Alan Williams's Comments RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.comuser/72116/comments http://seekingalpha.com/article/43040-a-look-at-apple-since-the-iphone-launch?source=feed#comment-92636 92636
On top of that, a 2 year old, used Blackberry sells for less than $10 on E-bay. A 2 year old iPhone will still be a Widescreen Video iPod and a WiFi enabled, hand held internet surfing device worth $150 to $200 on E-bay, just like other high end 2 year old iPods sold on E-bay, even if you don't use it as a phone.

That resale value makes the iPhone the least expensive of all smart phones by $100 to $200.

So much for the expensive iPhone myth.]]> Wed, 01 Aug 2007 19:44:27 -0400
On top of that, a 2 year old, used Blackberry sells for less than $10 on E-bay. A 2 year old iPhone will still be a Widescreen Video iPod and a WiFi enabled, hand held internet surfing device worth $150 to $200 on E-bay, just like other high end 2 year old iPods sold on E-bay, even if you don't use it as a phone.

That resale value makes the iPhone the least expensive of all smart phones by $100 to $200.

So much for the expensive iPhone myth.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/43065-apple-shares-drop-on-iphone-cutback-rumor?source=feed#comment-92634 92634
Another stock manipulation the SEC will not investigate. The SEC has a lot of splainin' to do, Lucy.]]> Wed, 01 Aug 2007 19:25:28 -0400
Another stock manipulation the SEC will not investigate. The SEC has a lot of splainin' to do, Lucy.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/40355-was-verizon-really-wrong-to-pass-on-the-iphone?source=feed#comment-90724 90724
Let's not forget that the 10 to 20 million iPhone customers that AT&T will have by the end of 2008 will all be paying AT&T $20 per month for their, up to now, underutilized 2.5G data network.

At 20 million iPhone customers, that's 4.8 billion a year in revenue in 2009 that they wouldn't have had without the iPhone.

Verizon, a bigger control freak than even Apple is, could not agree to relinquish cell phone feature control, could not see the iPhone's potential, and screwed up big time. You'd think no one in upper management at Verizon had ever used an iPod or a Mac with OS X.

Big mistake. When they do the postmortem on Verizon's corpse, the iPhone will be mentioned by one and all.]]> Mon, 09 Jul 2007 16:38:49 -0400
Let's not forget that the 10 to 20 million iPhone customers that AT&T will have by the end of 2008 will all be paying AT&T $20 per month for their, up to now, underutilized 2.5G data network.

At 20 million iPhone customers, that's 4.8 billion a year in revenue in 2009 that they wouldn't have had without the iPhone.

Verizon, a bigger control freak than even Apple is, could not agree to relinquish cell phone feature control, could not see the iPhone's potential, and screwed up big time. You'd think no one in upper management at Verizon had ever used an iPod or a Mac with OS X.

Big mistake. When they do the postmortem on Verizon's corpse, the iPhone will be mentioned by one and all.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/40382-apple-s-iphone-true-innovation?source=feed#comment-90678 90678
One thing is for sure. If the competition does not take the iPhone threat seriously and innovate their way to equivalent ease of use, Apple's various iPhone models are going to grab a very large market share in a few short years.]]> Mon, 09 Jul 2007 10:23:46 -0400
One thing is for sure. If the competition does not take the iPhone threat seriously and innovate their way to equivalent ease of use, Apple's various iPhone models are going to grab a very large market share in a few short years.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/40209-apple-s-playing-the-eurooperators-for-fools?source=feed#comment-90566 90566
I say bravo to Apple for forcing their partners out of the cell phone consumer dark ages and giving cell phone users what they want, not what cell phone carriers want them to have. Apple is dragging the operators, kicking and screaming, to the holy grail of consumer sales, customer satisfaction.

Everyone will win in the long term.]]> Fri, 06 Jul 2007 17:11:18 -0400
I say bravo to Apple for forcing their partners out of the cell phone consumer dark ages and giving cell phone users what they want, not what cell phone carriers want them to have. Apple is dragging the operators, kicking and screaming, to the holy grail of consumer sales, customer satisfaction.

Everyone will win in the long term.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/40060-isuppli-sees-55-gross-margin-for-apple-on-8-gb-iphone?source=feed#comment-90358 90358
R&D is another matter. Apple worked on the iPhone for 3 years. It's fair to say that most of their R&D budget for the last 2 years was spent, directly and indirectly, on the iPhone.

Apple won't really be making any money on the iPhone until well into 2008. Why no one, in their cost estimates, mentions R&D costs is beyond me. Are they trying to make the iPhone look overpriced?]]> Wed, 04 Jul 2007 12:17:12 -0400
R&D is another matter. Apple worked on the iPhone for 3 years. It's fair to say that most of their R&D budget for the last 2 years was spent, directly and indirectly, on the iPhone.

Apple won't really be making any money on the iPhone until well into 2008. Why no one, in their cost estimates, mentions R&D costs is beyond me. Are they trying to make the iPhone look overpriced?]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/36951-apple-tv-isn-t-perfect-but-so-what?source=feed#comment-87455 87455
Free, open source software can rip any DVD on any Mac or PC into about a 1 GB file that is playable on Apple TV. You store it in iTunes and stream it to Apple TV over your wireless network. It works and it looks as good as a regular DVD on a HD TV.

Once you've seen it play a ripped movie, you understand where Jobs is coming from. To bad he can't market, "Rip it, Store it, Watch it". He's trying to get the major movie studios on board. If the movie studios don't get with it, they'll miss the boat just like the major music labels did with music piracy.

Apple TV works so well I ordered another one for the second HD TV in our house.]]> Fri, 01 Jun 2007 00:31:12 -0400
Free, open source software can rip any DVD on any Mac or PC into about a 1 GB file that is playable on Apple TV. You store it in iTunes and stream it to Apple TV over your wireless network. It works and it looks as good as a regular DVD on a HD TV.

Once you've seen it play a ripped movie, you understand where Jobs is coming from. To bad he can't market, "Rip it, Store it, Watch it". He's trying to get the major movie studios on board. If the movie studios don't get with it, they'll miss the boat just like the major music labels did with music piracy.

Apple TV works so well I ordered another one for the second HD TV in our house.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/36569-national-gasoline-prices?source=feed#comment-87115 87115
The sky is falling. Haven't you heard? The railroad industry is about to make a big comeback.]]> Sun, 27 May 2007 13:10:21 -0400
The sky is falling. Haven't you heard? The railroad industry is about to make a big comeback.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/36429-iphone-apple-making-all-the-wrong-moves?source=feed#comment-86934 86934
The iPhone has a Unix OS that is capable of running a desktop computer inside of it. That OS X inside is capable of running very complex programs on the iPhone. Real games, Excel, Powerpoint and Word clones, the possibilities are endless. The Prada has a below average cell phone OS. The two phones are not the same.

@ Thomas Barta,

One Apple product that debuted overseas, in Japan, and died there, was the gaming console named Pippin. It didn't even have XBox's Japanese sales numbers.

@ Todd,

There are well over 100 million iPods sold so far. Almost every one of those iPod buyers would by an iPhone if they could. Most of them will, eventually. This is not a Microsoft phone we are talking about. The first generation iPhone will be very good. There is no need to wait until the third or fourth generation to get a very competitive product from Steve Jobs' Apple.
Another point, the iPhone may be thought of as a smart phone but it will appeal to all cell phone users because it is easy to use and it is also a video iPod.]]> Thu, 24 May 2007 13:16:42 -0400
The iPhone has a Unix OS that is capable of running a desktop computer inside of it. That OS X inside is capable of running very complex programs on the iPhone. Real games, Excel, Powerpoint and Word clones, the possibilities are endless. The Prada has a below average cell phone OS. The two phones are not the same.

@ Thomas Barta,

One Apple product that debuted overseas, in Japan, and died there, was the gaming console named Pippin. It didn't even have XBox's Japanese sales numbers.

@ Todd,

There are well over 100 million iPods sold so far. Almost every one of those iPod buyers would by an iPhone if they could. Most of them will, eventually. This is not a Microsoft phone we are talking about. The first generation iPhone will be very good. There is no need to wait until the third or fourth generation to get a very competitive product from Steve Jobs' Apple.
Another point, the iPhone may be thought of as a smart phone but it will appeal to all cell phone users because it is easy to use and it is also a video iPod.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/35997-online-ad-bubble-aquantive-deal-makes-no-financial-sense-for-microsoft?source=feed#comment-86594 86594 Sun, 20 May 2007 11:52:06 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/35694-is-the-sec-giving-apple-a-pass-on-disclosures?source=feed#comment-86310 86310
All of the Mac computer models use OS X and they form part of the computer and software side of the business. That's a no brainer.

iPods require iTunes software in order to operate. Many would say that the iPod would not be the hit it is if iTunes wasn't the best MP3 player support software on the planet. The OS that runs the iPod was mostly written by Apple. OS X will soon power the top end widescreen video iPods. iPods are driving the growing number of switchers from Windows to Mac computers. The whole iPod line could be put into the computer and software side of the business since they are so intertwined with it.

Apple TV is a computer that runs OS X. It is used as a set top box but it is a stand alone computer by anyone's definition. That sounds like part of the computer and software side of the business to me.

The iPhone will use OS X for it's operating system. It has a CPU, storage, input and output capabilities, a display, runs programs and games and the list goes on. It also needs iTunes software to run properly. It may be a cell phone but it's also an iPod, a camera, a PDA and a computer. A case can be made that the iPhone is also part of the computer and software side of the business.

The retail end is and should be separate.

Let's face it, the hardware in the every manufacturers' computers, phones and MP3 players is all from the same sources. The difference between Apple's products and everybody else's offerings is great design and great software.

Everything they make is part of their software business.]]> Wed, 16 May 2007 12:52:19 -0400
All of the Mac computer models use OS X and they form part of the computer and software side of the business. That's a no brainer.

iPods require iTunes software in order to operate. Many would say that the iPod would not be the hit it is if iTunes wasn't the best MP3 player support software on the planet. The OS that runs the iPod was mostly written by Apple. OS X will soon power the top end widescreen video iPods. iPods are driving the growing number of switchers from Windows to Mac computers. The whole iPod line could be put into the computer and software side of the business since they are so intertwined with it.

Apple TV is a computer that runs OS X. It is used as a set top box but it is a stand alone computer by anyone's definition. That sounds like part of the computer and software side of the business to me.

The iPhone will use OS X for it's operating system. It has a CPU, storage, input and output capabilities, a display, runs programs and games and the list goes on. It also needs iTunes software to run properly. It may be a cell phone but it's also an iPod, a camera, a PDA and a computer. A case can be made that the iPhone is also part of the computer and software side of the business.

The retail end is and should be separate.

Let's face it, the hardware in the every manufacturers' computers, phones and MP3 players is all from the same sources. The difference between Apple's products and everybody else's offerings is great design and great software.

Everything they make is part of their software business.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/35621-the-iphone-apple-s-first-flop?source=feed#comment-86221 86221
As for the purchase price, in two years, when you upgrade your iPhone, you will be able to resell your old iPhone for about 50% of what you paid for it, if the iPod and Mac resale markets are any indicator.

Apple sold 100 million iPods in the first 5.5 years. The iPhone sales will break that record.]]> Tue, 15 May 2007 15:23:28 -0400
As for the purchase price, in two years, when you upgrade your iPhone, you will be able to resell your old iPhone for about 50% of what you paid for it, if the iPod and Mac resale markets are any indicator.

Apple sold 100 million iPods in the first 5.5 years. The iPhone sales will break that record.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/35519-microsofts-open-source-claim-what-are-these-patents-really-all-about?source=feed#comment-86214 86214
We are going to sue Linux Distributors so don't go switching away from Windows to desktop Linux and get caught in the crossfire.

Microsoft, through Steve Ballmer, has been openly accusing Linux users of patent violations, for 2 or 3 years now, without actually saying which patents have been violated. Since they have never disclosed the specific violations they have probably lost the rights to defend those patents in question.

Given the recent Supreme Court ruling on Software Patents, the patents were probably indefensible in the first place.]]> Tue, 15 May 2007 15:00:22 -0400
We are going to sue Linux Distributors so don't go switching away from Windows to desktop Linux and get caught in the crossfire.

Microsoft, through Steve Ballmer, has been openly accusing Linux users of patent violations, for 2 or 3 years now, without actually saying which patents have been violated. Since they have never disclosed the specific violations they have probably lost the rights to defend those patents in question.

Given the recent Supreme Court ruling on Software Patents, the patents were probably indefensible in the first place.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/35334-apple-s-leopard-end-of-the-desktop-as-we-know-it?source=feed#comment-86114 86114
In Redmond the mantra is, "Let's see how many different ways, to do the same thing, we can build into this puppy." They also think all end users are appallingly stupid. Why else would they repeatedly ask, "Are you sure you want to do this task?" Microsoft calls all these redundancies innovative, new features.

When Leopard is released, Microsoft will be embarrassed into improving Windows for real next time. That alone will be worth the wait.]]> Mon, 14 May 2007 16:03:27 -0400
In Redmond the mantra is, "Let's see how many different ways, to do the same thing, we can build into this puppy." They also think all end users are appallingly stupid. Why else would they repeatedly ask, "Are you sure you want to do this task?" Microsoft calls all these redundancies innovative, new features.

When Leopard is released, Microsoft will be embarrassed into improving Windows for real next time. That alone will be worth the wait.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/35109-apple-s-iphone-and-the-future-of-qualcomm?source=feed#comment-85917 85917
Apple has sold over 100 million iPods. The iPhone is a cell phone, a camera, a hand held, WiFi equipped, internet browsing device, a hand held computer with a full fledged, Unix based, computer OS and, last but not least, it is the best video iPod ever made.

This iPhone is also a wide screened, video iPod capable of carrying and playing 2 to 6 full length feature films. Every happy iPod purchaser wants one. Jobs' prediction of 10 million iPhones sold by the end of 2008 is extremely conservative.

Get with the program. iPhone is not just a smart phone. It's much, much more and unlike all other phones, it will just work.]]> Thu, 10 May 2007 23:39:21 -0400
Apple has sold over 100 million iPods. The iPhone is a cell phone, a camera, a hand held, WiFi equipped, internet browsing device, a hand held computer with a full fledged, Unix based, computer OS and, last but not least, it is the best video iPod ever made.

This iPhone is also a wide screened, video iPod capable of carrying and playing 2 to 6 full length feature films. Every happy iPod purchaser wants one. Jobs' prediction of 10 million iPhones sold by the end of 2008 is extremely conservative.

Get with the program. iPhone is not just a smart phone. It's much, much more and unlike all other phones, it will just work.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/35131-apple-ramps-up-mac-distribution-to-8-000-purchase-points?source=feed#comment-85901 85901
Apple's store within a store at Best Buy only works because Apple pays trained Mac users to set up, demo and help sell the Macs on display.]]> Thu, 10 May 2007 18:06:17 -0400
Apple's store within a store at Best Buy only works because Apple pays trained Mac users to set up, demo and help sell the Macs on display.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/34561-microsoft-yahoo-the-reasoning-is-sound?source=feed#comment-85570 85570
Yahoo will be no exception.

Microsoft will wish it still had that $50 billion in the bank in 3 or 4 years.]]> Sat, 05 May 2007 21:35:55 -0400
Yahoo will be no exception.

Microsoft will wish it still had that $50 billion in the bank in 3 or 4 years.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/34501-apple-s-iphone-rocks-the-cell-phone-industry?source=feed#comment-85451 85451
I expect a full line of medium to high end iPhones, including G3 iPhones, marketed in other first world countries following the initial success in America.]]> Fri, 04 May 2007 09:17:20 -0400
I expect a full line of medium to high end iPhones, including G3 iPhones, marketed in other first world countries following the initial success in America.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/34336-apple-s-iphone-and-the-future-of-intel?source=feed#comment-85407 85407
OS X is very scaleable and is currently running on 3 very different processors. The iPhone with OS X can use any chip Apple chooses to put into it, including Intel's new baby.

The iPhone be a mind blower. Apple should have called it The Real Origami. It will do everything Microsoft promised the Origami Project would do but failed to deliver.]]> Thu, 03 May 2007 15:14:21 -0400
OS X is very scaleable and is currently running on 3 very different processors. The iPhone with OS X can use any chip Apple chooses to put into it, including Intel's new baby.

The iPhone be a mind blower. Apple should have called it The Real Origami. It will do everything Microsoft promised the Origami Project would do but failed to deliver.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/34375-steve-jobs-presents-apple-s-green-it-strategy-blasts-dell-hp?source=feed#comment-85404 85404
Greenpeace was using Apple's cache to spur on it's own very lucrative membership drives and they did not care where Apple was actually ranked environmentally. They just used press releases as the sole sources of their environmental information. Pretty shoddy green watchdog workmanship there, I must say.]]> Thu, 03 May 2007 13:16:53 -0400
Greenpeace was using Apple's cache to spur on it's own very lucrative membership drives and they did not care where Apple was actually ranked environmentally. They just used press releases as the sole sources of their environmental information. Pretty shoddy green watchdog workmanship there, I must say.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/33399-apple-s-iphone-and-the-future-of-nokia?source=feed#comment-85024 85024 Apple's iPod works well with Windows and already syncs data, contacts and schedules. Im' sure iPhone will have no trouble following iPod's footsteps. Furthermore iPhone syncs with wirelessly with bluetooth, not USB. I am sure MS Office compatibility will be available at extra cost. Business will love the iPhone.]]> Wed, 25 Apr 2007 23:19:23 -0400 Apple's iPod works well with Windows and already syncs data, contacts and schedules. Im' sure iPhone will have no trouble following iPod's footsteps. Furthermore iPhone syncs with wirelessly with bluetooth, not USB. I am sure MS Office compatibility will be available at extra cost. Business will love the iPhone.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/33442-how-is-steve-jobs-avoiding-the-sec-heat?source=feed#comment-84955 84955
The SEC is there to protect the shareholders. Except for the odd resident of Redmond WA who holds a single share, I don't think any shareholder would gain from taking this thing any further.

Steve Jobs was CEO at Next and Pixar before he became CEO of Apple and Pixar. While holding down two major CEO positions, he had neither the time nor the patience to be a numbers man. He relied on Accountants and Lawyers to keep to straight and narrow. While the buck stops at the CEO's desk, the CEO, in this case, did not profit from the backdating practices which began before he came back to Apple. The CFO and the Head of the Legal department did profit. They are being punished by the SEC and rightly so. The legal department failed to protect Apple and it's CEO. That will not happen again.]]> Wed, 25 Apr 2007 12:41:16 -0400
The SEC is there to protect the shareholders. Except for the odd resident of Redmond WA who holds a single share, I don't think any shareholder would gain from taking this thing any further.

Steve Jobs was CEO at Next and Pixar before he became CEO of Apple and Pixar. While holding down two major CEO positions, he had neither the time nor the patience to be a numbers man. He relied on Accountants and Lawyers to keep to straight and narrow. While the buck stops at the CEO's desk, the CEO, in this case, did not profit from the backdating practices which began before he came back to Apple. The CFO and the Head of the Legal department did profit. They are being punished by the SEC and rightly so. The legal department failed to protect Apple and it's CEO. That will not happen again.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/33399-apple-s-iphone-and-the-future-of-nokia?source=feed#comment-84950 84950
The significance of using OS X on a phone is very big. Windows Mobile is a cell phone OS with the Windows brand tacked on. OS X on iPhone is OS X on a Mac with the unneeded parts removed. It is a fully capable, unix based computer OS that can run very complex programs. It could and probably will run a photo editing program for the built in camera, for one example. It could and probably will run the complex DRM security programing required for direct downloads from the iTunes Store as well. Full fledged MS Office like programs from Apple for iPhone are not only possible but quite probable. In the near future, an iPhone could end up being all the computer that most people need.

The iPhone shouldn't really be called a smart phone. This first iPhone is really a computer with cell phone capabilities. It will steal customers from the low, medium and high end phone markets.

Apple has also said that it is working on 3G iPhones for Europe and for AT&T's inevitable switch to 3G.

I believe Apple will eventually have a full stable of medium to high end cell phone hardware and become a major player in the cell phone industry. In 5 years all phones will have full fledged OS's. Apple will change the cell phone industry forever just like they changed the PC industry forever with the first commercial GUI interface.]]> Wed, 25 Apr 2007 12:07:02 -0400
The significance of using OS X on a phone is very big. Windows Mobile is a cell phone OS with the Windows brand tacked on. OS X on iPhone is OS X on a Mac with the unneeded parts removed. It is a fully capable, unix based computer OS that can run very complex programs. It could and probably will run a photo editing program for the built in camera, for one example. It could and probably will run the complex DRM security programing required for direct downloads from the iTunes Store as well. Full fledged MS Office like programs from Apple for iPhone are not only possible but quite probable. In the near future, an iPhone could end up being all the computer that most people need.

The iPhone shouldn't really be called a smart phone. This first iPhone is really a computer with cell phone capabilities. It will steal customers from the low, medium and high end phone markets.

Apple has also said that it is working on 3G iPhones for Europe and for AT&T's inevitable switch to 3G.

I believe Apple will eventually have a full stable of medium to high end cell phone hardware and become a major player in the cell phone industry. In 5 years all phones will have full fledged OS's. Apple will change the cell phone industry forever just like they changed the PC industry forever with the first commercial GUI interface.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/32642-when-will-microsoft-own-up-to-the-xbox-360-bomb?source=feed#comment-84588 84588
Microsoft releases numbers of Xbox 360 shipped, not sold. they have sold only about 5 million units world wide. Both PS3 and Wii have outsold Xbox 360 every month since December.

Xbox 360 is a disaster sitting in third place in market share.

Microsoft should stop these hair brained schemes to diversify and start paying the shareholders these billions of dollars of their money that they are squandering.]]> Fri, 20 Apr 2007 01:49:25 -0400
Microsoft releases numbers of Xbox 360 shipped, not sold. they have sold only about 5 million units world wide. Both PS3 and Wii have outsold Xbox 360 every month since December.

Xbox 360 is a disaster sitting in third place in market share.

Microsoft should stop these hair brained schemes to diversify and start paying the shareholders these billions of dollars of their money that they are squandering.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/32208-how-apple-will-frustrate-music-subscription-moguls?source=feed#comment-84386 84386
Apple controls everything they can on their hardware. That is why their user experience is the best in the electronics industry and why their stock has performed so well over the last 5 years.

The logical step for Apple is to continue to use open standards and control it's own destiny. iPod users do not wish to have music mobility. They already have it. It is easy, using iTunes, to strip the DRM from your music files and change them to MP3 files.

Apple's iPod and iTunes Store competitors are the ones that want music mobility so they can sell music to iPod users and get iPod users with music collections to switch to off brand MP3 players. Why should Apple want to help their competition by licensing FairPlay?

If The Labels want to help Apple's competition and take some of the power away from Apple then it is up to The Labels to come up with a music mobility solution. The simplest way for them to do this is with DRM free files. The other Labels will see this and join EMI or they will concede the Music distribution business to one or two online music retailers.

I think the Labels will eventually remove the DRM from the last 20% of their music. At 2 billion files a year from iTunes alone, at $0.30 more per file for DRM free, higher quality files, that's an extra $600,000,000 per year to split up amongst themselves. No record executive would walk away from that much money.

Besides, 256 kbps is the tipping point for the sale of digital music files. At 256 kbps, digital music files are just as good as CD music for human ears. In fact, 160 kbps is good enough for 90% of all human ears. So, online music purchases, at the new higher quality, will rapidly increase.

The Labels make a lot more money on a $1.30 single or a $9.99 online album sale than a $13.00 physical CD sale. EMI has shown the other Labels the pot of gold at the end of the online rainbow. The Labels will bitch and moan and see EMI's increased revenue and jump on the bandwagon.]]> Mon, 16 Apr 2007 19:15:28 -0400
Apple controls everything they can on their hardware. That is why their user experience is the best in the electronics industry and why their stock has performed so well over the last 5 years.

The logical step for Apple is to continue to use open standards and control it's own destiny. iPod users do not wish to have music mobility. They already have it. It is easy, using iTunes, to strip the DRM from your music files and change them to MP3 files.

Apple's iPod and iTunes Store competitors are the ones that want music mobility so they can sell music to iPod users and get iPod users with music collections to switch to off brand MP3 players. Why should Apple want to help their competition by licensing FairPlay?

If The Labels want to help Apple's competition and take some of the power away from Apple then it is up to The Labels to come up with a music mobility solution. The simplest way for them to do this is with DRM free files. The other Labels will see this and join EMI or they will concede the Music distribution business to one or two online music retailers.

I think the Labels will eventually remove the DRM from the last 20% of their music. At 2 billion files a year from iTunes alone, at $0.30 more per file for DRM free, higher quality files, that's an extra $600,000,000 per year to split up amongst themselves. No record executive would walk away from that much money.

Besides, 256 kbps is the tipping point for the sale of digital music files. At 256 kbps, digital music files are just as good as CD music for human ears. In fact, 160 kbps is good enough for 90% of all human ears. So, online music purchases, at the new higher quality, will rapidly increase.

The Labels make a lot more money on a $1.30 single or a $9.99 online album sale than a $13.00 physical CD sale. EMI has shown the other Labels the pot of gold at the end of the online rainbow. The Labels will bitch and moan and see EMI's increased revenue and jump on the bandwagon.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/32208-how-apple-will-frustrate-music-subscription-moguls?source=feed#comment-84269 84269
I could, as you say, 'compile a musical work in form and substance acceptable to today's market' on my Intel iMac, with the bundled Garageband software, if I had a creative bone in my body. The required technology and software, sans instruments, is in the five to six thousand dollar range. A figure that is within anyone's reach. I could get free publicity for my new music on a massive scale by posting my work on YouTube. I could create my own label, for a small incorporation fee and put my music up for sale on many online music stores.

A decent house band of singer-songwriters could self promote their way to stardom. Sure, a low talent, American Idol runner up needs a Major Studio for hype, payola and whatever else it takes to get ahead but a talented band, that has proved themselves on the local circuit, does not need to sign with the devil. It is now possible for them to do it on their own.

Investments should be made on the distribution end of things. The Major Labels are losing control of the distribution of music. They are all facing interesting times.]]> Sat, 14 Apr 2007 11:31:16 -0400
I could, as you say, 'compile a musical work in form and substance acceptable to today's market' on my Intel iMac, with the bundled Garageband software, if I had a creative bone in my body. The required technology and software, sans instruments, is in the five to six thousand dollar range. A figure that is within anyone's reach. I could get free publicity for my new music on a massive scale by posting my work on YouTube. I could create my own label, for a small incorporation fee and put my music up for sale on many online music stores.

A decent house band of singer-songwriters could self promote their way to stardom. Sure, a low talent, American Idol runner up needs a Major Studio for hype, payola and whatever else it takes to get ahead but a talented band, that has proved themselves on the local circuit, does not need to sign with the devil. It is now possible for them to do it on their own.

Investments should be made on the distribution end of things. The Major Labels are losing control of the distribution of music. They are all facing interesting times.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/32208-how-apple-will-frustrate-music-subscription-moguls?source=feed#comment-84235 84235
The Major Labels have thrived on reselling the same content over and over again each time a new format comes along. 78's, 45's and LP's then cassettes and 8-tracks, then CD's and enhanced CD's and now digital downloads. How many times do they expect to sell the same horse to the same customer?
Selling unprotected CD's gave their customers a perpetual electronic file that is future proof. That horse is out of the barn now.

As soon as artists see the light and license their digital product directly to the online stores, the Major Labels are in big trouble. All of their back catalogue will be out there in unprotected form, due to their unprotected CD sales and their future product will be following the money into the realm of the digital downloads.

Bands have already begun to sell their own product online. Soon they will be doing their own deals with the major digital online stores. DRM is all but dead and the Major Labels may soon meet the same fate.]]> Fri, 13 Apr 2007 16:33:56 -0400
The Major Labels have thrived on reselling the same content over and over again each time a new format comes along. 78's, 45's and LP's then cassettes and 8-tracks, then CD's and enhanced CD's and now digital downloads. How many times do they expect to sell the same horse to the same customer?
Selling unprotected CD's gave their customers a perpetual electronic file that is future proof. That horse is out of the barn now.

As soon as artists see the light and license their digital product directly to the online stores, the Major Labels are in big trouble. All of their back catalogue will be out there in unprotected form, due to their unprotected CD sales and their future product will be following the money into the realm of the digital downloads.

Bands have already begun to sell their own product online. Soon they will be doing their own deals with the major digital online stores. DRM is all but dead and the Major Labels may soon meet the same fate.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/32208-how-apple-will-frustrate-music-subscription-moguls?source=feed#comment-84224 84224 You seem to forget that 80% of all music sold is on DRM free Compact Discs. Your argument falls apart when you consider that almost every music owner's entire collection can be ripped by a novice computer owner and distributed at will right now. Adding DRM to the other 20% of music sold is not going to change a thing.
Al Williams
Private Investor]]> Fri, 13 Apr 2007 12:11:36 -0400 You seem to forget that 80% of all music sold is on DRM free Compact Discs. Your argument falls apart when you consider that almost every music owner's entire collection can be ripped by a novice computer owner and distributed at will right now. Adding DRM to the other 20% of music sold is not going to change a thing.
Al Williams
Private Investor]]>