Sep

7

Apple Rumors are Coming Together Today

September 7, 2007 |

Remember how there was a rumor about Apple offering digital or satellite radio with the option to buy the song online later just a few days ago?

Looks like things for this are actually coming together - though in a somewhat twisted form. From Reuters via eWeek (notice the weird anachronism in the first paragraph):

Apple, iBiquity Digital, a developer of high-definition radio technology, and major radio companies said on Sept. 9 they are offering a new, free service called “iTunes Tagging.”

The service lets listeners with HD Radio receivers containing a special tag button, to “tag” songs they hear on the FM dial for subsequent purchase via Apple’s iTunes.

“iTunes tagging takes music discovery on the radio to the next level,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of iPod Product Marketing, in a statement.

I guess that’s great, though I don’t really see much use for this. It surely won’t make much of a difference for Apple’s bottom line. Just check this out:

A spokeswoman for iBiquity said “several hundred thousand” HD radio receivers have been sold since their launch in 2004.

“Several hundred thousand” HD radios… Apple sold more iPhones for $600 in two months. And those several hundred thousand HD radios don’t include any iTunes tagging yet anyway. Oh well. I am sure we will see one of these devices in a gadget museum at some point, but not in too many cars.

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