Posts Tagged ‘iPhone’

Apparently, the Common App and Supplementary Essays aren’t enough these days.

One aspiring CS major, Alex Greene, decided to create an iPhone app as part of his Stanford App. Check it out here:

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YouTube Direkt

So TUSB readers, what do you think?

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Personally, I think the app is a cute idea but not particularly noteworthy on content…also, it’s much better if you watch it on mute. Still, I give the kid kudos for thinking of a new way to express himself. Best of luck, Alex!

The iPhone is a powerful device. Is it now a necessity for our high-powered campus?

Or should I say, hello ridiculously huge hint of a Verizon iPhone? It seems that Apple fanboys on the interweb are abuzz since being invited to a special Verizon event in New York City on 1/11/11 at 11 am.  I think for most people, this is fabulous news! I know more than one person who has been waiting all year for Verizon to finally release the iPhone. They wanted a smart phone but because of their parent’s refusal to switch mobile plans (or let them get their own) they’ve been forced to settle for some version of the Droid. Or even worse, they’ve been forced to wait for the unidentified date of Verizon’s iPhone release.

Yet the wait appears to be close to an end. There seems to be a blackout on Apple employee vacations around February 3rd. Maybe for the launch? Either way, the end of the wait is near. And with the end of the wait comes a shift in the cell phone service on our campus.

Stanford quite fondly supports Apple. It’s obvious in the fact that every dorm comes equipped with numerous Apple desktops with all the software a little freshman can dream about. But something that seems to have developed without Stanford’s direct influence is At&t’s prominence. I’m not actually sure which came first, the iPhone or the cell phone towers, but not only are there more At&t users on campus, but it’s also a widely held knowledge that regardless of your phone type At&t also offers the best service. There were once rumors of a Stanford/At&t deal but there’s not enough evidence to support that idea. Apparently all service providers offer their best coverage here. Yet with Verizon getting in on the iPhone market, things may change.

I have no doubt that when the iPhone goes on the market for Verizon, many students will rush to buy it. And if there were more users, possibly running on upcoming 4G networks, it would be just rude if Verizon didn’t come around to fix their lackluster service. More iPhones, and better service for more students all around – it seems like a win-win situation, right?

Yet one of the things that has always surprised me was Stanford’s technological homogeneity. Considering the amount of engineers and general technological know-how on campus, it’s amazing how many people religiously buy Apple products. Our students are smart – some can defend their reasons for buying a Macbook Pro like an industry insider. Yet after trying to have novelty and variety  in so many other areas, it’s funny how little we try different devices.  So while this launch will give Verizon a big boost on campus, I can’t help but feel that all of us walking around with staring into the abyss of our iPhones deters from the uniqueness we love about our campus. It is just a phone and (that label is actually probably too simplistic for new smart phones) but Apple sells a lifestyle through its brand. We’re the perfect age group (teens and twenty somethings) living right next to the Silicon Valley. In a way, we may become some garish, living advertisement for Apple through its simple representation at our school.  The iPhone may be cool and snazzy, but it’s still the same product for a very diverse student body.

EDIT: It’s official. Here’s some info on the Verizon iPhone.

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An odd mix, but Vevo encompasses them all

What do Iron Maiden, Rick Astley, Eminem, Justin Bieber, Marilyn Manson, Sublime, Shania Twain, Limp Bizkit, and Abba have in common?

Vevo channels.

Are you surprised?   Perhaps on the basis of the wide variety of musical genres represented by these artists, yes.  However, with regard to current trends in music consumption, online and elsewhere, Vevo makes perfect sense – which is why it’s taking over how America receives its music.

Vevo to the rescue?

According to Credit Suisse analysts, YouTube only makes 0.4 cents per video view.  This garners a measly $240.9 a year for a venture whose bandwidth, licensing, and operation costs will run upwards of $700 million.  In other words, “Google will lose $470.6 million on YouTube, for which it paid $1.76 billion in 2006.”

Vevo's "world premiere" of the Telephone music video changed the way we perceive online music promotion.

Vevo may provide the solution to Google’s online video woes.  Launched on December 8, 2009, with the slogan “Music Evolution Revolution!,” Vevo overcame MySpace Music as #1 music site in the US within its first month.  The company represents a collaboration between Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and Abu Dhabi Media.  Vevo has domain over music videos from three of the “big four” major record labels: Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and EMI.  (Warner partnered with MTV Networks.)

Today, approximately 23,000 videos are available on Vevo.  Vevo’s near dominance of the major music labels is allowing it to approach monopoly status.  According to Wired Magazine, “there could soon be no other game in town.”

How does this help Google?  Well, Google and VEVO share the advertising revenue, and the institution of Vevo ended Google’s licensing difficulties with Universal Music Group.  “The purpose behind Vevo is to sell advertising at higher rates than YouTube does now.”

Changing music as we know it

According to Wired, Vevo “could save the music business.”  Mashable’s top 5 predictions for the music industry in 2011 suggest the following:

Now, we’re not saying Vevo has single-handedly sparked the renaissance of the music video, but it has helped give the format a kick in the you-know-what.”

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