Monday, November 23, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
ITunes Outline Template C
I- ITunes Program Review
a. Introduction
i. Relevant Apple history
1. First years of I-POD
2. Other Products
b. The Beginning of I-Tunes
i. The first Year
1. Facts about First year
a. Song sales
b. Reasons for starting
c. ITunes Layout
i. Links
ii. Pictures and Slides
iii. Account Issues Material
iv. Background Color
d. ITunes Music Purchasing
i. Important Features
1. Price
2. Searches
3. Setup
e. ITunes Library
i. Layout
1. Songs
2. Information
3. Genius
f. Itunes General toolbar
i. Library
ii. Other General Links
g. System Updates
h. Problems with ITunes
i. General Issues
1. CD’s Imports
2. Problem Purchases
3. Billing Lag
i. Conclusion
i. Rating
1. 4 out of 5
ii. General synopsis
a. Introduction
i. Relevant Apple history
1. First years of I-POD
2. Other Products
b. The Beginning of I-Tunes
i. The first Year
1. Facts about First year
a. Song sales
b. Reasons for starting
c. ITunes Layout
i. Links
ii. Pictures and Slides
iii. Account Issues Material
iv. Background Color
d. ITunes Music Purchasing
i. Important Features
1. Price
2. Searches
3. Setup
e. ITunes Library
i. Layout
1. Songs
2. Information
3. Genius
f. Itunes General toolbar
i. Library
ii. Other General Links
g. System Updates
h. Problems with ITunes
i. General Issues
1. CD’s Imports
2. Problem Purchases
3. Billing Lag
i. Conclusion
i. Rating
1. 4 out of 5
ii. General synopsis
Monday, November 16, 2009
Rough Draft Review
The company Apple has yet to cease to create amazing technology ever since its creation of the all too well known I-pod. Sense the IPOD's creation the company has released other well known products such as the IPOD NANO, IMAC, IPHONE, and even Apple Television. These products have become the center points of the entire company. However, they also came up with an advanced online system that is used to distribute the important media that is often used with the devices company sells. This online system was appropriately named I-tunes.
According to BBC news, ITunes was first created as an engine that would help spur IPOD sales. The site first offered only downloads that would be able to be played on the go from the companies media players. However the company soon began to grow. During the first year of ITunes being up and running, it sold a record 70 million songs. From then on it was no stopping the ITunes engine from growing. By 2006, the Britannica Encyclopedia reports, the company had sold over 2 billion songs to those who reaped its benefits. Now, the engine offers more than just music. As someone opens the site, they are able to search for all types of media including Movies, TV shows, applications for phones, Radio, and even ringtones.
One of the most striking features of the ITunes music engine is it's layout and design. The user is first greeted by the I-tunes store page. Here Apple gives the user a large amount of links to new and upcoming media. Some of the sections presented are coupled with pictures and slides that create an appealing montage of what the site has to offer. The front page also hold a set of quick links to manage any account issues and several links leading to the several branches of the store. All of these features are back by a nice navy blue that accents the media that is being displayed.
Purchasing music is the main use of ITunes. The company has made it easy an accessible to everyone who can click a mouse. The search toolbar located at the top right allows for the user to type in any words associated with the music they are looking for. The engine then produces a list of related music and a list of albums that could be what the user wanted. Each song produced comes complete with its name, Artist, Album, Price, Popularity, and Genre. If any of the songs for sale are clicked, Apple allows the user to hear a 30 second piece of the music. This allows for the user to make sure this is the music they were searching for and if they are still interested in buying it. Another key portion of buying ITunes music is the price. The price for music always fluctuates between 99 cents to $1.29 depending on the popularity of the song. This relatively low price leads to high sales for the company.
Another important feature of ITunes is the Library. The Library is where each user is able to keep all of their stored music as well as other media. The user can move effortlessly from their music to their downloaded movies with one click. The user is free to do whatever they wish with their downloaded music. They are allowed to do all sorts of things including create playlists or even burn them to a CD. All is made possible with only a few short clicks.
If ITunes weren't easy enough, the creators added a special feature to the mix called Genius. Genius, a search engine of its own, automatically takes whatever song you are listening to and finds songs that are very similar and displays them for the user. This can then create a playlist just from looking at the song that you picked. So, pick a song that you enjoy, and receive a list of twenty songs that hold similar tones and genres. As Apple so adequately put it themselves, "These mixes are like channels that are programmed entirely with your own music."
No matter what you may be doing on ITunes, you are always greeted by a special toolbar that displays certain tasks that could be important to the user. These include direct links to the library and Store, any shared drives from other computers and what they have bought, as well as a special set of playlists. This allows the user to move freely through the search engine and accomplish any goals that they have set in their sights. Also, Apple provides constant system updates in an effort to try and improve any aspects of the system that they deem unnecessary or redundant. As we speak I have just opened my ITunes and am prompted to update to ITunes version update 9.0.2.
However ITunes, like all other search engines, isn't without flaws. According to About.com, there are several distinct flaws with the system. For instance, when a user wishes to import a CD, the songs on the CD are added, but they are without names or titles. This can lead to confusion in a library and sometimes a user may accidently buy a song they may of already had. ITunes also has a rather long period of the user being billed. When a user purchases anything off of the engine, there can be a period of up to a couple of days for their account to actually become billed. Others have had problems with downloads. I am no exception. When I downloaded several songs from an artist, I was patiently waiting for the download to take effect. However, I never received my songs into the library. Instead, I paid five dollars for nothing at all. This has occurred several times with several users and leads to a rather long debate with technical support.
Despite its minimal flaws ITunes is a rather unique music search engine that has been rather successful in its mission to supply music to the masses. When it comes to rating the search engine, I give ITunes a 4 out of 5 music notes. The system, with its reasonable prices, nice design, quick searches, and massive amount of music make ITunes an important part of any legal music downloader's happy experience.
According to BBC news, ITunes was first created as an engine that would help spur IPOD sales. The site first offered only downloads that would be able to be played on the go from the companies media players. However the company soon began to grow. During the first year of ITunes being up and running, it sold a record 70 million songs. From then on it was no stopping the ITunes engine from growing. By 2006, the Britannica Encyclopedia reports, the company had sold over 2 billion songs to those who reaped its benefits. Now, the engine offers more than just music. As someone opens the site, they are able to search for all types of media including Movies, TV shows, applications for phones, Radio, and even ringtones.
One of the most striking features of the ITunes music engine is it's layout and design. The user is first greeted by the I-tunes store page. Here Apple gives the user a large amount of links to new and upcoming media. Some of the sections presented are coupled with pictures and slides that create an appealing montage of what the site has to offer. The front page also hold a set of quick links to manage any account issues and several links leading to the several branches of the store. All of these features are back by a nice navy blue that accents the media that is being displayed.
Purchasing music is the main use of ITunes. The company has made it easy an accessible to everyone who can click a mouse. The search toolbar located at the top right allows for the user to type in any words associated with the music they are looking for. The engine then produces a list of related music and a list of albums that could be what the user wanted. Each song produced comes complete with its name, Artist, Album, Price, Popularity, and Genre. If any of the songs for sale are clicked, Apple allows the user to hear a 30 second piece of the music. This allows for the user to make sure this is the music they were searching for and if they are still interested in buying it. Another key portion of buying ITunes music is the price. The price for music always fluctuates between 99 cents to $1.29 depending on the popularity of the song. This relatively low price leads to high sales for the company.
Another important feature of ITunes is the Library. The Library is where each user is able to keep all of their stored music as well as other media. The user can move effortlessly from their music to their downloaded movies with one click. The user is free to do whatever they wish with their downloaded music. They are allowed to do all sorts of things including create playlists or even burn them to a CD. All is made possible with only a few short clicks.
If ITunes weren't easy enough, the creators added a special feature to the mix called Genius. Genius, a search engine of its own, automatically takes whatever song you are listening to and finds songs that are very similar and displays them for the user. This can then create a playlist just from looking at the song that you picked. So, pick a song that you enjoy, and receive a list of twenty songs that hold similar tones and genres. As Apple so adequately put it themselves, "These mixes are like channels that are programmed entirely with your own music."
No matter what you may be doing on ITunes, you are always greeted by a special toolbar that displays certain tasks that could be important to the user. These include direct links to the library and Store, any shared drives from other computers and what they have bought, as well as a special set of playlists. This allows the user to move freely through the search engine and accomplish any goals that they have set in their sights. Also, Apple provides constant system updates in an effort to try and improve any aspects of the system that they deem unnecessary or redundant. As we speak I have just opened my ITunes and am prompted to update to ITunes version update 9.0.2.
However ITunes, like all other search engines, isn't without flaws. According to About.com, there are several distinct flaws with the system. For instance, when a user wishes to import a CD, the songs on the CD are added, but they are without names or titles. This can lead to confusion in a library and sometimes a user may accidently buy a song they may of already had. ITunes also has a rather long period of the user being billed. When a user purchases anything off of the engine, there can be a period of up to a couple of days for their account to actually become billed. Others have had problems with downloads. I am no exception. When I downloaded several songs from an artist, I was patiently waiting for the download to take effect. However, I never received my songs into the library. Instead, I paid five dollars for nothing at all. This has occurred several times with several users and leads to a rather long debate with technical support.
Despite its minimal flaws ITunes is a rather unique music search engine that has been rather successful in its mission to supply music to the masses. When it comes to rating the search engine, I give ITunes a 4 out of 5 music notes. The system, with its reasonable prices, nice design, quick searches, and massive amount of music make ITunes an important part of any legal music downloader's happy experience.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Relevant Criteria
There are four criteria, based on my audience analysis, that will be important for my audience in the department of I-tunes music downloading. For one, The audience views the accessibility and GUI systems as very important to the downloading process. They want the ability to find all kinds of music quick and easily. They want to be able to get a song almost with the blink of an eye. The audience is also interested in the ability to transport the music they download. This includes the process of moving downloaded music from one usable interface to another. Such transfers include from computer to IPod, computer to computer, computer to CD, and vice versa. The audience also finds the price an important factor in downloading music. Too high of a price and no one will decide to buy. Too low of a price and there is no income for producing the given service. So, the I-tunes group must find the happy medium between these two extremes in order to create the greatest income. The audience is also interest in the process of knowing what new music is coming out. This is the reason why I-tunes decided to produce an email that comes out every Tuesday. This email comes available with new music for the intended audience to receive. It also allows for the audience to pre-order songs before they even come out. This allows for a good source of new music for the audience to find quick and easy.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Audience Assessment
The Audience for my review will be a wide assortment of internet users. This includes anyone from 50 year old parents to 10 year old kids just being introduced to the process of how to buy music. However, this review will mainly be important, and therefore read, by individuals age 18-28. This will allow the review to become more geared towards a certain audience.
Individuals age 18-28 find music an important part of everyday life. Whether it be on a college campus or in the work place music is an essential. It allows them to experience several emotions and feelings. Thus, purchasing music is an important part of every individuals life, as well as something that is valued. The intended audience also has different stands on social issues and are also in the process of developing their stands. Often music is used as a method of defining themselves as well.
Many times individuals will be grouped together with friends under certain music they both enjoy. For instance two kids may both enjoy Alternative rock and become friends based off of this common similarity. Also, many become interested in music that they find their role models or those they look up to enjoy. It becomes a certain type of assimilation. Others also view what type of music you listen to as a gateway into your personality. This is why it would benefit them to know how to purchase and look for new types of music. They also need to understand how to keep up with the new music being produced. All of these different aspects of music that an individual age 18-28 finds important are found on I-tunes. It allows for the purchasing of music and the ability to view new and upcoming music at the same time. It is an internet gateway to unlimited access to all kinds of music. Although unlimited access may rather mean how deep your pockets are willing to go due to the price of each song and album.
The real benefits that come with music purchasing are the ability to play it anywhere. This includes in the car, on an ipod or mp3, and even right on your computer after you download it. The purchase of music also comes with a feeling of satisfaction at each click of the mouse. The process of downloading music is a constant part of most individuals 18-28 lifetime. It has become a necessary role of my audience to have music accessible and handy at all times. It is one of the reasons we are on the computer so much. I dare you to go outside of and wait ten minutes without hearing some kind of form of music. It is a part of life that everyone knows is important. From the time of Beethoven to the new jams of lady gaga, we are a world that thrives off of the use of music. These are the thoughts that I have found to define my intended audience.
Individuals age 18-28 find music an important part of everyday life. Whether it be on a college campus or in the work place music is an essential. It allows them to experience several emotions and feelings. Thus, purchasing music is an important part of every individuals life, as well as something that is valued. The intended audience also has different stands on social issues and are also in the process of developing their stands. Often music is used as a method of defining themselves as well.
Many times individuals will be grouped together with friends under certain music they both enjoy. For instance two kids may both enjoy Alternative rock and become friends based off of this common similarity. Also, many become interested in music that they find their role models or those they look up to enjoy. It becomes a certain type of assimilation. Others also view what type of music you listen to as a gateway into your personality. This is why it would benefit them to know how to purchase and look for new types of music. They also need to understand how to keep up with the new music being produced. All of these different aspects of music that an individual age 18-28 finds important are found on I-tunes. It allows for the purchasing of music and the ability to view new and upcoming music at the same time. It is an internet gateway to unlimited access to all kinds of music. Although unlimited access may rather mean how deep your pockets are willing to go due to the price of each song and album.
The real benefits that come with music purchasing are the ability to play it anywhere. This includes in the car, on an ipod or mp3, and even right on your computer after you download it. The purchase of music also comes with a feeling of satisfaction at each click of the mouse. The process of downloading music is a constant part of most individuals 18-28 lifetime. It has become a necessary role of my audience to have music accessible and handy at all times. It is one of the reasons we are on the computer so much. I dare you to go outside of and wait ten minutes without hearing some kind of form of music. It is a part of life that everyone knows is important. From the time of Beethoven to the new jams of lady gaga, we are a world that thrives off of the use of music. These are the thoughts that I have found to define my intended audience.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Free Speech Commentary Rough Draft
As one walks across the campus, they become bombarded with several offers. Whether it be from a billboard, a post box, or even from students on the sidewalk they are inescapable. "Bright Futures Students Save 285 dollars". "Universal's Halloween Horror Nights Exclusive UCF Student Ticket". "Legalize Medical Marijuana". All of these offers, although rather blunt at times, are an extension of the first amendment. The first Amendment states that Congress will not create a law "Abridging the freedom of speech" at anytime of the use of the Constitution. The University of Central Florida has become a firm believer in unhindered freedom of speech. This belief has allowed the campus to produce a breeding ground for new and old ideas that could eventually revolutionize the world.
Before one continues it is important to realize that freedom of speech is not the same across the country. Since the United States first emerged from the ashes of the colonies, its people have been given certain unalienable rights. These rights, summed up in the Constitution, have been the foundation of the country to date. However, rather than allowing for clear cut rules within the document, the founding fathers allowed the document to be "interpreted". This gave the document the ability to change with the times as well as allow for different views to be expressed by the people. The first amendment within the Bill of Rights is no exception. Due to the ability of lawmakers and enforcers to interpret the rights given to the people through time, a grey area has formed across the U.S. in which certain locations, such as the University of Central Florida campus are able to use freedom of speech more freely than other more conservative areas.
One important change from an off campus to an on campus setting is the protection given to the professors and teachers that work here. According to the Webster Dictionary, Tenure is a status granted to teachers after a trial period that gives protection from summary dismissal. This allows a teacher to explore avenues that would be otherwise taboo in the pursuit of new or relevant knowledge. Should the teacher or professor walk the thin line of offensive, tenure provides protection from dismissal of their position. However, according to Professor Moody at the University of Central Florida, teachers must go through a rather long trial period before achieving the goal of tenure. This can be seen as a check against an individual taking advantage of tenure when they have not proven themselves to be stable or sane.
The University of Central Florida is also adorned with a special Free Speech Lawn in which everyone is free to share beliefs and ideas however they want. Many people, such as the Christians of "Can We Pray For You?", use the lawn to express religious beliefs to the students of UCF. The group uses prayer to help students who may be going through a hard time and try to provide guidance to those who may need it. However, according to a student at UCF named Drew Stultz, the free speech lawn is not always used for positive messages. According to Drew's account, there are certain days where a man will ascend a box and begin sermons to where he preaches the destiny of every student to go to hell. Thus, Drew has shown an interest in avoiding this man whenever he can. Although this one man may be causing a damper in the positive role of the free speech lawn, it is minimal compared to what the lawn has given back to the community and individual students who walk through it every day.
Clubs and Organizations on campus also benefit from the loose rules of Freedom of Speech. Instead of having to go through miles of red tape to achieve minimal attention in the community, These groups on campus are able to voice their goals and beliefs as long as they abide by the rules established by the University in their "Golden Rules". This allows students wishing to get involved in their community to find organizations that they agree with and make membership possible. Thus, initiatives can progress further and allows for the school to take on a stronger student body as a whole. The role of clubs is one that is seen as necessary by many students such as Henry Cabrera, a Sophomore at UCF, who believes that the clubs "make UCF what it is today". Without free Speech, it would be impossible for UCF to grow at the speed it has.
The University of Central Florida, although more open to expression than other areas such as a High School setting, is not a complete open canvas for anyone to begin speaking anything they think. As Dylan Crimmins, a Sophomore at UCF, stated "Free Speech on campus should be completely free as long as it does not hurt or injure others on campus". The University of Central Florida could not agree more. According to the UCF free expression brochure, expression is permitted as long as it does not interfere with the normal procedures of the University. This includes "classroom activities, preplanned campus events, blocking vehicular or pedestrian traffic, or creating an unsafe environment for the students, staff or faculty. The university also takes on the task of controlling the location and sound should either become too out of hand. Also, in order to register for any booth or information centers on campus, the individuals involved must follow a procedure outlined by the University of Florida Free Expression Brochure. Thus, The campus faculty can keep freedom of speech under control while allowing the students to safely voice their views and beliefs.
Freedom of Speech has become the pivotal foundation of UCF campus life. All incoming freshman, including myself, are opened to a completely new playground to figure out what they believe and who they really are as individuals. This new landscape would not be possible if it weren't for the expression of all forms of speech on campus. Without freedom of speech, The University of Central Florida would not of become the outstanding campus it is known as today.
Works Cited
Stultz, Drew. "Personal Interview on 10/12/2009."
Cabrera, Henry. "Personal Interview on 10/16/2009."
Crimmings, Dylan. "Personal Interview on 10/16/2009."
Moody, Jane. "Personal Interview on 10/15/2009."
http://osi.sdes.ucf.edu/useyourvoice/FreeExpressionBrochure.pdf (10/12/2009)
http://www.goldenrule.sdes.ucf.edu/docs/Student%20Union.pdf (10/12/2009)
http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.billofrights.html(10/17/2009)
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tenure (10/17/2009)
http://collegeclicktv.com/videos?fr_story=06ede14bb48f7b27f976cc35b57d64b2785cdf84&fr_chl=dd90f2b5a4651987559ce046deee4e8037f1341d&search= (10/19/2009)
Before one continues it is important to realize that freedom of speech is not the same across the country. Since the United States first emerged from the ashes of the colonies, its people have been given certain unalienable rights. These rights, summed up in the Constitution, have been the foundation of the country to date. However, rather than allowing for clear cut rules within the document, the founding fathers allowed the document to be "interpreted". This gave the document the ability to change with the times as well as allow for different views to be expressed by the people. The first amendment within the Bill of Rights is no exception. Due to the ability of lawmakers and enforcers to interpret the rights given to the people through time, a grey area has formed across the U.S. in which certain locations, such as the University of Central Florida campus are able to use freedom of speech more freely than other more conservative areas.
One important change from an off campus to an on campus setting is the protection given to the professors and teachers that work here. According to the Webster Dictionary, Tenure is a status granted to teachers after a trial period that gives protection from summary dismissal. This allows a teacher to explore avenues that would be otherwise taboo in the pursuit of new or relevant knowledge. Should the teacher or professor walk the thin line of offensive, tenure provides protection from dismissal of their position. However, according to Professor Moody at the University of Central Florida, teachers must go through a rather long trial period before achieving the goal of tenure. This can be seen as a check against an individual taking advantage of tenure when they have not proven themselves to be stable or sane.
The University of Central Florida is also adorned with a special Free Speech Lawn in which everyone is free to share beliefs and ideas however they want. Many people, such as the Christians of "Can We Pray For You?", use the lawn to express religious beliefs to the students of UCF. The group uses prayer to help students who may be going through a hard time and try to provide guidance to those who may need it. However, according to a student at UCF named Drew Stultz, the free speech lawn is not always used for positive messages. According to Drew's account, there are certain days where a man will ascend a box and begin sermons to where he preaches the destiny of every student to go to hell. Thus, Drew has shown an interest in avoiding this man whenever he can. Although this one man may be causing a damper in the positive role of the free speech lawn, it is minimal compared to what the lawn has given back to the community and individual students who walk through it every day.
Clubs and Organizations on campus also benefit from the loose rules of Freedom of Speech. Instead of having to go through miles of red tape to achieve minimal attention in the community, These groups on campus are able to voice their goals and beliefs as long as they abide by the rules established by the University in their "Golden Rules". This allows students wishing to get involved in their community to find organizations that they agree with and make membership possible. Thus, initiatives can progress further and allows for the school to take on a stronger student body as a whole. The role of clubs is one that is seen as necessary by many students such as Henry Cabrera, a Sophomore at UCF, who believes that the clubs "make UCF what it is today". Without free Speech, it would be impossible for UCF to grow at the speed it has.
The University of Central Florida, although more open to expression than other areas such as a High School setting, is not a complete open canvas for anyone to begin speaking anything they think. As Dylan Crimmins, a Sophomore at UCF, stated "Free Speech on campus should be completely free as long as it does not hurt or injure others on campus". The University of Central Florida could not agree more. According to the UCF free expression brochure, expression is permitted as long as it does not interfere with the normal procedures of the University. This includes "classroom activities, preplanned campus events, blocking vehicular or pedestrian traffic, or creating an unsafe environment for the students, staff or faculty. The university also takes on the task of controlling the location and sound should either become too out of hand. Also, in order to register for any booth or information centers on campus, the individuals involved must follow a procedure outlined by the University of Florida Free Expression Brochure. Thus, The campus faculty can keep freedom of speech under control while allowing the students to safely voice their views and beliefs.
Freedom of Speech has become the pivotal foundation of UCF campus life. All incoming freshman, including myself, are opened to a completely new playground to figure out what they believe and who they really are as individuals. This new landscape would not be possible if it weren't for the expression of all forms of speech on campus. Without freedom of speech, The University of Central Florida would not of become the outstanding campus it is known as today.
Works Cited
Stultz, Drew. "Personal Interview on 10/12/2009."
Cabrera, Henry. "Personal Interview on 10/16/2009."
Crimmings, Dylan. "Personal Interview on 10/16/2009."
Moody, Jane. "Personal Interview on 10/15/2009."
http://osi.sdes.ucf.edu/useyourvoice/FreeExpressionBrochure.pdf (10/12/2009)
http://www.goldenrule.sdes.ucf.edu/docs/Student%20Union.pdf (10/12/2009)
http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.billofrights.html(10/17/2009)
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tenure (10/17/2009)
http://collegeclicktv.com/videos?fr_story=06ede14bb48f7b27f976cc35b57d64b2785cdf84&fr_chl=dd90f2b5a4651987559ce046deee4e8037f1341d&search= (10/19/2009)
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