Apple's Lala music team working on video streaming service for 2010 launch?
By Thomas Ricker 
posted August 3rd 2010 4:53AM
posted August 3rd 2010 4:53AM
Naturally, all of this makes sense in light of Apple's plan to open a 500,000 square foot data center (pictured above) in North Carolina later this year at a cost of $1 billion. What better facility to serve up 99 cent streaming TV rentals to a completely overhauled Apple TV in the home, and highly mobile iPad, iPod touch, and iPhone devices on the go. Anecdotally, it's not like Apple's showing too much concern with storage limits on its iOS devices -- the iPhone 4 just launched in the same 16GB and 32GB offerings as the 3GS instead of the typical doubling of flash storage we've come to expect from new iPhone iterations. So really, the question isn't if, it's just a matter of when.
Original image courtesy of Cult of Mac
Why does that building look like its in the middle of nowhere?
@DarthGeek
Its in North Carolina and is still under construction or at least when the pic was taken it was.
@DarthGeek
*Cue stoner voice*
Because it is, man.
@DarthGeek
It would not look that great in the middle of a CBD.
@DarthGeek
Still, pro photoshopping skills.
@ok old news again
*GASP* How DARE you mock the greatness that is Shark Week?
Mr. Gore, please take away 100 internet points from the non-believer!!!
@DarthGeek
Cuz that's what the South looks like
@DarthGeek
Its out in the middle of nowhere because data centers need so much cooling you wouldn't believe it! So by being out "in the middle of nowhere" the outside temperature its always slightly cooler than in built up areas such as city's, this means they have to use less energy to cool the air that they use to cool the servers!
Like for example, Microsoft built a mega data center in Dublin Ireland, and due to its cooler climate there is no air conditioned cooling system it only uses fresh 'free' air from outside! Saves them tonnes of money and its way way more efficent!!
@stevenf17
also electricity is cheaper in those areas than cities and real estate.
@stevenf17
actually I live in the suburs of Chicago and in downtown Chicago it is always significantly cooler
also there is much more wind down town deputed what you might here
the only problem is lack of real estate to build a a million square foot facility or whatever this one is
@Hobowhiteside
and despite what ou might think I am not an uneducated redneck, the auto correction on my iPhone is awful time to cancel that damm contact already and get the droid x
@DarthGeek:
So sad, look at all that beautiful land surrounding it and what's right in the middle of it? A big f'n ugly data center.
Thanks again, Apple.
@Hobowhiteside
Downtown Chicago is unique.
It's called the Lake Effect
@Jordan
That's funny, I don't see you getting all worked up about Microsoft destroying square miles of forest to build their headquarters. In fact I don't see you getting all worked about about anybody destroying forest anywhere.... unless it's Apple of course.
Do you actually believe Apple is the only company to have built a large building in a remote area? Ever? Wait, let me guess - you're an environmentalist as long as Apple is the company "destroying the environment", right? It doesn't matter if other companies do it, I'm sure.
@Jack:
Haha wow man shut the f up! I feel exactly the same way about any company who would do that.
Don't worry, your precious Apple is just as bad as any other company. I can tell you are obviously a huge fangirl the way you instantly jumped to the conclusion I wouldn't feel the same if it was Microsoft.
Yet, look at that picture. Look at this story. Is it about ANY company building a huge data center other than Apple? Do you see any other companies listed here?
So once again, thanks Apple.
@James hey guys, is there any fix for the Apple iOS4 Security Breach yet?
I just heard about it this morning, and I don't know if i should upgrade my Iphone 3GS to iOS4 or not
http://gizmodo.com/5603319/new-apple-security-breach-gives-complete-access-to-your-iphone#comments
@TheTechGuy
Irrelevant comment is irrelevant.
@Jordan From what I can see, it was already an ugly factory or ugly storage facility before it became an ugly data center.
@Jordan
Oh that's bullshit and you know it. You've never posted even once about any other company building anything anywhere, whining about the environment. Every post you make here is anti-Apple, so stop trying to backpedal.
And your logic is flawless. Because THIS article is about Apple, obviously that means no other company is doing it or has ever done it. Which is why you've never complained about it before now.
I don't see you saying "Thanks Microsoft" sarcastically when they put up a new building. Why is that, exactly? Oh right, you only get offended when Apple does it. Where is your rant on how much land was ripped up to build Google's HQ? Oh, you don't have one? Right, because it's not Apple.
Every post you make here is standard anti-Apple hypocritical bullshit, I'm not sure why you think this one is any different.
@Jack:
You're making me laugh so much it hurts. Stop, please.
I guess I can't be critical of a company, even if I own thousands of dollars worth of their products. (I'm talking about Apple by the way).
In fact..I own more Apple prodcuts than Microsoft products.
But yup, the only reason I'm saying this is because it's Apple. You're right. You know me better than I do.
Point me to articles on Engadget of them talking about Google building a data center or Microsoft building one and I'll say the same thing. I've never personally seen them exist here, so how am I to say anything?
@stevenf17
not to mention Steve Jobs loves U2
@Hobowhiteside Um I live in Chicago and used to live downtown and while you can sometimes get a nice breeze off of the lake, I would say that in July and August it can get quite HOT in chicago and the humidity is absolutely killer, not New York bad but it can get pretty sticky.
Then again I don't weigh 170lbs either so that might have something to do with it.
Does anyone know if the rest of the world (europe) will get this ?
@Gigg44
Get what?
My point exactly.
Since i discovered air video I have come to realize that local storage is for suckers.
@pple is poo Why is he?
So I don't know much about what Lala did.. But from what I heard you uploaded your music to them, and then paid to stream it? You pay to listen to your own music..? That can't be right. Am I missing something?
With Airvideo or Orb Live you can stream your own music, for free! (well, Airvideo only did videos when I checked it. But Orb live does music, and probably others too.)
@ObiDamnKneobi
Lala was an online music store that did a number of awesome things once you registered (for free). Aside from having a great interface and impressive catalog, it let you stream any song in its catalog once, for free. You could then opt to buy the 'web song' (online streaming only) for 10 cents, or download the DRM-free mp3 for 80 or 90 cents. Just by signing up, you got credits for (at least) 25 free web songs of your choosing, and could earn more by recommending the service to friends.
Additionally, you could download a program that scanned your music library and compares it to their online catalog. If you already 'owned' a song, then it granted you free access to stream the song online at any time. No upload required. If their catalog didn't have the song, then it would upload the song to their database so you (and only you?) could stream it online at anytime (you could disable this feature if you wanted). Never did Lala charge you to listen to music that you already owned. However, I don't think there were any apps to stream music from smartphones at the time it was shut down.
The service was almost too good to be true, and I guess it's not surprising their business model didn't work, forcing them to sell out. I just wish it wasn't to Apple.
@bradg Sounds like crap from what you've said... But I guess if you didn't already have a huge music library, but you did have boat loads of cash... You could buy yourself a library for a lot of money... Or listen to it once on the web for free!
android should start doing things like these . this probably will only in America which is a shame this I use hotshield to watch hulu in the uk
@pug Its not like Apple to leave out big markets like Europe.
@pug
Don't you mean Google? I think they may be onto similar things...
@pug
Google is an advertising company that gives away free products in return for collecting user information and selling ad space. People seem to forget this is what they are. In order to warrant spending a million on a farm to serve up streaming music, Google would have to be sure that advertising revenue through this presumably ad supported streaming service would justify the cost. It sounds like it is the record labels as always who are delaying Apple and Google's plans.
You're right: It'd make sense if Apple were looking to send movies instead of (or in addition to) music.
However, I just wish they'd bring Lala back. Plain and simple. That was the best legit music service I've ever used and I' purchased more music from Lala in the course of one year than I had in the entire lifespan of the iTunes Store.
@Tubular
"I' purchased more music from Lala in the course of one year than I had in the entire lifespan of the iTunes Store."
Exactly why Apple shut it down.
@ESTEEB
You think that's why Apple shut it down? And not because Apple is assimilating Lala into the iTunes team? Wow.
Apple could start by at least by allowing .Mac... I mean MobileME users to upload music and stream it to iDevices. Apple already knows your iDevices anyway (for find my ixxx service), so it's not like there's a risk for global piracy. Really, MobileME needs some serious update to remain competitive as a paid service.
@pika2000
You can. Upload your music to your iDisk and you can listen to it through the iDisk app, and it even works in the background.
@QwaF But that's just a one-time play via the Quicktime app. I want to see it being integrated with the iPod app, retaining all the same features as if the music is on the device itself.
Sorry to be a grammar nazi but that's spelled "Naturally..."
@Ravi Hmmm grammar Nazi or not. I think the article has it right...
Hmmm.....this could explain the "supposed" delay in the netflix app for iPhone....I'm just sayin'
@mrspacelysprockets
Netflix uses Amazon's datacenters through Amazon EC2. They don't depend on Apple for anything but getting the app approved.
Why isn't there a decent simplify replacement app? Isub doesn't cut since you can't play playlists or shuffle.
@SleptOn You can still find simplify outside of the app store
Woha! It is REVOLUTIONARY !!!!! (Apple fanboy)
Fanboy1: Oh shit, it does not work.
Fanboy2: No shit dude, you must use Apple monitor to view the video stream.
@ewlung
Troll1: Woha! It is REVOLUTIONARY !!!!!
@ewlung
If you don't like it
http://www.engadget.com/exclude/apple/
BAM no more whining from you
I miss Lala, a lot. I am intrigued by what Apple will do with it though - but they need to hurry now that we have all gotten a taste of it already. I was a Sound Jam user in the 90's & I loved that software. I wasn't too happy when Apple bought them, I didn't want Sound Jam to change & was a hold out for iTunes for quite a while. There were a couple features I was bummed weren't carried over, but I have to say they turned that mp3 playing software into something I could have never imagined, industry changing & creating over the last decade. Hoping to see the same with Lala.
That is a huge building! They could rename the surrounding area Lala land. Now that would be something :)
@buoy
The data center is a prototype. Once they get the bugs worked out, I expect we'll see many more of them around the U.S. and the world. It's the only way Apple can sell streaming content without relying on third parties.