Hasta La Gadget!

Apple unveiled its new music streaming service at WWDC 2013 back in June. Prior to the announcement it was widely known as iRadio, Apple actually ended up calling it iTunes Radio. The service is believed to be a tough competitor for Pandora, whereas Pandora believes that the service only brings Apple at par with other music streaming services. Apple hasn’t announced as yet when it intends to launch iTunes Radio. A new report from AdAge claims that the launch will take place next month. To generate revenue, video and audio ads will be served to users.

The report says that Apple will serve an audio advertisement every 15 minutes. A video hour will be served every hour. The video ads will only be shown when its most likely that the user is looking at the display of their device, such as when they’ve just tapped on play or any other control. Launch advertisers are said to include Nissan, Pepsi, Procter & Gamble and McDonald’s. Ads will only be served to free users of iTunes Radio. Those who want an ad-free experience will have to subscribe to iTunes Match, which costs $25 per year. How do you feel about ads in iTunes Radio? Do you think they will taint the user experience?

iTunes Radio Reportedly Launching Next Month With Audio And Video Ads original content from Ubergizmo.

Apple’s much rumored “iRadio” music streaming service was formally announced back in June. The service is quite similar to Pandora, allowing users to listen to tracks that Apple has licensed from record labels. The company currently allows users to tap in to hundreds of independent online radio stations through iTunes on both Windows and Mac. It appears that Apple might be looking to integrate such radio stations in iTunes Radio as well. The company has sent a letter to various internet radio stations, asking them to submit cover art for future use. It is not known right now exactly how Apple will integrate these internet radio stations in to iTunes Radio, which hasn’t been opened up to the public yet.

The letter contains various instructions regarding the cover art files, stations will have to follow them to ensure that their cover art meets the pre-requisites that Apple has laid down. The company says in the letter that cover art for internet radio stations is currently not displayed to users anywhere, though that will obviously change once the stations are rolled out on iTunes Radio.

Apple Asks Internet Radio Stations To Submit Cover Art, Might Add Them To iTunes Radio original content from Ubergizmo.

When Apple releases iOS 7 to the public later this year, presumably in fall, a new version of iTunes will also be released. Up till now Apple has seeded four betas of iOS 7 to registered developers. The company is expected to seed two more before finally releasing the GM build prior to the public release. Today alongside iOS 7 beta 4, Apple also seeded iTunes 11.1 beta. This beta version of iTunes comes with Apple’s Pandora-killer service called iTunes Radio, a service that is fully integrated in iOS 7 as well.

Right now only registered developers have access to this software as well as the iTunes Radio service. Apple does not release beta firmware to the public. Both iOS 7 and iTunes Radio were unveiled last month at WWDC 2013. Apple had long been rumored to be developing a Pandora like music streaming service, many believed that it undercut Pandora itself. Nevertheless, the folks at Pandora are nonplussed about iTunes Radio, they believe it only brings Apple at par with other companies in the music streaming niche. iTunes 11.1 with iTunes Radio is now available for download through Apple’s developer center. [Image via 9to5Mac]

Like It , +1 , Tweet It , Pin It | iTunes 11.1 Beta With iTunes Radio Released For Developers original content from Ubergizmo.

Considering that the major labels pretty much own all the artists and songs that are popular these days, naturally Apple would want to court them first for iTunes Radio. However what about listeners who might not be too enamored by […]

Like It , +1 , Tweet It , Pin It Original content from Ubergizmo.

“Internet radio” is usually a misnomer, as well as an indicator of its ambition. The term “radio” is misapplied to internet services like AOL Radio, Rhapsody Radio, the upcoming iTunes Radio and their ilk. All these mediums are unrelated to radio technology. But for most people, “radio” simply means something you turn on and listen to. As a marketing term, “radio” seeks to accustom users to new technology by connecting it with familiar technology. Pandora describes itself as “free, personalized radio.”

The business intent in all cases is more ambitious — to wean people from the terrestrial radio habit and migrate them to online services. Will it work?

Filed under: Misc, Internet, Apple

Comments