Widget Watch: iTunes Estimator

(I posted the same comment under the other thread but it could be useful here too...)
To win an iPod or the Grand Prize for the billionth song, you must buy a song each time the counter turns 100,000. The problem is: you can't rely on Apple's counter. It doesn't display the real-time count, it makes a projection based on a snapshot of the sales data over a period of 5 minutes, and that projection is always underestimated so that the counter doesn't go up and down each time the new data is released. With their method, it always goes up - but it's not accurate.

The Apple counter also relies on a 100ms timer to keep running, but if your machine is blocked doing something (like dragging a scrollbar in your browser or whatever), it stops and loses count.

I quickly fixed that over the weekend. Here is my page:
http://www.billiontunescounter.com/

It ain't pretty but so far today, it works. That should bring you one step closer to the 10 iPods and the $10,000 gift certificate. Good luck!

As far as I can tell from reading the rules, the person to win will be the first person to either buy a song or submit an entry via the form after iTunes has sold their 1,000,000,000th song. So, like #5 said, its not random.

And I wasn't able to see the page that #6 linked to, got a 404 error. But the rules state "The use of any automated launching or entry software or any other mechanical or electronic means that permits the entrant to automatically enter repeatedly or in excess of twenty-five (25) Entries per day, per person is prohibited. Mechanically generated entries will be discarded and may result in total and permanent disqualification from the Promotion." So you may not want to advertise, if thats what you've created. Not accusing, just informing.

I created a Firefox Greasemonkey user script that makes it dramatically easier to submit entries to this contest. I explain how to install and use it in my blog:

http://www.chrisdolan.net/talk/index.php/2006/02/07/firefox-extensions-greasemonkey/

In my opinion, the way the form work is that when you submit it, it's as if you just bought a song (read the rules ;) ). But no, it's not random

umm... doesn't the fact that you can enter this contest without actually buying a song suggest that anybody who buys a song (or fills out the form) between now and then has a chance to win the big prize? It seems that it's not the person who actually buys the 1,000,000,000th song. They'll just pick a name "out of a hat" after the 1,000,000,000th song is sold.

I'm almost positive the public counter is delayed by a few minutes. These are worthless. Your best bet would be to buy an album or two. Those, at least, will net you an entire block of downloads as opposed to a single one.

i hate dashboard and advertising widgets do not make me like it any better...what's next a coke widget?

WHere does it get the estimate from? It is not the same as the Apple Counter, so I have no idea where it comes from. It is off.