
McDonald's has posted this nutritional information in their stores since the 80's. I've always known this even though I'm slight build and eat at McDonald's in spite of having read Fast Food Nation (much to the amazement of my vegetarian girlfriend).
And no, I'm not Morgan Spurlock. I could never eat three square + supersizing at McD's--I'd think I'd die. Thankfully, there is a movie to prove it: a movie that, despite showing in only 138 theatres has managed to influence TIME magazine enough to do a cover story.
applemacdude said:
Well, this is true since Sony has 0% marketshare.
Given its use of ATRAC-3, severe DRM, universally-panned UI, I don't think Apple sees this as a threat. Sony Connect is the weakest link in Sony's offering (computer software, music player, and music download): and that's saying a lot when you consider Sony's legendarily bad software and the fact that Sony/Columbia forced Sony Electronics to use flash memory and ATRAC for much too long.
Notice how long it took for Sony to come out with a hard drive player that plays MP3s--not even out yet and very pricey. It doesn't even work with Sony Connect. Sony is running around with their head cut off right now--and Sony isn't Microsoft--they're not managed well enough to turn on a dime. A pity since I like Sony stuff.
It won't be forever, I suspect that Sony didn't really see this as a threat until they iPod Mini. Sure the iPod sales were high, but when the Mini sold like gangbusters when everyone (including Apple by the looks of it) predicted it would do just okay: something crossed the line.
Since Sony all-but-killed off their Palm compatible line, there is some marshalling of forces. But so far, it's been spitballs. I'd be much more worried about Microsoft's entry especially with the new Media Player which they will no doubt bundle with XP Reloaded (which Microsoft may have to give away for free just to plug some the holes in their support/security process).
Not that it'll be any better than an iPod. But then again, when has better won?
OT
I haven't seen SuperSize Me, but it is reasonable to expect that someone eating three square + supersizing whenever offered is going to gain weight and become unhealthy. According to McDonald's own website, the value meal needed to get a free song from Sony would run about 1150 calories (assuming coke), have 50g of fat. I can't get the numbers for supersize but I expect it to be much worse, add in a Double Quarter Pounder sometimes or their Egg McMuffins (basically your daily intake of fat right there) and there is simply no way you can lose weight. So please, do a little research before you take the contrary position.
McDonald's has posted this nutritional information in their stores since the 80's. I've always known this even though I'm slight build and eat at McDonald's in spite of having read Fast Food Nation (much to the amazement of my vegetarian girlfriend).
And no, I'm not Morgan Spurlock. I could never eat three square + supersizing at McD's--I'd think I'd die. Thankfully, there is a movie to prove it: a movie that, despite showing in only 138 theatres has managed to influence TIME magazine enough to do a cover story.
First, don't kid yourselves, people--McDonalds is *exactly* the sort of company Apple should be parterning with, because they own the segment. We may never know what went wrong here, but this was a big loss for Apple. Maybe the biggest in Apple's history.
Second, this is different from the Pepsi promotion. The paper peel-offs stand out and people remember to peel them off. Sony's reputation precedes them as well. Many people saw the Apple reference on the Pepsi bottles and immediately thought of the Mac. Many people threw their winning caps away just because they thought it was a Mac thing.
Third, ATRAC is actually quite good. The rest of Sony is falling completely apart, but it will take people a few years to realize it.
Apple needs to try another large scale promotion and it ought to be Burger King. BK is still #2, but they are gaining market share where McDonalds is losing. At the very least, they are the best of what's left.
Sony's offering is less than stellar (and like all recent Sony products, probably won't last more than a year). But after this, people will know about it.
elo
Second, this is different from the Pepsi promotion. The paper peel-offs stand out and people remember to peel them off. Sony's reputation precedes them as well. Many people saw the Apple reference on the Pepsi bottles and immediately thought of the Mac. Many people threw their winning caps away just because they thought it was a Mac thing.
Third, ATRAC is actually quite good. The rest of Sony is falling completely apart, but it will take people a few years to realize it.
Apple needs to try another large scale promotion and it ought to be Burger King. BK is still #2, but they are gaining market share where McDonalds is losing. At the very least, they are the best of what's left.
Sony's offering is less than stellar (and like all recent Sony products, probably won't last more than a year). But after this, people will know about it.
elo
Maxx Power said:
You bring up a really silly argument.
Why would an "artist" care about how much money he or she is making.
You say it's great for someone to spend $100 on a ticket, but there is something wrong with downloading a song? Why do great artists "have" to be paid large sums of money?
A True Artist, produces music or whatever there art may be, because they simply have to. It's something deep down and they have to get it out.
You say "Miles Davis, Elton John, Glenn Gould", great musicians indeed, but with them come an incredible slew of bands from that time period that are not remembered, groups that were pop sensations but died over time, much like what we have today.
Why do you complain about main-stream music, when there is so much more to choose from.
The Music Cycle has stayed pretty much the same, the only difference is more people have access to much more music for much less. Sounds like an improvement to me, and if anything will produce a more competitive market place, where great artists will emerge.
Names of Great Bands/Musicians in the Modern Music World:
The White Stripes, The Strokes, Weezer, Radiohead, Pixies, Outkast, Aesop Rock, The Avalanches, Björk, Cake, The Moops,
iTunes promotions don't have to come with burgers. They could come from Starbucks or Krispy Kreme. Gas stations or grocery stores could give 'em away. You could get tunes in a magazine at the newsstand (instead of the CD-ROM they often package in). You could get free tunes when you open a bank account or buy something from a web site. You could get a tune for every x-many dollars spent at a video rental store or at amazon.com.
Apple, you did soft drinks. Sony is doing burgers. Don't follow with more of the same. Think different and expand to other areas.
Apple, you did soft drinks. Sony is doing burgers. Don't follow with more of the same. Think different and expand to other areas.
Prepare to run like hell...
What's been unsaid is that with the Big Mac value meal ONLY option, consumers will be injesting over 1200 calories per non-Super sized meal. If you do the math that comes to over 14,000 calories adding roughly 4 pounds of fat per album downloaded! Just think of the horror!
Can anyone smell a class action suit vs. Sony and McD's for obesity AND bad music?
Peace
What's been unsaid is that with the Big Mac value meal ONLY option, consumers will be injesting over 1200 calories per non-Super sized meal. If you do the math that comes to over 14,000 calories adding roughly 4 pounds of fat per album downloaded! Just think of the horror!
Can anyone smell a class action suit vs. Sony and McD's for obesity AND bad music?
Peace
Art is making something out of nothing and selling it. - Frank Zappacodycartoon said:
Just because artists like what they do doesn't mean they shouldn't get paid. I like what I do (programming) so if that makes me ineligible for my salary, I hope the boss doesn't find out!
heyriddle said:
haha, this is Sony we're talking about, and they have yet their own music format.. not Protected WMA.
elo said:
Wow, really? Not here in Canada. Tim Hortons has probably skyrocketed to #1 (based on popularity)... and they're now combined with Wendy's, which attracts a wider range of consumers.
Burger King is definitely making a comeback here, but I still put Subway ahead of them.
Yes, Apple needs to think different (and healthy).
jouster said:
Sedentary lifestyles.
I eat healthier now than I did in college but I was definetly more fit in college because I excercised more (walking to/from class and racquetball at least 3x a week). Put me in a racquetball court now and by the end of the 2nd game I feel like I'm going to stroke out.
What was the same between the docs? Eating at Mcdonalds. What was different? Over-eating and laziness vs. moderation and excercise.
Blaming the food you have freely chosen to eat for making you fat is dumb.
ON TOPIC: Obviously no one can see into the future but this could very will give Sony a nice kick start.
Lethal
codycartoon said:
I agree.
But it is very hard to "get it out" when you are working 40-50 hours at some job you hate just so you can pay the bills.
I love my industry and what I do. I can also make a comfortable living doing it. Does the amount of money I make compensate me for the typical 60 hours a week of insanity I go thru? No. But that's okay 'cause I'm not doing it for the money.
Lethal
i think Maxx Power and Codycartoon both have good things to say. mainstream artists can be good though. today all too often mainstream artists sell out to companies or to a certain type of sound because their whole goal is to make money. i've never owned any radio songs unless i bought it before it was played. i don't want to embrace those artists that create to make lots of money when supporting them makes it harder for truely creative groups to even just make a living. my favorite band that i've been listening to since their first CD is just finally getting mainstream recognition now at their fourth CD. some people acuse them of selling out, but they've worked hard and their attitude is unchanged. my dismay with sony and apple and downloadable music is that people are purchasing a regressive form of music, whether that comes with a burger or a soda or not. i really want SACDs or DVD-As (whichever comes out on top) and their players to become more affordable, but the increasing acceptance of lossy compressed audio makes this difficult.
LiciousTheDiva said:
I think the voting was reaction for Apple. The exposure etc. for iTunes and such, not necessarily the food part.
I don't know how much advertising Apple got out of the Pepsi deal, but I don't think it was enough. Hell, it was hard enough to find bottles with the iTunes caps for the first month of the promotion!
Peace
ATRAC
That's right!
I forgot about Sony's new ATRAC format. One positive on Sony's side is at least they are NOT using Microsoft's format like most of the other music stores out there. I wish Apple would license their AAC so companies like Sony or Real could have the option to use it. It is a tough call since Apple is on top with the iPod and the iTMS right now. It has been argued that the iTMS is a loss leader for Apple to sell the iPods. If that is the case it seems that they would want other stores to use AAC since the iPod is the only player to play that format. Don't get me wrong...I love the iTMS and wouldn't use another company's music store, but there are a lot of people out there that think the opposite since it is owned by Apple. I just hope Steve is doing the right thing.
coolfactor said:
That's right!
I forgot about Sony's new ATRAC format. One positive on Sony's side is at least they are NOT using Microsoft's format like most of the other music stores out there. I wish Apple would license their AAC so companies like Sony or Real could have the option to use it. It is a tough call since Apple is on top with the iPod and the iTMS right now. It has been argued that the iTMS is a loss leader for Apple to sell the iPods. If that is the case it seems that they would want other stores to use AAC since the iPod is the only player to play that format. Don't get me wrong...I love the iTMS and wouldn't use another company's music store, but there are a lot of people out there that think the opposite since it is owned by Apple. I just hope Steve is doing the right thing.
aethier said:
I'm sure that Apple and Pepsi would have been more than happy to have the promo in Europe, N America, ect. But first we have to HAVE iTMS for them.
grrrr.
What (or who) the hell is "Tim Hortons"? Seriously. It's amazing that a company could be NUMBER ONE in the country just above mine and I've never heard of it.coolfactor said:
And I don't think I'm alone.
it's tasty! You keep coming back!
- SNL ("The Clinton Gang") with Darrell Hammond as Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton: Everyone loves a Big Mac. But when you finish your Big Mac, you feel kind of queasy in the stomach, and you say to yourself, "I'm never eating a Big Mac again!" But you can't help it - it's tasty! You keep coming back!Vonnie said:
- SNL ("The Clinton Gang") with Darrell Hammond as Bill Clinton
More fun at McDonald's expense...
Male Customer: Do you support the decision to send troops to Somalia?
Bill Clinton: [ chews his McMuffin ] Mmm.. that's a good question. Yes, I do.. and let me tell you why. See, right now, we're sending in.. [ holds us McMuffin ] ..food.. [ puts McMuffin in front of Male Customer ] ..to Somalia.. but it's not getting to the people who need it because.. [ brings McMuffin back to himself ] ..it's being intercepted by the warlords.. [ chews McMuffin some more ] And it's not just us. It's other countries, too.. [ grabs a McNugget from another customer ] Your McNugget is aid from Great Britain.. [ takes it to other customer, then gibbles it down ] ..intercepted by warlords! [ grabs someone's Filet-o-Fish ] This man's Filet-o-Fish over here is relief from Italy.. [ pops it in his mouth ] ..warlords! And you can send all the food you want.. [ grabs different items ] ..a McDLT, hot apple pie.. it's just gonna end up with.. [ puts it all in his mouth ] ..the warlords! Now, with a broad-based international military force, we can make sure that the McRib sandwich.. [ grabs one and places it on someone's tray ] ..gets to the people who need it. [ picks it up and gobbles it anyway ] Can I get a Coke?
- SNL ("Clinton at McDonald's") w/the illustrious Phil Hartman
Male Customer: Do you support the decision to send troops to Somalia?
Bill Clinton: [ chews his McMuffin ] Mmm.. that's a good question. Yes, I do.. and let me tell you why. See, right now, we're sending in.. [ holds us McMuffin ] ..food.. [ puts McMuffin in front of Male Customer ] ..to Somalia.. but it's not getting to the people who need it because.. [ brings McMuffin back to himself ] ..it's being intercepted by the warlords.. [ chews McMuffin some more ] And it's not just us. It's other countries, too.. [ grabs a McNugget from another customer ] Your McNugget is aid from Great Britain.. [ takes it to other customer, then gibbles it down ] ..intercepted by warlords! [ grabs someone's Filet-o-Fish ] This man's Filet-o-Fish over here is relief from Italy.. [ pops it in his mouth ] ..warlords! And you can send all the food you want.. [ grabs different items ] ..a McDLT, hot apple pie.. it's just gonna end up with.. [ puts it all in his mouth ] ..the warlords! Now, with a broad-based international military force, we can make sure that the McRib sandwich.. [ grabs one and places it on someone's tray ] ..gets to the people who need it. [ picks it up and gobbles it anyway ] Can I get a Coke?
- SNL ("Clinton at McDonald's") w/the illustrious Phil Hartman