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Posts with tag DigitalDownloads

Filed under: Business, Video, Apple

1.3 million movies sold on iTunes

AppleAfter three short months, sales of Disney movies through the iTunes Store have hit 1.3 million downloads, in addition to 20 million television show downloads. However, Paramount has been the only other movie studio that has joined Apple since October of 2006. Why? No one wants to upset colossal retailers like Wal-Mart and Target, which are responsible for the majority of DVD sales. But will these latest sales figures help convince other companies in joining the digital download game? Finanicial Times reports that Disney CEO Bob Iger said digital distribution is "creating more consumption of media....The message that we deliver to our traditional [retail] partners is that the pie is getting bigger." Part of the retailer argument against digital downloads is the lower pricing. Because, you know, $12.99 is apparently a good deal for a lower quality (than DVD) movie download without any extras and limited viewing capabilities. However, Apple has previously expressed its unwillingness to change its current pricing structure. Ultimately, it seems almost guaranteed that digital downloads will continue to gain market prominence, but only time will tell to see if and when other companies will hop onboard with Apple.

Filed under: Audio, Business, Internet, Web services, Apple

New Jersey's iTunes tax

apple itunes music taxOur friends in New Jersey are about to pay a little more for music on Apple's iTunes starting this week. A sales tax will be added to iTunes digital downloads, stemming from the Governor's proposition this spring. The Governor had the smart idea to increase tax rates from 6 to 7 percent, and add this tax onto digital downloads to help the states budget deficit of $4.5 billion. The District of Columbia's residents are currently also paying taxes for media downloads, and there are rumors that other states may follow.

Featured Time Waster

Forumwarz - a potentially offensive time waster

I pwn UAfter spending the better part of an hour on Forumwarz I still can't decide if it's just sick or if it's kind of fun. It's a bit like a car wreck on the highway. I know I shouldn't be looking but I can't quite turn away.

It's sick, it's twisted, it's the internet on it's worst level and darn it, it's kind of fun. At least for a little while.

Forumwarz is a parody role-playing game that takes place on the internet - or at least the Forumwarz version of it. Your goal is to complete missions that are given to you through a mock up of GoogleTalk called Sentrillion.

Your first "friend" is ShallowEsophagus who begins giving you missions to pwn various forums by being a troll. Depending on the character type you are assigned at start up, you have tools like drooling on the keyboard or bashing your head on the keyboard that you can use to destroy forum threads and eventually, pwn a forum.

Future missions involve buying illegal software from the Russians, pwning more difficult forums and other internet oddness.

Completing missions gives you cash, called Flezz in game, and items that you can pawn or use in other missions. The game is NOT for those easily offended. It's crass, coarse and there are frequent f-bombs in the fake chat sessions.

This is also a game for a more mature audience as it requires you to shop at the Drugs R Fun store to get various concoctions to improve your playing, engage in certain cyber activities to get more Flezz and just generally use a more adult perspective.

If you can get past that, here are the more enjoyable and time-wasting aspects.

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