Apple set to release "interactive album applications" for Snow Patrol, others

Looks like Apple is continuing to push the envelop of digital music with new "interactive album applications" set for imminent release. The first artist in the cue is Snow Patrol, scheduled to release their latest studio album next month. According to a Polydor production manager, the downloadable, "interactive" application (via AppStore or iTunes or the rumored iTunes version 8?) will offer additional content such as artwork, behind-the-scenes images, and lyrics for iPhone and iPod touch owners -- "A digital booklet that will take you into the videos and content," if you will. Now who says that digital music can't be profitable?

[Via MacWorld UK]

[Rocky @ Sep 1st 2008 8:19AM]

cool, I like Snow Patrol and Apple, iphone rules

[iB3nji @ Sep 1st 2008 7:07AM]

wooo hoo september will be good :)

Sounds like iTunes 8 too :)

[koala72 @ Sep 1st 2008 7:14AM]

"Now who says that digital music can't be profitable?"

Everyone (except engadget who seem to praise there antics) until they take away the DRM, and maybe, just maybe raise the quality of there music.

[andrew.l.wood @ Sep 1st 2008 7:26AM]

Their
and
Their

And
Haven't you heard of itunes plus?

[koala72 @ Sep 1st 2008 8:10AM]

Yes, i have, but whats your point?

EMI only have a 12% (if that these days) market share (so that leaves a lazy 88% of the major labels music still with the drmed crap).

...or you could go to amazon and its all (do you know how that feels with your itunes store) in drm free and in the far superior format MP3, not Apples own useless ACC.

[Jeff @ Sep 1st 2008 12:45PM]

"far superior format MP3, not Apples own useless ACC. "

wow - really?

MP3 is not superior, and AAC is certainly not "Apple's own". Look it up.

AAC is a standardized codec by the ISO and IEC, can do 320kbit/s in 5 channels, and it was DESIGNED specifically to fix performance flaws in mp3. it has more sample frequencies, channels, higher efficiency, handles 16kHz+ much better, etc.
(Once you get up past 25kbit/s on either codec, though, the differences are less noticeable, but just because mp3 can start to keep up at the top of its capability certainly doesn't make it "superior")


AAC was developed by Fraunhofer IIS, AT&T Bell Laboratories, Dolby, Sony Corporation and Nokia, and was officially declared an international standard by the Moving Pictures Experts Group in April 1997.


I know you're drinking the haterade, and that's fine, but don't just talk out of your ass.

[chris @ Sep 1st 2008 5:15PM]

on the subject of typos, i noticed 2 within the article

1. the use of the word "cue" instead of "queue"

2. "envelop" where he meant to say "envelope"

[eddy @ Sep 1st 2008 7:15AM]

Hmph. I like Snow Patrol too. I have a feeling Apple's going to make me hate them like they did with Coldplay.

That said, this isn't really terribly innovative in the grand scheme of music sales. Look at all the interactive CD-ROM extras that artists would add on to their album on CD. All this really sounds like is the digital music equivalent of that along with the booklet insert for the lyrics, artwork, etc. Nothing new at all, but somehow it's being made out like Apple's created the whole idea of album extras.

[ill trooper @ Sep 1st 2008 7:27PM]

...I think you just read it that way. I didn't read a part where anyone says or "made out" that Apple created interactive content for an album.

[Galley @ Sep 1st 2008 7:29AM]

A PDF booklet that's viewable on the iPhone? That's a great idea. Too bad I only buy CDs.

[Raheem @ Sep 1st 2008 8:17AM]

Too bad indeed. How's that CD Player working out for you?

[Taylor @ Sep 1st 2008 8:38AM]

Raheem:
Long before the iTunes store was invented, Apple had this thing in iTunes called "ripping CDs to MP3 or AAC format". You might remember it.

Besides, I remember hearing on an artist's blog (Weird Al's I think) that he actually earns MORE money per CD bought than from iTunes downloads.

[Raheem @ Sep 6th 2008 12:19PM]

Weird Al is not an artist. Tool.

[fanman @ Sep 1st 2008 7:41AM]

Here's to hopeing it's a reverse fit.

[Cale @ Sep 1st 2008 7:45AM]

Sounds like someone's trying to make legal downloads worth my time.


Keep trying...

[dennis @ Sep 1st 2008 7:45AM]

I'm not going to say that this is the greatest thing since sliced bread, but if the RIAA and the companies that form its Frankenstein-like corpus had ever developed a positive distribution model that worked in spite of piracy, they might have tried this, oh, seven years ago or so.

[Randy @ Sep 1st 2008 8:08AM]

Given the music that Snow Patrol makes, I am guessing the "interactive album application" is an Anal Tampon.

[Raheem @ Sep 1st 2008 8:19AM]

Not Hatebreed enough for you?

[i_am_rich @ Sep 1st 2008 8:32AM]

Snow Patrol suck

couldn't they have F**k Buttons first? :-(

[TareX @ Sep 1st 2008 8:51AM]

Nice work, Apple. (no really I like the idea)

Google's countermove: An Android peer-2-peer download app. Search. Download.

[Richy @ Sep 1st 2008 9:35AM]

Anybody tried the Simplify Media app for the Iphone/touch? It streams music from your desktop, meaning I now have access to 100gb of music on there... Anyway the point is that the app also intelligently finds lyrics, artist info and artwork for the music you are playing, no video, but how much extra are they wanting to charge?

[xValentine @ Sep 1st 2008 9:19AM]

Fail reflection.

[Jeff @ Sep 1st 2008 12:48PM]

right?

I'd say "fail photoshop"

seriously that is one of the worst photoshop jobs i've ever seen here at Engadget.

[xValentine @ Sep 1st 2008 1:14PM]

Yep, that's what I'm talking about.

[Wayne @ Sep 1st 2008 9:38AM]

So will these be available to other players/music stores? Like a new standard? Or is this pushing closer to "monopoly" territory? (Without the play money and the little metal tokens.)

[matt merritt @ Sep 1st 2008 11:08AM]

I used to listen to Snow Patrol (and Coldplay too) but my girlfriend made me stop when guys started hitting on me.

[Connor @ Sep 1st 2008 10:31PM]

"Looks like Apple is continuing to push the envelop..." Shouldn't they be pushing the envelope with an E?
TO THE EDITOR: Sometimes, SpellCheck isn't enough. Try proofreading. Good post, though.

[Decoy @ Sep 1st 2008 6:13PM]

They've used all the 'e's up reporting on Asus's little laptops.

[Jeff @ Sep 1st 2008 12:49PM]

arg! there are so many things wrong with that photoshop job it's like it was DESIGNED to make me angry.

it makes me want to punch someone in the face.

[Wormbolt @ Sep 1st 2008 4:28PM]

If the image is what they intended to make then it is a perfect Photoshop job and you should punch yourself in the face.

[Mark @ Sep 1st 2008 1:00PM]

If iTunes wasn't such a giant flaming POS on windows, maybe I would care about this. Maybe, just maybe, I wouldn't have bought a zune and wouldn't be having such a great time with the Zune software that actually runs pretty well for me.

[Your Father @ Sep 1st 2008 1:03PM]

Matt, guys were hitting on you because of your feminine ways. The music had nothing to do with it. Just an FYI. I love how people use the forum to see that Snow Patrol "sucks" or "rules". Most intriguing is how eddy says that Apple makes him hate a particular band. Shouldn't the music decide that? And Jeff, you put koala in their place. No need to be angry at the ridiculous photoshop. LOL

[matt merritt @ Sep 1st 2008 5:52PM]

In review, listening to Snow Patrol and Coldplay is quite effeminate. I know this now.

[Ethan @ Sep 1st 2008 3:59PM]

Oh, so this is why they banned the lyrics plugins. Because they wanted to spend 5 years wondering how to charge more for them.

[Napalm Mascara @ Sep 1st 2008 5:20PM]

HDTracks.com w/ full PDF album booklet (and no DRM) FTW.

[Jubei @ Sep 1st 2008 6:52PM]

Apple again is pushing the envelope when it comes to true innovation. Unlike MS and it's stillborn product Zune and it's silly Market, Apple continues to innovate. Zune will just copy as always. Expect MS and other "me too" rivals to announce their own copies of this innitiative.

[Gabo @ Sep 1st 2008 7:35PM]

The only interactivity I need with a snow patrol album is the stop button.

[britrockeruk @ Sep 2nd 2008 5:23AM]

Maybe all this is to distract you so you don't listen to the music too much.

[bookburnr @ Sep 2nd 2008 3:47PM]

Pretty bad Photoshop. And I think this is a Fail.

[Tommy @ Sep 2nd 2008 5:36PM]

"Queue" not "cue."