With 11.7 billion (yes “BILLION”!) songs downloaded on iTunes, by next year it will outrank CD sales in the USA.
Interesting enough a couple of days before the new Apple event in SF last week, HMV Japan closed its flagship store in trendy Shibuya. Why? Because of plummeting CD sales.
Apple now has 160 milion users with credit card accounts. 160 million!
The Apple event launched new iPods, a new Apple TV media player (just $99!) and iTunes 10. iTunes 10 now includes “Ping”, a Social Network for Music.
Lots more on new iTunes and Ping below.
Me? I was most excited about the new iPod Touch. At an entry price of about 1/4 that of the iPhone 4 but including FaceTime and the new retina display. That seems like “must have” to me.
I stumbled across Kiva.org a couple of years ago, but failed to sign-up due to problems with my Paypal account, now fortunately rectified.
What a great use of technology to aid the world’s less well off would-be entrepreneurs (and actual ones.) Kiva.org (www.kiva.org) is an online system based in San Fransisco that unites anyone willing to make small interest free loans to entrepreneurs in some of the worlds poorer countries.
Am struggling to embed a sweet little film, that traces a $25 loan made in London to the recipient in Cambodia, but you can access it here.
Unlike a charitable gift, the loan is repaid (typically between 6-18 months) putting the money back into the lenders paypal account, which can then be withdrawn or hopefully re-lent to another worthy borrower.
So far around 400,000 people have received loans helping them set up or expand their small business. $150 million lent and people in 200 countries benefited.
Take a look, the interface is very easy to use and apart from being tempted to help you might get a rush of gratefulness for how lucky we are.
If you are into FourSquare or Gowalla you probably appreciate social media, but the latest ipod/ipad app doesn’t just tell your friends where you are and what you are doing but what you are watching too.
… ask Pepsi on this film, explaining their partnership with “stickybits” to create a Universal Purpose Code.
Scan a product barcode (and with time) it will tell you as much as the company wants you to know – videos, CSR, whatever. Clever stuff.
I just downloaded the app quickly and easily (and free) on my iphone but haven’t yet found any barcodes with exciting stuff on them. Will keep searching!
If you find one, tell please tell antenna readers.
RSS