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
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