« July 2006 | Main | September 2006 »
August 31, 2006
Apple Tries to Minimize Damage from iPod Labor
Apple said Wednesday it was trying to settle a lawsuit over reporting of unacceptable labor practices at a Chinese iPod. Earlier in the week, FoxConn, Apple's supplier, sued the Chinese journalists that uncovered the practices. Apple recently admitted that FoxConn violated Apple's Code of Conduct. Unacceptable conditions included dormitory style sleeping arrangements for workers where employees were stacked on bunks three high; employee wage schemes were overly complex, making dispute resolution difficult; "normal" 60-hour work weeks were exceeded 35% of the time and frequent 7-days work weeks. Apple's supplier is suing reporter Wang You and editor Weng Bao for 30 million yuan (US $3.8 million; euro 3 million) in the Intermediate Court in the southern city of Shenzhen, which froze the journalists' personal assets pending the trial. The lawsuit is keeping the iPod labor controversy in the news, and Reporters Without Borders, an advocate for journalists' rights, has asked Apple's chief executive, Steve Jobs, to intervene. "We believe that all Wang and Weng did was to report the facts and we condemn Foxconn's reaction," said Robert Menard, secretary-general of Reporters Without Borders. "We therefore ask you to intercede on behalf of these two journalists so that their assets are unfrozen and the lawsuit is dropped."
From Apple Tries to Minimize Damage from iPod Labor
Posted by Sean at 05:55 PM
Podango Intros Podcast Hosting
Podango has introduced a new site, now in beta, that offers free hosted services for the management of "podcast stations". The service is designed to provide "Station Directors", who own their Podango Stations as independent media properties, a complete platform to create and interact with subscribers. We have been working hard under the radar to bring podcast solutions to market that we believe will dramatically improve the online and offline experience for the growing number of podcast listeners," said Douglas G. Smith, president, Podango. "We also believe it will greatly enhance monetization opportunities for podcasters and business people looking to leverage the growing podcasting market.
From Podango Intros Podcast Hosting
Posted by John at 03:17 PM
Napster CTO: Closed Music Platforms Will
Dr. William Pence, Chief Technology Officer at Napster, is unfazed by rumors that Microsoft may orphan its digital rights management technology when it releases the Zune media player and web services. According to Pence, market pressures will eventually lead to open, interoperable media formats. "Pundits have concluded that Microsoft will abandon PlaysforSure, leaving online music services like Napster, MTV, Yahoo Music, Rhapsody, and presumably even emerging video services like Vongo and CinemaNow, without an underlying platform on which to offer content protection," notes Pence. "I believe strongly that the market in the end must and will be based on interoperable digital formats," he adds. "If DRM is used to erect barriers to that goal, then there is no question it will be swept aside, and the industry may end up with what many have believed was the obvious choice from the beginning: open MP3 files."
From Napster CTO: Closed Music Platforms Will
Posted by Alex at 03:09 PM
August 30, 2006
Zune Watch: FCC OK's Toshiba
The FCC has approved the Toshiba 1089 Portable Media Player, thought by many to be the device that Microsoft will be marketing as the Zune. 
The 1089 is equipped with a 1.8" 30GB hard drive, a 3" TFT LCD display, a USB 2.0 connection for transfering files and a built-in FM tuner. And WiFi.
From Zune Watch: FCC OK's Toshiba
Posted by Guido at 05:26 PM
iPod Labor Fiasco Update: Apple Contractor Suing Reporters for Uncovering Oppressive
FoxConn, an Apple supplier that became a thorn in Apple's side when journalists revealed FoxConn's oppressive labor practices, has sued the journalists over their report. Apple recently admitted that FoxConn violated Apple's Code of Conduct. Unacceptable conditions included dormitory style sleeping arrangements for workers where employees were stacked on bunks three high; employee wage schemes were overly complex, making dispute resolution difficult; "normal" 60-hour work weeks were exceeded 35% of the time and frequent 7-days work weeks.
From iPod Labor Fiasco Update: Apple Contractor Suing Reporters for Uncovering Oppressive
Posted by John at 04:10 PM
Major Label Backing Free Music
Universal Music Group (UMG) has announced an agreement with SpiralFrog to make UMG s catalog available for legal downloading in the US and Canada via SpiralFrog s advertising-supported service. SpiralFrog will offer users of its no-cost web-based service the ability to legally download music by many of the world s most popular and award-winning artists. No mention has been made of device support, but it's likely that iPods will not be supported because of digital rights management limitations.
From Major Label Backing Free Music
Posted by Bob at 02:50 PM
PodShow Becomes GoDaddy
PodShow announced today that it is working with GoDaddy, an ICANN accredited domains registrar, to offer custom domain names. The PodShow+ account creation Web form now includes the option to purchase and register a domain name via GoDaddy.com. Helping podcasters to register a domain name as part of the PodShow+ service creates a simplified process, helping these independent producers to extend their audience reach with a unique, memorable Web site address," said Bob Parsons, CEO and founder of The Go Daddy Group. Parsons is also a podcaster himself with his program, Life Online with Bob Parsons.
From PodShow Becomes GoDaddy
Posted by Jason at 02:48 PM
Stripper Creates Headaches for
Microsoft is moving quickly to respond to FairUse4WM, a free program which threatens to undermine Microsoft-based online music service offerings. FairUse4WM, a so-called DRM-stripper, lets users remove the rights management software from music downloads in Microsoft s Windows Media DRM (digital rights management) 10 and 11. The formats are used by many online music services to enforce limits on the use and distribution of downloaded music. The application makes it possible for users of services like Napster, which offer unlimited downloads, to remove encryption, so that downloaded files can be used even if the music service is cancelled. It also lets users move the files to iPods and other unsupported devices. FairUse4WM was originally posted to a forum devoted to using software to maintain traditional fair-use rights. According to the poster, viodentia, This program is ONLY designed and intended to enable fair-use rights to PURCHASED media.
From Stripper Creates Headaches for
Posted by Joe at 02:03 PM
