Monday
Sep102007
TV Shows on UK iTunes
Monday, September 10, 2007 at 9:08PM One of the big new items that happened while I was away last week was the introduction of TV shows into the UK iTunes store. Great but.... The content is pretty limited and to be honest, pretty dire. But the main reason why I won't be buying any TV shows from iTunes is the price. Price of a TV Show from the US iTunes store: $1.99 USD Price of a TV Show from the UK iTunes store: £1.89 GBP A quick conversion on Google = $3.82 USD for the equivalent here in the UK. Talk about rip off UK...
Not long now before the 
My first reaction to the recent announcement of the Apple/Starbucks tie up was - meh!
In case you've been in hiding, this was the announcement by Apple that the new wi-fi enabled iPod touch and the iPhone would be "Starbucks Aware". Basically, enter a participating Starbucks and your wi-fi enabled device is automatically configured to know what song is currently playing, what the last 10 songs are that have played and then crucially, allow you to purchase the songs from the iTunes wi-fi store using the iPod or iPhone.
Pretty neat!
It's going to take a year or two for the rollout to be completed for North America and goodness knows how long before it hits Europe ad the rest of the world.
But it got me thinking...
Apple have already developed one of the most successful, international on-line stores and expanded its coverage from music to TV shows and films. But to use the store, you needed a PC or Mac and an internet connection.
Now with the advent of the iPhone, the iPod touch and the wi-fi enabled store, they have broken the chain of being tethered to a traditional computer overnight.
The Starbucks deal must mean they have developed location specific infrastructure i.e. the hardware and software required to enable the iPod and iPhone when in close proximity to a Starbucks store.
What's to stop them expanding this concept to other retail establishments?
What's to stop this concept of location specific shopping being extended to non-digital goods?
What if you popped into your local bookstore and automatically you had access to the current inventory of the store and could make your purchase using your iPhone or iPod with a single key press.
Or how about using the camera in the iPhone to scan the barcode of a book to make a purchase - either pick up from the counter or have it posted to the address on your iTunes account.
Or how about visiting an electrical retailer and selecting a new fridge and paying for it over wi-fi via your iTunes account? All interaction done via the iPod or iPhone.
Or how about using your iPhone to do the weekly grocery shop in the local supermarket?
Have Apple laid down the foundation for a whole new e-commerce platform?
Minimal capital required for the retailer as the customer will bring along their own data entry device!
The concept of cash free and electronic shopping via a mobile device have long been a futuristic concept - I think Apple have just made it that much more feasible.
They just need to change the name of the iTunes Store!
Just taken delivery of a new Apple super thin keyboard.
I like it!
I like it a lot!
But.....
Why does the Expose and Dashboard special function keys not work on older Apple kit? All the other keys work fine but these don't seem to work on my G5?
The Apple support groups are full of people in the same position?
What gives and why has there been no patch?
Update: 12th September - The new Keyboard Update patch has fixed the problem!