Amazon will begin selling electronic books for the iPhone today. Amazon will make its electronic book software available to iPhone and iPod touch users for free, while e-books will sell for $9.99, the same price as e-books for the Kindle. Amazon views the move as a way of promoting the Kindle through the back door, noting "There are times when you're going to be in a place where you happen to have your iPhone but not your Kindle... If I get stuck in line at the grocery store, I can pick up where I was reading with my iPhone."
Apple unveiled an upgraded line of desktops yesterday. The refresh includes a new iMac, as well as a new MacMini. In order to stay fresh in the weakening economy, Apple also dropped the price of the 24" iMac from $1,799 to $1,499, however, its entry level model will still retail for $1,199.
Time Warner is set to allow users to subscribe to cable networks like CNN and TNT over the Internet. As cable advertising declines, the ability to sell access to networks and premium shows online is becoming more attractive to media companies. Time Warner's move comes just as it spins off Time Warner Cable, and is on the heels of Comcast developing its own Internet TV service.
Julius Genachowski was officially nominated for the position of FCC Chair yesterday. Genachowski, a former IAC counsel and classmate of President Obama's at Harvard, is a passionate advocate of net neutrality and has been a champion of the power of the Internet. Analysts believe that Genachowski's nomination will strengthen the reign of companies like Google, while also pushing for more net neutrality legislation and broadband expansion.
WNBC is set to launch local information and lifestyle channel dubbed New York Nonstop. The station will be available to nearly 6 million viewers and will cover all things New York. New York Nonstop will launch Monday March 9th at 5 a.m.
ZillionTV is a new set-top box that allows users to stream content over the Internet. The service will give customers the opportunity to stream shows for free with advertisements, or purchase, or rent, TV shows and movies. ZillionTV, which is backed by ABC/Disney, Fox, NBCU, Sony and Warner Bros., will cost $50 for the box and will be available in the fourth quarter.
Shelly Palmer is a consultant and the host of MediaBytes a daily show featuring news you can use about technology, media & entertainment. He is Managing Director of Advanced Media Ventures Group LLC and the author of Television Disrupted: The Transition from Network to Networked TV (2008, York House Press). Shelly is also President of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, NY (the organization that bestows the coveted Emmy® Awards). You can join the MediaBytes mailing list here. Shelly can be reached at shelly@palmer.net