Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at 1:27PM If you missed last night's TDL Live, this was definitely a show that was best enjoyed live. We had live commentary on the Woz' dancing debut, a wacky gift card giveaway, and we managed to get in a few news stories too.
Enjoy!
Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 3:10PM 
We believe this is how the story goes, but our memory is a little fuzzy....
It's 1996 and U2 are in the middle of recording what would eventually become their POP album. It's 1996 and the the internet is still an unknown place for many of us and certainly for U2. They have no website or real web presence, but they do have a web cam on the Island Records site that posts images from inside their studio. At some point the web cam gets pointed at a whiteboard on which someone has scribbled song titles. Amongst titles such as "Miami" and "Discotheque" are the words "Revenge of the Apple Mac." The POP album is released in 1997 with no such Apple inspired song.
Fast forward 12 years. The bands latest, No Line on the Horizon is about to be released. It includes the track "Unknown Caller." The Edge tells Rolling Stone Magazine " The idea is that the narrator is in an altered state, and his phone starts talking to him." But we would describe it as a snythny, heavily Brian Eno inspired tune with an 80's vibe that includes the chants "Force quit and move to trash" and "Restart and re-boot yourself" and "Password, you enter here, right now" Is it possible that this tune includes pieces of the long lost "Revenge of the Apple Mac?" Sure Bono could have sang control, alt, delete and move to recycle bin, but he didn't!
We're probably making a connect between two songs that doesn't really exist, but either way we are loving the album so far. Don't be swayed by the mediocre "Get on Your Boots" single. This is U2's most ambitious and experimental album since Zooropa and it deserves a listen. It's available on iTunes March 3rd.
Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 6:00AM 
Unbelievable. Word is spreading quickly that hulu has requested that boxee remove hulu's programming from boxee. A quick primer for those who may not be familiar with all the players. Hulu is the official streaming site for several shows and networks. Shows are provided for free, but with short commercial interruptions. Boxee is essentially software to bring content from several sites like hulu under one interface. One of the most popular client devices for boxee is AppleTV (not Apple approved.)
In a blog entry, hulu explains that it's their content providers who have requested they remove their programming from boxee. Remember, boxee had been supplying hulu content with the blessing of hulu. This was not some sort of rogue operation. Why would the content providers not want to reach as large of an audience as possible? Boxee was not circumventing the ad serving system in hulu.
I believe on a per-viewer basis, most shows generate more revenue online than on TV. At the same time, online ads have dried up to some extent in the video space over the last few months, meaning we might be seeing a lot of freebie spots. For example, I can't imagine Blackberry bought as many video ads as you're subjected to when you watch streaming video on Comedy Central.
Giving the content creators the benefit of the doubt, let's say the ad market is to blame for the cutback. Wouldn't the networks be better served by coming out and saying that, rather than giving the appearance of turning a cold shoulder to the online world? Or is there something else at work here? While I said they probably make more per person from online streaming than TV viewing, I think it's safe to say the $2.99 per episode from iTunes for purchased shows is the best deal going for the studios. Could it be that boxee on AppleTV was seen as a competitor to that revenue stream?
Networks, I know people keep saying that we're still trying to figure out online distribution, but that's not entirely true. Here's all there is to it: 1. Discover the way that a majority of people want to watch your content, then 2. Find a way to make money off of #1. You are no longer in control of how/when/where someone watches your shows.
Thoughts?
Friday, December 12, 2008 at 12:46PM 
'Tis the season for holiday music. And while you might be quite familiar/tired of some of the overplayed traditional songs we scoured the iTunes store to bring you some refreshing sounds of the season.
Fiona Apple's Rendition of Frosty The Snowman:
Fiona Apple may not be the first singer to come to mind when you think of spreading holiday cheer, which makes this track, irony free, quite compelling. Fiona Apple: Frosty The Snowman
The Brian Setzer Orchestra Does Sleigh Ride
Ah the 90's... After the flannel shirts and grunge started to fade, Ska and Swing ever so briefly made a return to fill the void. (Ok, Swing is still enjoying a higher level of popularity than in the 80's. No need for nasty letters/emails.) Setzer and his band souped up this holiday classic all their own. It's a bright, fresh take on the classic.Check out Sleigh Ride from The Brian Setzer Orchestra
Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, Can I Interest You In Hannukah?
Here at TDL HQ, we eagerly anticipated the Stephen Colbert Christmas Special. Unfortunately, it was a bit of a letdown. The highlight though, was the music, and specifically the Stewart/Colbert duet "Can I Interest You In Hannukah?" Let's face it, other than Adam Sandler's Chanukah Song, this is one holiday that gets overlooked in the sounds of the season. Stewart tries to explain Hannukah to Colbert with catchy and humorous results.
The Vince Guaraldi Trio: A Charlie Brown Christmas
This might qualify as a classic, but I'm going to let it slide because A: It's a fine selection, and B: It's at a heck of a sale price right now. Charlie may not win at baseball, but his Christmas album is a home run (come on, allow me some schmaltz here!).
The Bird and The Bee: Carol of The Bells
Some friends of mine, will be less than thrilled to see this one on the list. Where others hear an annoying rendition of a classic that's trying too hard, I hear a light, fresh, but not-too far in left field cover. The iTunes Preview will give you a good sense of whether you'll love it or hate it. Let us know what you think in the comments.
Happy Holidays, Everyone!
Music Store, holiday, iTunes, top 5 Permalink Thursday, December 4, 2008 at 7:01AM I've always been a fan of Zuma on the iPod clickwheel, and I had no idea that game is actually derivative of Puzzloop, which was originally available on the Playstation, and has now made its way to the iPhone and iPod Touch. Here's a look at the marble shooting puzzler Puzzloop for iPhone and iPod Touch: