There’s no denying that Apple’s iTunes has been a huge success online. By offering seamless integration with the Apple iPod and iPhone, the downloadable iTunes software is easy to use and allows music lovers to download single songs or complete albums with just a few clicks.
But one big complaint that many iTunes’ users have is that Apple does not use standard MP3’s, opting instead to present songs in their own proprietary format that is incompatible with Windows Media Player, Winamp, and other popular media software.
Additionally, iTunes uses DRM, or
digital rights management, to protect songs and albums from being burned to a CD, or used in non-Apple devices. These limitations have been the Achilles’ heel of iTunes for some time, and now Amazon.com is preparing to exploit this weakness with the introduction of
Amazon’s MP3 music download service, available on the Amazon.com web site.
Like iTunes, the Amazon MP3 download service allows users to purchase either single songs in a mix-and-match format, or complete albums at one go. But the similarities between the two end there.
Unlike iTunes, the Amazon music downloads do not use digital rights management of any kind, and the song files are presented in standard MP3 format, which can be easily burned to CD or played with any popular media software or hardware MP3 players. Amazon MP3’s are also formatted as 256 kbps MP3 files, providing a higher-quality listening experience for the consumer.
The removal of the digital rights management code offers Amazon.com a huge advantage over iTunes, and fulfills a need that online music consumers have been demanding for many years now; namely, the ability to use their downloaded music files in any way they see fit, and play them on any number of different devices, computers or burned to a CD.
Critics are already hailing the new Amazon MP3 downloads service as a giant leap forward in the digital music industry. To make matters even worse for iTunes, Amazon.com also offers a familiar elegant layout, with a short streaming MP3 preview available of every single song in their inventory. This feature, combined with Amazon’s elegant one-click purchase button, could allow Amazon.com to dominate the online digital music industry the same way it has with books and other media.
A quick perusal of the Amazon MP3 downloads section also reveals a significant price difference. At the moment, most single songs are only $.89 on Amazon.com, with full albums priced between $8.99 and $9.99. This is significantly cheaper than the average purchase price on iTunes, and demonstrates Amazon.com’s skill at dominating online markets.
With more flexibility, streaming previews of every song, no digital rights management, higher quality standard MP3 files, and an elegant one-click purchase interface, Amazon.com could turn out to be the iTunes killer consumers have been waiting for.
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You hear a lot of talk about recycling these days, but until now, Americans haven’t heard much about the recycling of electronic gadgets. Target is testing a new electronics recycling program, under the name “pre-owned electronics.”
The Reuters wire service is reporting that Target.com has initiated a new program whereby the company will be selling various electronic “gadgets” on its web site that have been returned to Target retail stores.
Thus far, Target is only reselling a small variety of electronic gadgets under the so-called “electronics recycling” program. Game systems such as the Nintendo Game Cube are currently among the most popular of the recycled items, along with a variety of high-definition televisions by Toshiba and other manufacturers.
Other popular recycled electronic items included iPods and iPod Nanos, JVC video cameras, and other digital still and video cameras. Target claims that each of its recycled items has been thoroughly inspected and refurbished by an approved third-party company. Additionally, each recycled electronic item will carry the same 90 day guarantee that comes with all electronics sold at Target stores.
While the idea of selling refurbished items is certainly not new, major retail chains have avoided reselling electronics gadgets and other high-end items at their stores or on their web sites. Target’s new program is seen as a way of testing the waters, and will surely be watched closely by other “big box” retail outlets such as Best Buy, Wal Mart and Costco.
Consumers are likely to respond favorably to Target’s electronics recycling program, as it is often possible to pick up items at drastically reduced prices. For example, Target is currently selling a “recycled” 80 GB iPod video for only $200. Compare that to the normal Target retail price of a new unit at $319, and it’s easy to see how consumers could come out in favor of the new recycling program.
While Target is the first company to establish such a program in its electronics department, there are rumors that other major department chains are considering jumping on the bandwagon. If Target’s program proves a hit with customers, you can just about guarantee that their competition will follow suit with “recycling” programs of their own.
Critics have complained that calling the sale of what are essentially used goods “recycling,” is in fact very misleading. Some industry analysts see this as an attempt by Target to appear more “green” and eco friendly, without actually doing anything worthwhile for the environment. After all, broken or damaged electronics gadgets are already “recycled” by many companies, and the parts taken from these defective units are sometimes used in new products.
But whether Target’s new recycling program is misleading or not, it’s bound to find favor with budget-strapped consumers this holiday season.
Moonstones have their origin in Sri Lanka although some specimens are found in India, where it is considered to be a sacred stone. The enchantment of the moonstone comes from the mysterious gleam of light that it emits. The shimmer changes color when the stone is moved. In ancient times it is believed that the light comes from the moon, hence the name. Moonstones are a kind of feldspar called adularia and the changes in color are called adularescence, which is attributed to the intergrowth of two different feldspars having different refractive indices. Since the indices are different, when light strikes the stone, it is refracted, scattered and reflected in different angles. As the stone is rotated, the angle of refraction and reflection changes, resulting in the fascinating shimmer of light. This also explains why the best gleam may be seen only at a particular setting or angle.
Moonstones may come in a variety of colors such as gray, brown, pink, orange, black and red. Some also have a smoky color. Rainbow moonstones emit a light with rainbow hues. The best specimen however is colorless and transparent but emits a blue shimmer. Specimens with exceptional quality are becoming rare and so the prices are also shooting up.
This gemstone is surrounded by stories of mystery and magic. In many cultures, moonstones carry symbolic significance. In India, it is believed to bring beautiful visions during the night. It is also a popular gift among lovers as it is said to arouse tender feelings. The wearer of the stone also has improved intuition and enhanced ability to understand. Moonstones are also believed to have healing and medicinal properties. When applied to both temples, the stone has the ability to cool a fever. It is also used to prevent epilepsy, alleviate headaches and treat nose bleeds. When worn, men also come in contact with their feminine side.
At present moonstone prices vary greatly. Moonstones are more highly priced when they are larger, more transparent and have more intense color. Excellent specimens, that which emits a wonderful blue shimmer especially when worn and moved about, are more expensive than moonstones of other colors. Indian moonstones emitting different colors other than blue are not as popular and are therefore more reasonably priced.
Moonstones are becoming increasingly popular because of its feminine and seductive appearance. These gemstones are nature’s creation and as if alive, delight in being admired but more so in being worn. It is only when worn that the best gleam of light can be truly beheld.
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It seems that every day there is a new recall taking place. Whether it is the dangers of E Coli bacteria, excessive amounts of lead, or dangers or items exploding, breaking, or causing serious harm it is important to be aware of the recalls that are currently being issued.
Some recalls occur when customers fail to read the labels or warnings on a package or item and serious injury results. The company in turn voluntarily recalls the product while they initiate new warning labels and safety measures that help ensure the public’s safety. It is important that anyone who has Internet access visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website and stay current and up to date with the newest and latest recall information. You can also post your own information regarding a product that is unsafe. It is important to realize that recalls are in effect until the company creates a change or a new product, and though we may like to expect all recalled items to disappear from the marketplace, they don’t. It is very common for recalled items to become resold through used vendors, thrift stores, or from owners through want ads, classifieds, or yard sales. If you have an item and aren’t sure if it is safe, you can visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website and search through their safety news. You can enter data for both the month and year that the recall was initiated and the search form dates back to the year 1973, though the earliest recalls I found were in 1974.
With the holiday season here and everyone in a flux regarding the safest toys to purchase, it is a good idea to check with the recall list and make sure that you aren’t purchasing toys that have been deemed unsafe or potentially dangerous. So far, there have been over twenty child related product recalls in just November alone. These recalls include the Children’s Wooden Storage Rack by Jetmax International; Halloween Themed Baskets by Hobby Lobby stores; Birch Bark Wrapped Candies by Roost; Children’s Bath Robes by Bon Ton; Folding Chairs by Iceberg Enterprises; Football Helmets by Nike; Children’s Sunglasses by Dollar General; Curious George Plush Dolls by Marvel Toys; AC Power Adapter by Yamaha; Lawn Mowers by American Honda; DVD/CD.MP3 player by Coby Electronics; Cribs by Bassettbaby; AquaDots by Spin Master; Packaged Terminal Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps by Carrier; Collectible Toy Robot by Schylling Associates; Dizzy Ducks by Schylling Associates, Spinning Top by Schylling Associates; Duck Family Collectible Toy by Schylling Associates; Toy Cars by Dollar General; Toy Dragster and Funny Car by International Sourcing Ltd.; Big Red Wagons by Northern Tool & Equipment; Skippy Pool Toys by Swimways Corp.; Humidifiers by Hunter Fan; Snowmobiles by Polaris Industries INC.; Laugh and Learn Kitchen Toys by Fisher Price; Pearl Like Bead Attachment Sold with Girl’s Gift Sets by Limited Too Stores.
As you can see, this is a huge amount of recalls and the month isn’t over yet. Before shopping for this holiday season, make sure to check with CPSC and think twice before purchasing anything someone may be selling second hand.
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With the price of major sporting event tickets getting higher every year, sports fans can sometimes get desperate to see the game, without breaking the bank. Perhaps this explains the recent rise of fake sports tickets in the US. Major league baseball, in particular, has been plagued with a rash of fake ticket scalpers this past season. The problem was especially severe during the World Series, with police making several arrests, and some fans turned away at the gate for having fake tickets.
There’s no denying that it can be difficult to get tickets for the most popular sporting events, especially playoffs and finals. More and more, fans are turning to scalpers selling tickets in front of the stadium to try to get into a sold-out game. While scalping tickets has been around for a very long time, the trend of scalping fake tickets is relatively new. The MBA reports a 200% increase in fake tickets over the past decade.
Not only that, but with recent advancements in technology, the fake tickets are getting much harder to spot. Photo quality printers, scanners, and stock paper have made it easier for fake ticket scalpers to fool customers — and occasionally even ticket handlers at sporting events.
With fake tickets getting more advanced every day, how can you be sure the ticket you are being offered on the street is legitimate? First, you should always be familiar with the appearance of the tickets at this particular sporting arena. Never buy a ticket off the street if it is your first time attending a game at a venue — you will have no knowledge of what the tickets should look like, which will make it easy for you to get ripped off by an unscrupulous ticket seller.
Another tip to avoid buying a fake ticket is too closely examine the seating area listed on the front. If you are familiar at all with the venue, you will probably have a decent idea of the numbering system used for seating. If the seating area displayed on the ticket doesn’t really make sense — and often it doesn’t — you’re most certainly looking at a fake ticket.
Before buying a ticket from a scalper you will also want to examine it up close. If the seller seems nervous about letting you do this, or is evasive in some way, they’re probably fake tickets. If the tickets are for real, a seller will normally have no problem allowing you to touch them or examine them closely.
Finally, always be sure to look for the presence of a bar code on the ticket. All major sporting venues these days use coded tickets. The absence of a clearly discernible barcode is a dead giveaway of a fake ticket.
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After many months of speculation and rumor, this week Google has unveiled its new “GPhone,” except it not actually a phone–it’s something much more. Google is planning a global alliance of mobile phone manufacturers, computer programmers, and wireless service carriers, all united in the cause of developing a new generation of wireless technology.
Google’s new GPhone is actually a cell phone operating system known as “Android.” The truly remarkable thing is that the Android operating system is open-source, enabling anyone to create programs for any phone using the new Google system. Some analysts are already speculating that the new open source Android mobile operating system could ring in a new era of creativity and integration of Internet and cell phone services.
David Weinberger, of Harvard University’s Berkman Center for Internet and society, is speculating that the Google proposal, “can do to cell phones what the Internet did for the personal computer.”
The beauty of Google’s new Android cell phone operating system is that anyone can write a program for it and share it with the world. This suggests we could soon see a huge creative breakthrough in mobile phone applications and mobile Internet technology. Assuming of course, that Google is able to carry out its ambitious plan.
The problem is that in the US, the cell phone market is closed, and mobile carriers generally “lock” mobile phones to their own network, excluding all others. Google is attempting to overthrow this entire philosophy of mobile communication by keeping all cell phones “open,” with an open-source operating system.
But even as big as Google is at this time, some analysts still doubt that their ambitious plan can succeed. The mobile phone industry’s huge players, such as AT&T, are sure to fight Google’s move tooth and nail. After all, the closed cell phone market has been the foundation of their entire selling strategy within the US.
Oddly enough, Google’s new Android operating system is bound to be widely received in Europe, where consumers are not used to the idea of a “closed” cell phone marketplace, and changing mobile carriers is often an easy as simply changing a SIM card inside your phone.
But if Google succeeds with its ambitious plan of an open cell phone market, what will the net effect be for consumers? First, you would never have to worry if a downloadable program would work on your cell phone as long as it was using the Google software. Any phone, by any manufacturer that adopts the Google system will run any software developed for that system. Sounds a lot like Windows, doesn’t it?
But cell phone users are not likely to see the effect of Google’s ambitious plan for sometime. You can expect to see the Google enabled phones available for sale late in 2008.
Lately it seems you can’t go to the refrigerator or kitchen cabinet without needing to check labels or UPC codes to determine if your newest purchase has been recalled. Today, the super company, Cargill has announced that they are recalling one million pounds of ground beef that had been manufactured between October eighth and the eleventh. The meat was produced at the plant located in Wyalusing, Pennsylvania and is believed to be contaminated with the E Coli bacteria.
The ground beef was distributed amongst a number of retailers including Shop Rite, Stop and Shop, Wegmans and Weis, and Giant. The retailers are located in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Maryland, Maine, and Connecticut.
Although there have been no reports of outbreaks, Cargill is calling for the recall due to the fact that one of their departments detected E Coli in a sample of the beef that they tested. It is unclear as to what caused the E Coli to develop. They think that it may have been the result of improper procedures when butchering but they are not sure as to the exact cause. If you have any questions regarding the recall you can contact the company here: 1-877-455-1034.
Because Cargill is a leading agricultural producer there are many products that are affected by the recall. Here is a list of the meat products involved.
You can find a complete list of products subject to recall at Cargill website.
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