Comments on: gBox: Give The Gift Of DRM-Free Music http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/ Startup and Technology News Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:36:34 -0800 hourly 1 By: eFORCE Global Acquires gBox http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/comment-page-1/#comment-2247021 eFORCE Global Acquires gBox Fri, 02 May 2008 02:12:49 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/#comment-2247021 [...] Under new ownership, gBox will continue to offer its music store and wishlist widgets, which we covered last year. gBox will also begin to offer a whitelabel version of the widget that will allow major [...] [...] Under new ownership, gBox will continue to offer its music store and wishlist widgets, which we covered last year. gBox will also begin to offer a whitelabel version of the widget that will allow major [...]

]]> By: jotschool » Blog Archive » Comment on gBox: Give The Gift Of DRM-Free Music by Unfortune http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/comment-page-1/#comment-1691357 jotschool » Blog Archive » Comment on gBox: Give The Gift Of DRM-Free Music by Unfortune Mon, 22 Oct 2007 17:27:42 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/#comment-1691357 [...] here for full story This entry was posted on Saturday, October 20th, 2007 at 12:41 pm and is filed [...] [...] here for full story This entry was posted on Saturday, October 20th, 2007 at 12:41 pm and is filed [...]

]]> By: TechCrunch en français » Le point sur la musique sans DRM en ligne http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/comment-page-1/#comment-1639720 TechCrunch en français » Le point sur la musique sans DRM en ligne Sat, 22 Sep 2007 17:01:24 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/#comment-1639720 [...] au travers de différents revendeurs en ligne, RealNetworks, Google, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Amazon, et gBox le font aussi pendant une periode d’essai jusqu’a Janvier 2008. Date à laquelle ils [...] [...] au travers de différents revendeurs en ligne, RealNetworks, Google, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Amazon, et gBox le font aussi pendant une periode d’essai jusqu’a Janvier 2008. Date à laquelle ils [...]

]]> By: Finding DRM-Free Music Online http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/comment-page-1/#comment-1581985 Finding DRM-Free Music Online Thu, 30 Aug 2007 18:13:45 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/#comment-1581985 [...] and tracks through several online retailers - RealNetworks, Google, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Amazon, and gBox - it has done so on a trial basis that will extend only until January 2008, at which point the [...] [...] and tracks through several online retailers – RealNetworks, Google, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Amazon, and gBox – it has done so on a trial basis that will extend only until January 2008, at which point the [...]

]]> By: DotPoet http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/comment-page-1/#comment-1567978 DotPoet Wed, 22 Aug 2007 18:52:22 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/#comment-1567978 A fine idea, but really poorly executed. Someone else will take this idea and turn it into gold. A fine idea, but really poorly executed. Someone else will take this idea and turn it into gold.

]]> By: Lolly Pop http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/comment-page-1/#comment-1567347 Lolly Pop Wed, 22 Aug 2007 06:50:48 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/#comment-1567347 Random thoughts: So Google is redirecting it's users to a Web site that shows non-Google ads. I thought gBox was Google-backed (according to some other articles I read)? Brilliant. I hate popup ads and can not understand how an alleged Web 2.0 company would dare to launch in 2007 with a business model circa 1996. What's this "00 - Hot Score"? Are they gonna tell my how hot I am based on what I have in my wish list? No thanks. I actualy like the online demo. Very well done. However, it goes to show how convoluted the user experience is. How can Google put it's name behind something like this? The positioning vis-a-vis iTunes is ridiculous. This ain't an iTunes killer. In fact doesn't gBox support iPod/iTunes music format (although not from a Mac). I'd think they wanna play nice with Mr. Jobs and his billion+ download music site. All in all, not bad for a company that just launched in June. Hopefully they'll quickly fix some of these limitations. A gifting widget for social networks is a fine idea. Random thoughts:

So Google is redirecting it’s users to a Web site that shows non-Google ads. I thought gBox was Google-backed (according to some other articles I read)? Brilliant.

I hate popup ads and can not understand how an alleged Web 2.0 company would dare to launch in 2007 with a business model circa 1996.

What’s this “00 – Hot Score”? Are they gonna tell my how hot I am based on what I have in my wish list? No thanks.

I actualy like the online demo. Very well done. However, it goes to show how convoluted the user experience is. How can Google put it’s name behind something like this?

The positioning vis-a-vis iTunes is ridiculous. This ain’t an iTunes killer. In fact doesn’t gBox support iPod/iTunes music format (although not from a Mac). I’d think they wanna play nice with Mr. Jobs and his billion+ download music site.

All in all, not bad for a company that just launched in June. Hopefully they’ll quickly fix some of these limitations. A gifting widget for social networks is a fine idea.

]]> By: Bruce Warila http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/comment-page-1/#comment-1566991 Bruce Warila Wed, 22 Aug 2007 00:27:31 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/#comment-1566991 Somehow I feel that I'm flogging the pony on this one. I agree with Bryan. Music will be free. I have invested time and money into a business model(s) built around selling songs, and now we are going 180. There is something wrong with creating songs, shooting videos, building MySpace pages and etc. etc. to sell songs that return about .69 cents to the label/artist. It's all backwards. Give away the songs to sell everything else.. None of it is worth doing for .69 cents (or less). I am putting my money where my mouth is... Music will be free soon and business models built around selling tracks will fizzle. Read reason number 1 - why music will be free... (9 more coming)... http://songboost.blogspot.com/2007/08/2007-music-will-be-free-reason-1.html Somehow I feel that I’m flogging the pony on this one. I agree with Bryan. Music will be free. I have invested time and money into a business model(s) built around selling songs, and now we are going 180.

There is something wrong with creating songs, shooting videos, building MySpace pages and etc. etc. to sell songs that return about .69 cents to the label/artist. It’s all backwards. Give away the songs to sell everything else.. None of it is worth doing for .69 cents (or less). I am putting my money where my mouth is… Music will be free soon and business models built around selling tracks will fizzle.

Read reason number 1 – why music will be free… (9 more coming)…
http://songboos...e-reason-1.html

]]> By: Manjesh http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/comment-page-1/#comment-1566980 Manjesh Wed, 22 Aug 2007 00:07:16 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/#comment-1566980 Confusing and bad UI layout and poor graphic design; looks like they cut corners and hired a high school student for the site. It's "processing" so I conclude that they also hired high school students to do the development over th course of a weekend. If it took longer than that, someone wasted a lot of money. Surprised Google and Universal put their name on this. Confusing and bad UI layout and poor graphic design; looks like they cut corners and hired a high school student for the site.

It’s “processing” so I conclude that they also hired high school students to do the development over th course of a weekend. If it took longer than that, someone wasted a lot of money.

Surprised Google and Universal put their name on this.

]]> By: Olga http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/comment-page-1/#comment-1566977 Olga Wed, 22 Aug 2007 00:05:48 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/#comment-1566977 The interface is clumsy... not what I'd expect from a Google backed company at all. I didn't find any artists that I was looking for... but I did find a bunch of stuff that looks like some weird indie label. Nice enough idea, poor execution. The interface is clumsy… not what I’d expect from a Google backed company at all. I didn’t find any artists that I was looking for… but I did find a bunch of stuff that looks like some weird indie label. Nice enough idea, poor execution.

]]> By: Kim Tsu http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/comment-page-1/#comment-1566959 Kim Tsu Tue, 21 Aug 2007 23:47:14 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/#comment-1566959 I went to gBox and selected the mp3 music format and unchecked the iPod and Windows formats. After doing that, I didn't recognize any of the artists. Is that REALLY the Universal catalog? I must be getting old. Bummer. Maybe I'll just go and buy a non-Universal mp3 on iTunes! I went to gBox and selected the mp3 music format and unchecked the iPod and Windows formats. After doing that, I didn’t recognize any of the artists. Is that REALLY the Universal catalog? I must be getting old. Bummer. Maybe I’ll just go and buy a non-Universal mp3 on iTunes!

]]> By: Jan Bannister http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/comment-page-1/#comment-1566873 Jan Bannister Tue, 21 Aug 2007 22:28:32 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/#comment-1566873 This is a pretty poor idea. It was hailed as a collaboration of Google and Universal but it looks like something some college kids threw together over a weekend. And... without a micro-payments system this model won't gain momentum. This is a pretty poor idea. It was hailed as a collaboration of Google and Universal but it looks like something some college kids threw together over a weekend.

And… without a micro-payments system this model won’t gain momentum.

]]> By: MrCurmudgeon http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/comment-page-1/#comment-1566804 MrCurmudgeon Tue, 21 Aug 2007 20:59:54 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/#comment-1566804 ...a distinct idea like social networking... Bulletin board systems were in many ways a precursor to the modern form of the World Wide Web and other aspects of the Internet. BBSes were a highly social phenomenon and were used for meeting people and having discussions in message boards as well as for publishing articles, downloading software, playing games and many more things using a single application. …a distinct idea like social networking…

Bulletin board systems were in many ways a precursor to the modern form of the World Wide Web and other aspects of the Internet. BBSes were a highly social phenomenon and were used for meeting people and having discussions in message boards as well as for publishing articles, downloading software, playing games and many more things using a single application.

]]> By: Bryan http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/comment-page-1/#comment-1566716 Bryan Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:53:45 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/#comment-1566716 Cute idea, but more desperate than anything. Selling MP3 downloads is just the digital extension of the "moving units" model that has become obsolete in the post-Napster era. This whole giftbox idea is just another example of "an exception of charity rather than a rule of commerce." I write about it at length at my brad spankin new blog: http://freshbreakfast.com/2007/08/21/how-giving-away-free-music-will-save-the-recording-industry/ Cute idea, but more desperate than anything. Selling MP3 downloads is just the digital extension of the “moving units” model that has become obsolete in the post-Napster era. This whole giftbox idea is just another example of “an exception of charity rather than a rule of commerce.”

I write about it at length at my brad spankin new blog: http://freshbre...rding-industry/

]]> By: Jeff Vick http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/comment-page-1/#comment-1566682 Jeff Vick Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:06:37 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/#comment-1566682 Nick - now come on - you know the rule already, link ONLY to crunchbase for any company that is not owned by TC or is a friend. How many times does Heather have to tell you? At least you fixed it now. Please follow the rule from now on. Nick – now come on – you know the rule already, link ONLY to crunchbase for any company that is not owned by TC or is a friend. How many times does Heather have to tell you? At least you fixed it now. Please follow the rule from now on.

]]> By: brennan http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/comment-page-1/#comment-1566673 brennan Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:54:02 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/#comment-1566673 Too bad you can only use it if you are on a Windows machine running Internet Explorer, the one two punch... Too bad you can only use it if you are on a Windows machine running Internet Explorer, the one two punch…

]]> By: Antje Wilsch http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/comment-page-1/#comment-1566670 Antje Wilsch Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:49:13 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/#comment-1566670 I hate that logo but somehow I'm drawn to it! Weird. DJs were selling their itunes lists a while back. I don't know if that was ever monetized as a company. I bought a list from Sasha & Digweed - they compiled a list of 100 songs - was pretty good. But it was for my itunes, couldn't really give it to someone else. I hate that logo but somehow I’m drawn to it! Weird.

DJs were selling their itunes lists a while back. I don’t know if that was ever monetized as a company. I bought a list from Sasha & Digweed – they compiled a list of 100 songs – was pretty good. But it was for my itunes, couldn’t really give it to someone else.

]]> By: Todd Howard http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/comment-page-1/#comment-1566631 Todd Howard Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:05:16 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/#comment-1566631 It seems to me it's going to take a lot more innovation and ingenuity than what gbox is doing to dethrone iTunes. If they just want to capture part of the market - maybe the part that is not currently using iTunes Store - then this might be a cool idea on some level. People do seem to like wish lists, and showing off "what you think is cool this week," and clothing it in the form of a "please buy me this" list might be moderately successful for them - but what some company needs to do right now is come up with the idea that is as distinct as the idea of a "social networking site" was at a time before we had social networking sites in order to actually change the game. This is just a rehash and a mish-mosh of some other things we've already been doing - and some of the other players are already doing it right. It seems to me it’s going to take a lot more innovation and ingenuity than what gbox is doing to dethrone iTunes. If they just want to capture part of the market – maybe the part that is not currently using iTunes Store – then this might be a cool idea on some level. People do seem to like wish lists, and showing off “what you think is cool this week,” and clothing it in the form of a “please buy me this” list might be moderately successful for them – but what some company needs to do right now is come up with the idea that is as distinct as the idea of a “social networking site” was at a time before we had social networking sites in order to actually change the game. This is just a rehash and a mish-mosh of some other things we’ve already been doing – and some of the other players are already doing it right.

]]> By: Thiago Nascimento http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/comment-page-1/#comment-1566626 Thiago Nascimento Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:59:12 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/#comment-1566626 Orkut have a similar list, not? Thiago www.ideavertising.com.br Orkut have a similar list, not?

Thiago
http://www.idea...ertising.com.br

]]> By: Michael Warren http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/comment-page-1/#comment-1566619 Michael Warren Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:52:59 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/#comment-1566619 I got blocked using a Firefox on a Mac. What kind of weak ass web app needs to restrict users to a specific operating system an browser? I will wait for their competitor(s) who will probably hire better programmers. I got blocked using a Firefox on a Mac. What kind of weak ass web app needs to restrict users to a specific operating system an browser? I will wait for their competitor(s) who will probably hire better programmers.

]]> By: adam http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/comment-page-1/#comment-1566614 adam Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:45:06 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/#comment-1566614 speaking of DRM-Free music... I just noticed wal-mart is selling a new Eagles album in 256kbps mp3s... With all the hub-bub about DRM free downloads... I wonder why this isn't getting talked about more...? Do people just hate wal-mart that much? speaking of DRM-Free music… I just noticed wal-mart is selling a new Eagles album in 256kbps mp3s… With all the hub-bub about DRM free downloads… I wonder why this isn’t getting talked about more…? Do people just hate wal-mart that much?

]]> By: Randy Stewart http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/comment-page-1/#comment-1566584 Randy Stewart Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:18:06 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/#comment-1566584 Got a nice "go have coitus with yourself" message in Safari. Thx for nothing, Gbox. Generally, while we can't touch, most sites at least let Mac users look. Are they using DRM free WMA files? Slightly annoyed, Randy Got a nice “go have coitus with yourself” message in Safari. Thx for nothing, Gbox.

Generally, while we can’t touch, most sites at least let Mac users look. Are they using DRM free WMA files?

Slightly annoyed,
Randy

]]> By: Brandon http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/comment-page-1/#comment-1566580 Brandon Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:16:36 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/#comment-1566580 Okay, someone thought the Zoho logo was bad. This thing is an atrocity. Beyond that, I think this "service," which is really a feature, is further proof that the goal of most of these developers is to get to a million users and hope someone buys you. How many different social networks and tools do we really need? Okay, someone thought the Zoho logo was bad. This thing is an atrocity.

Beyond that, I think this “service,” which is really a feature, is further proof that the goal of most of these developers is to get to a million users and hope someone buys you.

How many different social networks and tools do we really need?

]]> By: Mark Hodgson http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/comment-page-1/#comment-1566577 Mark Hodgson Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:13:21 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/#comment-1566577 I could not find most of my favorite bands. I did find something I want to gift my dad but the sliding pop-up keeps saying processing. I’m not sure what it’s processing, I’m not buying anything. Should it just add it to a list? I like the Christmas theme, puts you in the mood for giving. I wonder if it automatically changes themes for different holidays or do I have to change it? There are too many gifting options at my favorite shopping sites I hope this application replaces all of them so I only have one to deal with one. I could not find most of my favorite bands. I did find something I want to gift my dad but the sliding pop-up keeps saying processing. I’m not sure what it’s processing, I’m not buying anything. Should it just add it to a list? I like the Christmas theme, puts you in the mood for giving. I wonder if it automatically changes themes for different holidays or do I have to change it? There are too many gifting options at my favorite shopping sites I hope this application replaces all of them so I only have one to deal with one.

]]> By: John Hope http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/comment-page-1/#comment-1566575 John Hope Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:08:47 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/#comment-1566575 You click on a Google ad to find gBox. You are then shown ads on the site. Finally, when you close gBox there's a pop under ad from Classmates.com. This site isn't about gifting. It's about blasting you with ads. You click on a Google ad to find gBox. You are then shown ads on the site. Finally, when you close gBox there’s a pop under ad from Classmates.com. This site isn’t about gifting. It’s about blasting you with ads.

]]> By: Ryan Spahn http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/comment-page-1/#comment-1566573 Ryan Spahn Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:04:24 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/21/gbox-give-the-gift-of-drm-free-music/#comment-1566573 This company is not a Google company? This company is not a Google company?

]]>