Apple and Record Labels to Bundle Interactive Booklets with Digital Albums
Financial Times reports that Apple is working with the four largest record labels to stimulate digital album sales by bundling a new interactive booklet, sleeve notes and other interactive features with music downloads.
While digital downloads are popular, the majority of those downloads are of individual tracks rather than full albums. According to those familiar with the talks, the project is codenamed "Cocktail" and aimed for a September launch. FT describes them as an interactive experience:
While digital downloads are popular, the majority of those downloads are of individual tracks rather than full albums. According to those familiar with the talks, the project is codenamed "Cocktail" and aimed for a September launch. FT describes them as an interactive experience:
"It's all about re-creating the heyday of the album when you would sit around with your friends looking at the artwork, while you listened to the music," said one executive familiar with the plans.
Consumers would be able to play songs directly from the interactive book without clicking back into Apple's iTunes software, executives said. "It's not just a bunch of PDFs," said one executive. "There's real engagement with the ancillary stuff."
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33 months ago
I think that could be pretty cool. I don't miss album artwork to any huge degree, but if it doesn't cost any extra, I won't complain about having something extra with my download!
33 months ago
The connection tenuous as it may be us that CD sized booklets and art pale in comparison to their LP counterparts. So Steve is going somewhere in between with a 10" iPhone OS device optimized for this new booklet interface.
Ok so it is a stretch. I just want a tablet even if it runs iPhone OS.
B
Ok so it is a stretch. I just want a tablet even if it runs iPhone OS.
B
33 months ago
If "sitting around with your friends looking at the artwork" now involves crowding round a computer screen, I'm not sure it's going to be quite the same social experience :p
33 months ago
Booklets would be nice but I've forgotten about any that I have downloaded with purchases already and as a result, I no longer have them. They were lost when transfering music to new computers. I never thought to look for the booklets.
When I did download them with a purchase, I was lucky if I looked at them once. These booklets aren't a big deal for me.
When I did download them with a purchase, I was lucky if I looked at them once. These booklets aren't a big deal for me.
33 months ago
Just like album art is done by all media players, but cover flow brings back the feel of flipping through bins of LPs. This could be cool if implemented right.
B
B
33 months ago
If the interactive nature of this album is meant to looked at and passed around like in the old days it can only be done on a device like the tablet. And if it has a Sept. timeframe it's only obvious that the tablet would come out at the same time.
And I could imagine handing a 10" tablet to friends in the living room while listening to the music. I can also see tying this feature in with a new Apple TV.
Hand in hand. So to speak.
And I could imagine handing a 10" tablet to friends in the living room while listening to the music. I can also see tying this feature in with a new Apple TV.
Hand in hand. So to speak.
33 months ago
people are only going to buy an album for the music thats on it, not because it comes with another way to play it on your computer, and to be fair there hasnt been an excellent album for ages anyway, I know people have different tastes in music but even looking at the UK iTunes chart, theres 2 big albums from christmas and lady gaga was released in september, the album chart is so stale at the moment, Last year when i was working in a CD & DVD shop the CD chart never used to change its all the same stuff week in week out, unless someone releases something big, or someone dies.
33 months ago
I think you guys are trying too hard to force on a tablet onto this...
I think it's a good idea though, good way to give "something extra" over the norm.
I think it's a good idea though, good way to give "something extra" over the norm.
33 months ago
I think you guys are trying too hard to force on a tablet onto this...
I think it's a good idea though, good way to give "something extra" over the norm.
But I think Peace has a good theory on it. I was thinking the same thing. Give it a more robust "remote" app like on the iPhone but with all the interactive album art stuff they're talking about and I could see that as a real selling point for the tablet. If not something really cool at least.
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