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News Byte

Rhapsody Arrives in U.K. and Germany Via Napster Deal

Peter Kafka in Media on January 26 at 12:01 am PT

Streaming music service Rhapsody, which has only been available in the U.S. for the last 11 years, has finally made it to Europe. The service has finished a deal to buy one-time competitor Napster’s operations in the U.K. and Germany; last fall, Rhapsody bought Napster’s U.S. assets. Rhapsody competitor Spotify isn’t in Germany yet, but industry sources expect that to change soon.

Honest: Jessica Alba’s Now an E-Commerce Geek (Video)

Kara Swisher in Commerce on January 25 at 10:05 am PT

Can a Hollywood star sell online consumers on a healthier lifestyle for them and their kids?

Why Rhapsody Is (Probably) Bigger Than Spotify — In the U.S.

Peter Kafka in Media on January 12 at 3:00 am PT

Jon Irwin’s music service has been at it for 10 years, and it doesn’t get anything like the attention that the new guys get. But, at the very least, he is holding is own.

Some Kindle Owners Upset After Receiving Cryptic Subscription Offer From Amazon

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on January 5 at 8:02 pm PT

Amazon has issued an apology tonight after upsetting Kindle owners, who learned they were selected to receive a publication they didn’t sign up for — and could be charged for.

EA Star Wars Game Off to Forceful Start in Quest to Catch World of Warcraft

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on December 27, 2011 at 1:14 pm PT

In a galaxy far, far away, Electronic Arts’ new Star Wars game may conquer Activision Blizzard’s World of Warcraft. At least, that’s what the early numbers are showing.

EA Bets Big on Online Star Wars Game, Suggests You Let the Wookiee Win

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on December 20, 2011 at 10:36 am PT

Long overdue and over budget, the ambitious, LucasArts-blessed online game is likely to become one of the most significant game launches over the next decade.

“Music Everywhere”: Spotify’s “New Direction”

Peter Kafka in Media on November 28, 2011 at 4:59 pm PT

Daniel Ek and the music labels take a cue from cable TV. An educated guess: We should hear about it at Wednesday’s press conference.

Apple’s iTunes Match Pitch: Pay Up, Stick Around

Peter Kafka in Media on November 15, 2011 at 3:30 am PT

Google, Amazon, and even upstarts like Spotify are trying to use the cloud to move users away from iTunes. Apple’s plan: Charge users $25 a year and make it even harder to leave.

Facebook’s Overhaul Gives MOG a Rocket Ride

Peter Kafka in Media on November 1, 2011 at 3:30 am PT

A 4x leap for the music subscription service in a month. Now it has to keep those users, add more, and eventually get a few of them to pay.

Just How Much Damage Did Netflix Really Do to Itself?

Peter Kafka in Media on October 24, 2011 at 3:30 am PT

Investors have already poleaxed Reed Hastings stock for three months of missteps. Now it’s time to see what the numbers really look like — and what Netflix thinks the next three will look like.