Shots In The Dark: Rotten Apple?

Friday, September 07, 2007

Rotten Apple?

Apple cuts the price of iPhones $200, then, after early adopters scream, announces a $100 store credit. Fair?

Meantime, Variety reports that Apple wants to cut the cost of downloaded TV shows by 50%, from $1.99 to 99 cents.

Apple's argument to studios and nets has been that they will end up making more money from digital downloads under the new proposal. Company believes the volume of sales for TV shows will rise dramatically, offsetting the impact of the price cut.

Among the concerns is that at 99¢, iTunes downloads could impact sales of DVD boxed sets, an important revenue source for TV congloms.

Case in point: NBC Universal just released "Heroes" on DVD, with most retail outlets charging about $40 for the set of 23 episodes. If Apple had its way, the same set of episodes would cost less than $23, potentially making the DVD -- despite its myriad bonus features -- less appealing to consumers.

There's someone out there willing to pay $40 for a DVD of Heroes?

Me, I'm waiting for the new 160-gig iPod I just ordered...

¶ 9:05 AM

Comments:

Hey! I just bought that Heroes DVD set as a gift for my brother's birthday! :( Well, he asked for it, but it IS a good show. You should check it out.

# posted by Anonymous : September 7, 2007 12:41 PM

I bought it too. I've only watched a couple thus far, but it hasn't disappointed yet. It seems to be done in a similar style to Lost: that is, a hyper-realistic look, feel, and characters but a decidedly unrealistic storyline.

# posted by Anonymous : September 7, 2007 5:34 PM

RB has much of merit to say, but his Apple musings are the ravings of a cultist.

# posted by Anonymous : September 7, 2007 5:43 PM

You do speak with a different style and tone when it comes to Apple, Rich. I won't say "scary." I won't *say* "scary."

# posted by Squatting Egret : September 7, 2007 8:01 PM

squatting egret, then I would suggest you don't say it. I don't find it scary. Richard is an Apple enthusiast...I know other Apple enthusiasts...enthusiasts being the operative word here. I don't find that scary...that's just RB...and my son-in-law and a former boss...they're all reasons I have a Mac myself. Take note of 12:41 PM and 5:34 PM...they don't get all bent out of shape over it...they just talk about what they want to talk about...good on them!

lmpaulsen

# posted by Anonymous : September 8, 2007 1:57 AM

I think the teasing here in regards to Richard's affinity for Apple is just that....goodnatured teasing.

eayny

# posted by Anonymous : September 8, 2007 6:33 PM

It is indeed teasing, eayny, a little gamesmanship that should be permitted of any regular reader/poster. RB knows I come here, often daily, because I like what he has to say (usually).

But the Mac Nation will remain to me nothing more than the result of successful image selling on the part of Apple (and, ok, a reliable product - is that really so rare?). Mac'ers go on and on about how PC users are so behind the curve and yet the substance behind that opinion is a storm in a teacup, truly negligible. Always reminds me of the anti-Yankees rhetoric (of which I am often a purveyor - I'm not perfect), other teams and fans using so much of their time and energy to detract while the Yankees often end up looking smart by simply not caring about the anti-Yankee crowd. Same thing here. Mac is not my preference, and when I have used Macs (which has been plenty) I've found much of the hype to be aesthetic only, and - for me - aesthetics that I find far too canned.

# posted by Squatting Egret : September 9, 2007 1:18 PM

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