tollie.org/blog thoughts and reflections of Tollie Williams

31Oct/08Off

Twitter Updates for 2008-10-31

  • @ScottBourne Did u realize the ShareThis widget on TWiPphoto allows people 2 "republish" ur blog 2 their own sites? http://twitpic.com/j1cs #
  • @ScottBourne Like I said, on ur side, but I see it as linking w commentary, automated by ur RSSyndication feed. Their sidebar is tacky tho. #
  • @ScottBourne So if I went and clicked the ShareThis link on your website, and let it post the same content to my Facebook... you'd sue me? #
  • @ScottBourne The delay has me out of sync. Apologies. But from everything I can tell, Shutt3r credits and links to you. I see no harm. #
  • @ScottBourne Don't get me wrong. Shutt3r and family seem a bit shady - built on content excerpts of others. But they don't steal ur traffic. #
  • @ScottBourne I make no similar decisions. I think I understand (c) decently, but I also digress, as I don't think that's the issue at hand. #
  • @BarCampMemphis Re calling 4 speakers: if there's ppl interested, I can demo multi-track podcast setup: hrdware/sftware. And social nething. #
  • @a_askew Which character? Or is that a secret? #
  • @BarCampMemphis No online podcasts to point you to, but I can send info. Perhaps move to discussion here: http://tinyurl.com/5rspjl #
  • Note to self: don't upgrade server software at 6am, after an hour of sleep. #
  • @ext237 However these must b considered: nature (aggregation), purpose (to send back to original), xformation (topical), extent (very small) #
  • @jonathangrubb It's all good. After Scott questioned my integrity, and told me I know nothing about (c), I'm bowing out of the discussion. #
30Oct/08Off

Twitter Updates for 2008-10-30

  • Back in Florence- now with clothes that keep me from freezing. #
  • @ScottBourne I'm on ur side. But I'm curious in the meta ?s: Is Shutt3r's use a fair "aggregation" service? Isn't it free PR? Ur thoughts? #
26Oct/08Off

Twitter Updates for 2008-10-26

  • @B_i_B That's pretty good. I think an ad. for Dexter's Laboratory (maybe?) was the first to do that sort of video. #
25Oct/08Off

Twitter Updates for 2008-10-25

  • Ok. I'm almost in. #
24Oct/08Off

Twitter Updates for 2008-10-24

  • @a_askew I had to give up. I skipped to the end to see if it- well- started using verbs. Wasn't compelling. Now I'm starting Quicksilver. #
23Oct/08Off

Twitter Updates for 2008-10-23

  • Just finished going thru and cleaning out 5000 emails from my "sign-up" email account. Going 2 start aggresively unregistering/blacklisting. #
22Oct/08Off

Twitter Updates for 2008-10-22

  • If u like music u should check out http://www.lala.com Its model- the idea that music should be like water, free, but pay for convenience. #
  • @tsutrav Interesting question. The downloads are 256kbps MP3, I've heard. The streaming, I think it actually sounds 128kbps. But, YMMV. #
  • @tsutrav eg. The sound seems richer than *old* AAC from iTMS (I hated their old encoder). But another seems more muffed. Def better than FM. #
  • @tsutrav Locked in? All downloads are DRM free MP3. 1st listen is free. Or u can unlimited stream online for 10c, which counts towards MP3. #
  • PS. If anyone wonders, I'm not affiliated with lala.com in any way. I'm just recommending it based on its model: find/listen-free, take-pay. #
  • I ended up blogging about Lala. It includes a discussion that was sparked at the TWiT Army over regionalization. Read at: http://is.gd/4xpL #
22Oct/08Off

The future of music is like water, and it’s here.

First off, I'm not affiliated with lala.com in anyway. I'm just excited that a music store has finally launched using the future business model of music.

In summary: the future of music is to be like water. Consider the water fountain. The water is not free to the business that provides it, but it is free to customers. Next to the water fountain is a vending machine selling bottled water that costs $1. The water is free to enjoy, but you pay for the convenience.

This business model came to the book world prominently in 2004 with the release of the 9/11 Commission Report. It was available for free online and could be downloaded for free, (Audible even released it as a free audiobook) but for the convenience of having it as a paperback it was sold in book stores. And it was a best-seller.

Here's how Lala.com works:

  • They have most the music you'd expect.
  • You can listen to any song on the store once (you must be signed in to listen to the full song).
  • Pay 10 cents and you can stream the song unlimited.
  • If you pay to stream and later decide to download it as a 256kbps DRM free MP3 (89 to 99 cents), the 10 cents counts towards your MP3 purchase.
  • They have a program that will scan your computer for MP3s, AACs, and even iTunes Music Store songs. If the songs are found in the lala catalog, they will become available for listening online as if you had paid lala.com for them.
  • They even allow you to upload your own MP3s to listen to them via lala.com from anywhere.
  • And of course, it has the social aspects that you should expect to find in a modern business model store: friending/following, recommendations, share links, "most popular", etc.

My twitter/twit-army posts about this generated a good bit of discussion. I'm reposting them here:

from http://army.twit.tv:

tollie: I'm definately giving up iTunesStore and Amazon-MP3 for http://www.lala.com - finally the future business model of music comes to a store.

kylehase: @tollie Doh! lala only works in the US. International restrictions are really starting to piss me off. First it was Anathem on Audible...

tollie: @kylehase Sorry. That is dumb. The only thing I can say is, lala.com seems to "get it" so hopefully, they're advocating for int'l listeners.

tollie: @kylehase The other "only thing" I could say is... if you paid for a proxy service that's US based, and had a US credit card... Good luck.

randulo: @tollie remember it isn't Hulu but their content owners that refuse international access because of rights.

tollie: @randulo I agree, but my point was Lala wasn't created by the labels. They seem to "get it." I hope they are working toward global audience.

tollie: @randulo The best I recall, Hulu was _created_ by the studios, to combat sharing and openness, so my hopes for them "getting it" are ~ 0.

kylehase: @tollie @randulo I have my own US server and a US credit card but even good proxies have overhead so streaming video can be problematic.

kylehase: @tollie @randulo It's the principle of the thing that bothers me. I understand that marketers want to target specific regions but still...

tollie: @kylehase Understood, and agreed. I understand the idea of differnet markets too, but the labels need to realize they no longer control it.

kylehase: @tollie Amen, and until they do they will never be able to control piracy.

21Oct/08Off

Twitter Updates for 2008-10-21

  • Has anyone here ever used a Phonic Helix Firewire mixer w GarageBand? I'm getting good levels in SysPref Sound, but not G'Band - low. Ideas? #
  • @a_askew What chapter is that? I caved and finally just started reading it. (It's what all the HPotter kids r doing these days, apparently.) #
  • Did ping.fm forget to renew their website? Looks like it. #
  • Oh, apparently, it wasn't a renewal issue. Godaddy seems to be at fault for this one: http://tinyurl.com/5bdl3w #
  • @B_i_B I sent you a direct message just now. Twitter has been having trouble with them lately tho, so let me know if you never got it, plz. #
  • I'm ready for winter to be over... I don't like 73 being the *high* today... and it only goes down from here. #
20Oct/08Off

Twitter Updates for 2008-10-20

  • @a_askew I've been off-SMS for a while, so I missed the lead-up to your laptop restore, but I know the feeling. #
  • I've turned off SMS 4 almost every1, except 4 people I know IRL. So if you want me 2 see your tweet 4 sure, d message it 2 me. I don't mind. #
  • @cdharrison Yeah. I used 2 get about 30 ppl via SMS. Now, about 10. I guess I should have said I'm sure 2 see @s also, just not on my phone. #