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Top 5 Free Apps

Release Date: August 05, 2009
Genre: Games
Release Date: May 22, 2009
Genre: Games
Release Date: August 29, 2009
Genre: Games
Release Date: March 27, 2009
Release Date: August 07, 2009

iTunes New Music Releases

Release Date: September 29, 2009
Genre: Rock
Release Date: September 20, 2009
Release Date: September 15, 2009
Release Date: August 25, 2009
Genre: Rock
Release Date: August 25, 2009

Top 5 Paid Apps

Release Date: April 22, 2009
StickWars $0.99
Release Date: March 31, 2009
Genre: Games
Bloons $0.99
Release Date: April 05, 2009
Genre: Games

Discover New Music

  • So Jealous

    • 8 out of 10
    • Tegan and Sara
    • So Jealous is the third album from these sisters, and easily the one to single out for an introduction to their music. Some people may not get on board with their vocal styles, which are slightly

  • Quadrophenia

    • 10 out of 10
    • The Who
    • Quadrophenia is everything that Tommy wanted to be, a rock opera that told a story, but one where every song could still stand alone. It was also Pete Townshend's farewell tribute to the Mod

  • Stadium Arcadium

    • 8 out of 10
    • Red Hot Chili Peppers
    • What? Only four stars, you stingy bastard? I'm asking myself the same question, so let me explain myself to myself... If I compare the new

  • Cocked & Loaded

    • 8 out of 10
    • Revolting Cocks
    • It's hard to believe it's been more than a decade since Ministry founder and front man Al Jourgensen's side project Revolting Cocks released any new material. 2006 brings us Cocked and Loaded

  • Supernature

    • 10 out of 10
    • Goldfrapp
    • On their latest CD, Supernature, Goldfrapp has put together a successful mix of 1980-era New Romanticism, German cabaret, and T. Rex glam that leaves you riveted even through the album's lulls. It's a great amalgam that sounds current without sounding at all dated.

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News

iPod Loses ‘Cool Factor’ As Popularity Grows

The Diffusion Group has released a new research report that explains how the iPod's "cool factor" seems to be waning even as its popularity grows. The report, entitled "Understanding iPod's Dominance: A Consumer Perspective," shows that buyers tend to look more at the MP3 player's interface, as well as familiarity with the Apple brand, than the enhanced social status that comes with owning the device.

Such responses were given across the 15-to-24, 25-to-34 and 35-to-50 age groups, prompting research director Dale Gilliam to note: "By comparison, other MP3 brands appear as generic. In many cases, consumers see the iPod as one might see the brand Kleenex -- as a category label, not as a brand or subcategory."

One question of note, which is represented by a graph on the Diffusion Web site, shows that of the respondents between the ages of 15 and 50 who own a non-Apple MP3 player, 25.9% are neutral toward switching to the iPod with their next purchase, while a combined 40.3% are less likely to switch. The rest replied with some degree of likelihood that they would switch.

The question asked them to respond with a number between one and seven, with one representing "Definitely will not switch" and seven representing "Definitely will switch." The other numbers were degrees in between, with four a neutral response.

The Diffusion Group surveyed more than 2,000 Internet-accessible households in August for this report, which sells for US$1,495.

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