Itunes

• Web 2.0 - A term often applied to a perceived ongoing transition of the World Wide Web from a collection of websites to a full-fledged computing platform serving web applications to end users.  It refers to a supposed second-generation of Internet-based services—such as social networking sites, wikis, communication tools, and folksonomies—that emphasize online collaboration and sharing among users. (2020 systems)

• RSS (rich site summary) - is a simple XML-based system that allows users to subscribe to their favorite websites. Using RSS, webmasters can put their content into a standardized format, which can be viewed and organized through RSS-aware software or automatically conveyed as new content on another website. (2020 systems)

• Social networking - The personal or professional set of relationships between individuals. Social networks represent both a collection of ties between people and the strength of those ties. Often used as a measure of social “connectedness”, recognizing social networks assists in determining how information moves throughout groups, and how trust can be established and fostered. (2020 systems)

• Wikis - is a type of Web site that allows the visitors themselves to easily add, remove, and otherwise edit and change some available content, sometimes without the need for registration. This ease of interaction and operation makes a wiki an effective tool for collaborative authoring. (2020 systems)

• Ajax - is shorthand for Asynchronous JavaScript and XML, is a web development technique for creating interactive web applications. The intent is to make web pages feel more responsive by exchanging small amounts of data with the server behind the scenes, so that the entire web page does not have to be reloaded each time the user makes a change. This is meant to increase the web page's interactivity, speed, and usability. (2020 systems)

• The iTunes Store is an online media store.

• The store is run by Apple Inc.

• On the 28th April 2003 the iTunes Music Store was launched.

• Renamed the iTunes Store on the 12th September 2006.

Content

• Music

• Full-length Movies

• TV shows

• Podcasts

• Games

• Audio books

Pricing• Music - €0.99 per track - €8.99 per album

• Full length Movies - €9.99 - €14.99

• TV shows - €1.99

• Podcasts – free

• Games - €4.99

• Audio books - varies

Milestones

• First 18 hours sold 275,000 tracks

• First 5 days sold over 1,000,000 tracks

• In 9 months sold over 25 million tracks

• First year sold 70 million tracks

• In February 2006, sold 1 billion songs

Milestones

• In July 2007, sold the 3 billionth song and moved into the top 3 of music sellers across the internet

• In February 2008, moved into top 2

• 50 million customers

• Over 4 billion tracks sold to date

• 20 million songs sold on Christmas day in 2007

Features

• Gift certificates and cards

• Celebrity play lists

• Advanced search

• Billboard charts

New Features

• Rent movies

• HD quality

• American Idol performances

• iTunes producer

• Free album artwork

iTunes producer

• Free software

• Convert own tracks to ACC

• Add artist and album name and artwork

• Send to Apple

• Could be available for download from iTunes

• Discount on all Apple products if under the iTunes label

Devices

• iPod (shuffle, nano, video, touch)

• iPhone

• Apple TV

iPods

• All media can be easily synched to from iTunes• Play games downloaded from the iTunes store• Surf the iTunes store with the iPod touch

iPhone

• Surf the iTunes store through Wi-Fi• Download all media and games

Apple TV

• Stream media directly from iTunes to your TV• Wireless connection• Supports HD

Music Retailers

• Second only to Wal-Mart

• 10% of the market

• In 2007, P2P file sharing and CD sales fell while legal music downloads grew

Social Networking

• In June 2007, Apple and Bebo combined

• Now Bebo users could buy song from iTunes without leaving the Bebo site

DRM (digital rights management)

• FairPlay songs (encoded)

• Can only make a maximun of 7 CD using songs got from iTunes

• Can only view songs from iTunes on 5 computers

Advantages

• Wide range of media • Excellent quality media

• User friendly

• Good layout

• Virus protected

• Free podcasts

• Free song every week

Disadvantages

• Must have iTunes

• Need a credit card or set up pay pal

• DRM (digital rights management)

• Some artists are unavailable

• Only works with Apple devices and some Motorola phones

References

• 2020 Systems, ‘Ad Glossary’, viewed 10 March 2008, <http://www.2020systems.com/internet-ad-glossary-a-d.html>

• Cheng, J 2008, ‘Kids don’t like CD’s: iTunes store now #2 music retailer’, viewed 7 March 2008, <http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080226-kids-dont-like-cds-itunes-store-now-2-music-retailer.html>

• Cheng, J 2007, ‘iTunes Store rings up to 3 billionth song’, viewed 7 March 2008,

<http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070731-itunes-store-rings-up-3-billionth-song.html>

References

• Boutin, P 2006, ‘Live from the Steve Jobs Keynote – “It’s Showtime”’, viewed 9 March 2008, <http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/12/live-from-the-steve-jobs-keynote-its-showtime/>

• Dalrymple, J 2008, ‘Apple now No. 2 music retailer in the U.S.’, viewed 9 March 2008, <http://www.macworld.com/article/132259/2008/02/musicretailer.html>

• Cheng, J 2007, ‘iTunes gets into social networking sales through Bebo’, viewed 9 March 2008, <http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2007/06/13/itunes-gets-into-social-networking-sales-through-bebo?rel>