| New at Target.com: Used electronics
In the past 30 days, Target has been quietly selling used iPods, video-game consoles and TV sets on its website.Just click on the "Electronics" tab at Target.com and go to the "pre-owned electronics" section to find a modest selection of merchandise that has been returned or refurbished. Among the deals: iPod nanos, videos and shuffles as well as a 56-inch Toshiba HD DLP projection television. Video-game consoles were sold out.It's just a test, and the company hasn't decided whether to continue, executives said Tuesday as part of a third-quarter earnings conference call with investors.Target still provides a 90-day return policy with the used products, and promotes the items as having "a little tech TLC" from a third-party or manufacturer-authorized inspector.The effect on the bottom line is very small, executives emphasized.CEO Bob Ulrich said the idea for reselling used electronics "was borne out of the fact that a substantial portion of returned merchandise is in perfect working order."JACKIE CROSBY .
Zune Updates Coming November 13
Microsoft is preparing users of its Zune music player for the much-hyped upgrade to both the Zune device and desktop software. According to an e-mail sent out to users on Monday night, the updates will begin to be delivered automatically starting November 13. Among the new features that come as part of the update are: wireless sync, a new Zune Marketplace, and a social network built around the device. "By accepting the updates, your Zune will have the same software that comes preloaded on all new devices," Microsoft says in the e-mail. As first reported by BetaNews in early October, Microsoft is pushing the update as an effort to keep its early adopters current with the latest features to be provided to Zune customers. .
News Flash: Consumers Prefer DRM-Free Music
The latest is a story from 7 Digital, a small online music store in the UK, which is reporting that DRM-free formats are outselling DRM-encumbered formats by a 4-to-1 margin.This isn't too surprising, given that DRM-encumbered music sold by anyone other than Apple won't play on the iPod, the world's most popular portable music player. Obviously, when given a side-by-side choice, the vast majority of consumers are going to choose the format that works everywhere.I suspect that name recognition is also a factor in MP3's favor: almost everyone has heard of MP3s, so someone who doesn't know anything else about digital formats or DRM is going to go with MP3 as a trusted "brand." One other interesting point in the article is that 7 Digital now has 60 percent of its music available in DRM-free formats, and expects to get that figure close to 100 percent by next summer.They appear to carry a wide variety of music from both major and independent labels.Until this year, iTunes was the only legal way to get your major-label music on your iPod.That was great for Apple, but not so good for the major labels.Now that the labels have come to their senses and started allowing DRM-free music sales, we're going to see, for the first time, a genuinely competitive market for online music with a lot of different music stores, all carrying both major-label and independent fare, and all selling music that will work with any device.Apple's music store will finally have to compete on its merits, rather than being propped up by its DRM monopoly.It's an exciting time to be a music fan.
Students would give up vote for iPod
In a survey released this week, New York University students, at least two-thirds of them, say they'd give up their right to vote for a year's tuition. And for a few of those surveyed, even an iPod touch will do. The students said they'd take in exchange for their right to vote in the next presidential election, a recent survey by an NYU journalism class found. Only 20 percent said they'd exchange their vote for the latest iPod touch. But 66 percent said they'd forfeit their vote for a free ride to NYU, and half said they'd give up the right to vote forever for $1 million. .
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