7 ms·

Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine Would Both Join Apple in Beats Deal

17 points by sarreph 12y ago

xSwag 12y ago
Anybody else more interested in when Dr.Dre is going to release Detox? I'd love to hear him rap about multi-billion deal
- msane 12y ago
  why?
  - alaskamiller 12y ago
    Because some of us grew up with him.
    - msane 12y ago
      'aint your money though!
- DevX101 12y ago
  Dre wasn't really the type of rapper to brag about his money.
  - mikhailt 12y ago
    Then why did he brag about it in the Facebook video that was taken down?
    - torbit 12y ago
      He didn't. It looked like Tyrese Gibson camera since he was the one talking, and it was posted on Tyrese Gibson facebook.
      - mikhailt 12y ago
        Yes, he did. Here's the youtube copy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guMFKBXp544 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guMFKBXp544 Watch it all the way through, it was Dre himself who spoke and did that "first hip-hop billionaire on the mother$$#8ker west coast" quote.
- ddw 12y ago
  https://twitter.com/billbarnwell/status/464525645377441792 https://twitter.com/billbarnwell/status/464525645377441792
deleted 12y ago
[deleted]
mantrax5 12y ago
Ok, the deal is not even officially announced, how the ef is so much info leaking out? If it's leaking out of Beats, then they're already demonstrating how poor of a cultural fit for Apple they are. From... literally not day 1, but day -N.
- melvinmt 12y ago
  Well... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guMFKBXp544 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guMFKBXp544
- leoc 12y ago
  See also https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2e5ZibypDk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2e5ZibypDk . That said, it's not Dre's first entry into Apple's orbit. He has two entries in Isaacson's /Steve Jobs/.
- gnoway 12y ago
  I'm a lot more curious about what the point of this is. Beats is about more than just headphones - they have the branded audio systems in some laptops and I think phones - but I didn't realize any of it was technically compelling. I thought they were all sales and marketing. Apple doesn't really need any help with that, do they?
  - vor_ 12y ago
    Beats has a streaming service that Apple has previously shown interest in as well as people with contacts in the music industry.
    - msane 12y ago
      The contracts are likely not transferrable. And the streaming service is not a huge technical accomplishment, by any stretch. Honestly I have no idea why this would be desirable. It would damage Apple IMHO.
      - danabramov 12y ago
fatjokes 12y ago
Can an audiophile comment on the actual quality of Beats' technology? Or is it just successful due to celebrity endorsements? I am not an audiophile, and I'm usually happy with sub-$10 earbuds from Amazon.
- sjtgraham 12y ago
  Can an audiophile even comment? They routinely embarrass themselves in double blind tests.
  - collyw 12y ago
    I was just wondering the same. I tried a couple of my colleagues headphones when I had left me own at home. He seemed annoyed at me for preferring the 30 euro ones over the 100 euro noise cancelling ones, but I preferred the sound that came from them.
  - josai 12y ago
    I agree that some "audiophiles" are susceptible to ignorant beliefs, which they then zealously defend. I used to work with a guy who bought a CD player with a weighted turntable for the CD to sit on, on the grounds that it increased the "stability" of the bitrate. I laughed at the time and I'm still laughing now but he just could or would not understand why such a setup was useless. He'd also claim computers simply could not produce good audio, for some ludicrous reason I can't remember. So I suppose that's the type of person you're talking about. But remember, the word "audiophile" simply means someone who loves sound, and in practise that means someone who cares about good sound and will expend money and effort to achieve it. I'd count myself in that category, and am annoyed at the misguided noisy minority who give us a bad reputation. There's plenty of well informed, intelligent audiophiles who know their shit, aren't susceptible to marketing hype, and just want a faithful reproduction of their treasured music. Unfortunately, there's also a certain type of person who needs "something to believe in" in life and so gets on board with this kind of pseudo-religion with about as much credibility as the healing vibrations of crystals. You'll find them at the high-end stereo shop buying $500 ethernet cables (the network packets are so much more vibrant!) or signing up for the Pono kickstarter.
  - 12y ago
thefreeman 12y ago
Non pay-walled version http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Fnews%2Farticles%2FSB10001424052702304655304579552363078848706&oq=cache%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Fnews%2Farticles%2FSB10001424052702304655304579552363078848706 http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache%3Ahttp%...
deleted 12y ago
[deleted]
ksec 12y ago
I watched the Interview, about how he think EarPod quality were poor, and how he wanted the Music to Feel exactly right, with the Beats Headphone. All these are great. His sales pitch was Apple ish too. There will likely be people on the net falls for it. But may be, just may be he loves Rocks and Dre is Hip Hop, their Beats Headphone are essentially only suited for these two type of music. And may be that is what is was talking about how the music should feel. And may be, just may be, Amercians love the way it sounds, as in Audiophile world there are people who could distinguish those Stereo equipments from different region. I am definitely on the UK and Japan camp, B&W being my favourite. Not that they are the best, but most of the time it is best suited to me, and it depends on price range and other factors. Beats? If it wasn't for the design and looks, i would put it at the bottom of all branded Headphones. And that is not a problem because there will always be a loser. But for a Brand that consistently put out crap at its price range, and talk about it so passionately as if they were the best? I just feel sick. The worst thing about Beats headphone is the audio coming out has no soul in it. I dont feel any attention to details were ever put into it. Heck that is why there are so many cheap knock off, and some even claim those fake version sounded better. Now back to Apple, assuming the Headset business worth nothing. Why would you spend 3.2B on a streaming services? Do knowing what songs next really worth 3.2B?
- threeseed 12y ago
  Nobody cares what audiophiles think except for themselves. Beats has a 67% market share in particular amongst younger audiences who are the most valuable demographic in the music industry. Clearly Apple must be seeing that al a carte sales are stable in the higher ages ranges but they are losing to Spotify, Soundcloud etc at the younger ages. So from a hardware perspective creating some lock in between the headphones and iPod/iPhone could be very lucrative. The type of lock in that Apple is rumoured to be developing right now i.e. in ear health measuring functionality. On the software side it's not the technology but their manual curation abilities, inside connections within the industry at all levels and understanding of younger markets. Apple failed miserably with iTunes Radio and are desperate. So yes. Given that iTunes is the key to iPod/iPhone sales which in turn is the key to Mac sales I would say it is easily worth a tiny $3.2B.
bede 12y ago
Does anyone else feel that this deal tarnishes their perception of the Apple brand? I struggle to think of a brand of consumer electronics for which I have more contempt than Beats Electronics (and Monster Cable, who once manufactured all Beats products, between tricking the naive masses into buying hundred dollar HDMI cables…). The cultural values of these two companies couldn't be much more different. While both are extremely image-conscious and fashionable, Apple has nevertheless built its reputation by delivering innovation and quality to its customers. Beats on the other hand has a built a reputation by selling very expensive headphones of highly questionable quality whose value, I would argue, is primarily superficial.
- w4 12y ago
  I hate to be that guy, but have you ever actually listened to a pair of Beats? It seems like most people are agressively derisive of them without having actually tried on a pair. Hell, even I used to be that guy. I use a pair of Sennheisers as my go to headphones because I prefer the accuracy, but Beats are kind of great to listen to. They're inaccurate and hyped as all hell, but in a really pleasing way (so much bass) if you mostly listen to modern pop or dance music. EDIT: And with respect to having a reputation of selling overpriced, inferior products on the basis of fashionability: isn't that what Android fans say about Apple and the iPhone? Seems to me the two companies have a lot in common. Both sell well designed products at high markups on the basis of fashion, and not necessarily on feature superiority. Plus, I wouldn't expect Apple to integrate the Beats brand into their own, as that'd destroy a lot of the value associated with the acquisition.
  - bede 12y ago
    Yes – I had a good listen to a friend's Studio headphones in 2010. They were not bad and I understand why the sound appeals to some – I just thought they represented terrible value for money. IIRC they cost >£200 in 2010. This particular pair was stored in a hard case yet snapped due to fatigue in the plastic headband after a few months, although I expect their construction has improved a fair bit since then. In response to your edit, the difference between the two companies is that Apple generally backs up the superficial appeal of its products with very good, if not market leading user experience, engineering and manufacturing. The iPhone is relatively expensive (part of the reason I own a Nexus device), but its quality is undeniable.

17 points by sarreph 12y ago

xSwag 12y ago

Anybody else more interested in when Dr.Dre is going to release Detox? I'd love to hear him rap about multi-billion deal

msane 12y ago
why?
- alaskamiller 12y ago
  Because some of us grew up with him.
  - msane 12y ago
    'aint your money though!
DevX101 12y ago
Dre wasn't really the type of rapper to brag about his money.
- mikhailt 12y ago
  Then why did he brag about it in the Facebook video that was taken down?
  - torbit 12y ago
    He didn't. It looked like Tyrese Gibson camera since he was the one talking, and it was posted on Tyrese Gibson facebook.
    - mikhailt 12y ago
      Yes, he did. Here's the youtube copy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guMFKBXp544 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guMFKBXp544 Watch it all the way through, it was Dre himself who spoke and did that "first hip-hop billionaire on the mother$$#8ker west coast" quote.
ddw 12y ago
https://twitter.com/billbarnwell/status/464525645377441792 https://twitter.com/billbarnwell/status/464525645377441792

deleted 12y ago

[deleted]

mantrax5 12y ago

Ok, the deal is not even officially announced, how the ef is so much info leaking out? If it's leaking out of Beats, then they're already demonstrating how poor of a cultural fit for Apple they are. From... literally not day 1, but day -N.

melvinmt 12y ago
Well... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guMFKBXp544 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guMFKBXp544
leoc 12y ago
See also https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2e5ZibypDk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2e5ZibypDk . That said, it's not Dre's first entry into Apple's orbit. He has two entries in Isaacson's /Steve Jobs/.
gnoway 12y ago
I'm a lot more curious about what the point of this is. Beats is about more than just headphones - they have the branded audio systems in some laptops and I think phones - but I didn't realize any of it was technically compelling. I thought they were all sales and marketing. Apple doesn't really need any help with that, do they?
- vor_ 12y ago
  Beats has a streaming service that Apple has previously shown interest in as well as people with contacts in the music industry.
  - msane 12y ago
    The contracts are likely not transferrable. And the streaming service is not a huge technical accomplishment, by any stretch. Honestly I have no idea why this would be desirable. It would damage Apple IMHO.
    - danabramov 12y ago

fatjokes 12y ago

Can an audiophile comment on the actual quality of Beats' technology? Or is it just successful due to celebrity endorsements? I am not an audiophile, and I'm usually happy with sub-$10 earbuds from Amazon.

sjtgraham 12y ago
Can an audiophile even comment? They routinely embarrass themselves in double blind tests.
- collyw 12y ago
  I was just wondering the same. I tried a couple of my colleagues headphones when I had left me own at home. He seemed annoyed at me for preferring the 30 euro ones over the 100 euro noise cancelling ones, but I preferred the sound that came from them.
- josai 12y ago
  I agree that some "audiophiles" are susceptible to ignorant beliefs, which they then zealously defend. I used to work with a guy who bought a CD player with a weighted turntable for the CD to sit on, on the grounds that it increased the "stability" of the bitrate. I laughed at the time and I'm still laughing now but he just could or would not understand why such a setup was useless. He'd also claim computers simply could not produce good audio, for some ludicrous reason I can't remember. So I suppose that's the type of person you're talking about. But remember, the word "audiophile" simply means someone who loves sound, and in practise that means someone who cares about good sound and will expend money and effort to achieve it. I'd count myself in that category, and am annoyed at the misguided noisy minority who give us a bad reputation. There's plenty of well informed, intelligent audiophiles who know their shit, aren't susceptible to marketing hype, and just want a faithful reproduction of their treasured music. Unfortunately, there's also a certain type of person who needs "something to believe in" in life and so gets on board with this kind of pseudo-religion with about as much credibility as the healing vibrations of crystals. You'll find them at the high-end stereo shop buying $500 ethernet cables (the network packets are so much more vibrant!) or signing up for the Pono kickstarter.
- 12y ago

thefreeman 12y ago

Non pay-walled version http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Fnews%2Farticles%2FSB10001424052702304655304579552363078848706&oq=cache%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Fnews%2Farticles%2FSB10001424052702304655304579552363078848706 http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache%3Ahttp%...

deleted 12y ago

[deleted]

ksec 12y ago

I watched the Interview, about how he think EarPod quality were poor, and how he wanted the Music to Feel exactly right, with the Beats Headphone. All these are great. His sales pitch was Apple ish too. There will likely be people on the net falls for it. But may be, just may be he loves Rocks and Dre is Hip Hop, their Beats Headphone are essentially only suited for these two type of music. And may be that is what is was talking about how the music should feel. And may be, just may be, Amercians love the way it sounds, as in Audiophile world there are people who could distinguish those Stereo equipments from different region. I am definitely on the UK and Japan camp, B&W being my favourite. Not that they are the best, but most of the time it is best suited to me, and it depends on price range and other factors. Beats? If it wasn't for the design and looks, i would put it at the bottom of all branded Headphones. And that is not a problem because there will always be a loser. But for a Brand that consistently put out crap at its price range, and talk about it so passionately as if they were the best? I just feel sick. The worst thing about Beats headphone is the audio coming out has no soul in it. I dont feel any attention to details were ever put into it. Heck that is why there are so many cheap knock off, and some even claim those fake version sounded better. Now back to Apple, assuming the Headset business worth nothing. Why would you spend 3.2B on a streaming services? Do knowing what songs next really worth 3.2B?

threeseed 12y ago
Nobody cares what audiophiles think except for themselves. Beats has a 67% market share in particular amongst younger audiences who are the most valuable demographic in the music industry. Clearly Apple must be seeing that al a carte sales are stable in the higher ages ranges but they are losing to Spotify, Soundcloud etc at the younger ages. So from a hardware perspective creating some lock in between the headphones and iPod/iPhone could be very lucrative. The type of lock in that Apple is rumoured to be developing right now i.e. in ear health measuring functionality. On the software side it's not the technology but their manual curation abilities, inside connections within the industry at all levels and understanding of younger markets. Apple failed miserably with iTunes Radio and are desperate. So yes. Given that iTunes is the key to iPod/iPhone sales which in turn is the key to Mac sales I would say it is easily worth a tiny $3.2B.

bede 12y ago

Does anyone else feel that this deal tarnishes their perception of the Apple brand? I struggle to think of a brand of consumer electronics for which I have more contempt than Beats Electronics (and Monster Cable, who once manufactured all Beats products, between tricking the naive masses into buying hundred dollar HDMI cables…). The cultural values of these two companies couldn't be much more different. While both are extremely image-conscious and fashionable, Apple has nevertheless built its reputation by delivering innovation and quality to its customers. Beats on the other hand has a built a reputation by selling very expensive headphones of highly questionable quality whose value, I would argue, is primarily superficial.

w4 12y ago
I hate to be that guy, but have you ever actually listened to a pair of Beats? It seems like most people are agressively derisive of them without having actually tried on a pair. Hell, even I used to be that guy. I use a pair of Sennheisers as my go to headphones because I prefer the accuracy, but Beats are kind of great to listen to. They're inaccurate and hyped as all hell, but in a really pleasing way (so much bass) if you mostly listen to modern pop or dance music. EDIT: And with respect to having a reputation of selling overpriced, inferior products on the basis of fashionability: isn't that what Android fans say about Apple and the iPhone? Seems to me the two companies have a lot in common. Both sell well designed products at high markups on the basis of fashion, and not necessarily on feature superiority. Plus, I wouldn't expect Apple to integrate the Beats brand into their own, as that'd destroy a lot of the value associated with the acquisition.
- bede 12y ago
  Yes – I had a good listen to a friend's Studio headphones in 2010. They were not bad and I understand why the sound appeals to some – I just thought they represented terrible value for money. IIRC they cost >£200 in 2010. This particular pair was stored in a hard case yet snapped due to fatigue in the plastic headband after a few months, although I expect their construction has improved a fair bit since then. In response to your edit, the difference between the two companies is that Apple generally backs up the superficial appeal of its products with very good, if not market leading user experience, engineering and manufacturing. The iPhone is relatively expensive (part of the reason I own a Nexus device), but its quality is undeniable.