Brick-and-mortar stores eye new music formats

ConGo note:Brick-and-mortar stores looking for new options to connect physical and digital music distribution

The music industry continues to build bridges between the digital and physical world.

In the latest attempts, iTunes digital download album cards highlighting specific titles are getting high marks in the early part of the rollout.

Meanwhile, merchants await the introduction of the "ringle" -- which aims to revive the CD single in the physical world and allow brick-and-mortar merchants to participate in the ringtone phenomenon.

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Google unveils cell phone software and alliance

ConGo note: Google Android platform key feature is memory card delivered applications…

Google has long been rumored to be working on software for cell phones that would integrate its applications. On Friday, CNET News.com reported that Google's plans went beyond simply developing software and instead included a whole consortium of companies working to develop an open platform cell phone application.

"Today's announcement is more ambitious than any single 'Google Phone' that the press has been speculating about over the past few weeks," Google CEO Eric Schmidt said in a statement. "Our vision is that the powerful platform we're unveiling will power thousands of different phone models."

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Nokia finally ships the Nokia N95 with support for AT&T's HSDPA network in the United States.

Nokia announced today that the new Nokia N95 with support for AT&T's HSDPA
networks has begun shipping across the United States. The Nokia N95 retains
its functionality of the current Nokia N95, while gaining a number of other
notable product upgrades including Assisted GPS (A-GPS), increased memory,
and a new battery with extended operating time.

Along with today's availability of the new Nokia N95, Sling Media is also
announcing the availability of its SlingPlayer Mobile for Symbian OS
software. This means that users of the new Nokia N95 can enjoy their home
television programming, including live broadcasts or content recorded to a
DVR, from virtually anywhere that North American HSDPA or Wi-Fi networks are
available.

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Kingmax Digital introduces preloaded movie memory cards in Taiwan

Josephine Lien, Taipei; Esther Lam, DIGITIMES [Saturday 29 September 2007]

Kingmax Digital, together with its newly acquired Catalyst Logic, have introduced a new series of memory cards with preloaded movies in Taiwan.

Kingmax currently offers preloaded movie content with its microSD, Secure Digital (SD) and Super Stick memory cards with the selling prices of these products slightly above those without preloaded content. Since consumers do not have to spend a lot to get the preloaded content, this may convert as a value-added feature and encourage sales, Kingmax said.

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