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Apple's Music Store Blitz

Posted: 2003-10-16 02:57pm
by Durandal
Apple held a special event today (no, not to open the iPorn Movie Store :) ). Not only have they released iTunes for Windows, but there are some interesting things they're doing with the music store as a whole.
  • Apple's original goal with the iTunes Music Store was to sell 1 million songs in the first 6 months. They did it in a week. So they reset the goal to 10 million in the first 6 months, and ended up doing that in 4 months. Now their goal is to sell 100 million songs by April 2004.
  • To meet this goal, Apple are partnering with Pepsi and AOL. At the current rate, Mac users alone will buy about 30 million songs. Starting at the Super Bowl, Pepsi will be marking every 1 in 3 Pepsi, Diet Pepsi and Sierra Mist bottle caps as redeemable for a free song from the iTunes Music Store. They'll be giving away 100 million songs total. AOL will be showing an iTunes button by all the songs and albums on their music site that will launch iTunes and display an option to buy it if clicked.
  • The iTunes Music Store accounted for 70% of all legal music downloads, and the iPod has a 30% marketshare in the portable digital music player market. For once, Apple is #1 at 2 marketshare items. :)
So, Windows users, will you be purchasing anything from the iTunes Music Store, or downloading iTunes?

Posted: 2003-10-16 05:20pm
by kojikun
Shit if I get the chance, maybe. Ok, I won't, I'm a bad boy, but still. :) iTuns the program sucks, btw.

edit:

BWAHAHAHA! I went to apple.com:

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Posted: 2003-10-16 05:35pm
by Hotfoot
Riddle me this, Durandal...does this iTunes place have...nonstandard music available? Like say, Blind Guardian? Can you get entire CDs, instead of just individual songs? Say, for example, there is a short, 10-30 second track on a CD...too short to be considered a song, but it may serve as an intro to the next song on the CD. Instead of paying the same price for every single track, could I buy the whole CD at once at a slightly lower rate, or how does that work?

In other words, are you charged for the number of "clips" you download, or rather the total filesize/running time of the entire CD in MP3 format? The second option would seem the most fitting to me, but hey. Just seems a touch silly to have to pay $0.99 for what can be a short, 8 second intro clip. :?

Posted: 2003-10-16 06:00pm
by Einhander Sn0m4n
And I'm sure they don't have Corporate Avenger. Good indication of underground-music content is if you can find some Corporate on there... :D

Posted: 2003-10-16 06:56pm
by Durandal
Hotfoot wrote:Riddle me this, Durandal...does this iTunes place have...nonstandard music available? Like say, Blind Guardian? Can you get entire CDs, instead of just individual songs? Say, for example, there is a short, 10-30 second track on a CD...too short to be considered a song, but it may serve as an intro to the next song on the CD. Instead of paying the same price for every single track, could I buy the whole CD at once at a slightly lower rate, or how does that work?
Yes, you can purchase albums. Normally, the going rate is $10, but it can go either higher or lower, depending on the contract that the label has with Apple.
In other words, are you charged for the number of "clips" you download, or rather the total filesize/running time of the entire CD in MP3 format? The second option would seem the most fitting to me, but hey. Just seems a touch silly to have to pay $0.99 for what can be a short, 8 second intro clip. :?
You're referring to things like "Forward" on Linkin Park's "Meteora," which is an 18-second intro track. If the store has all the tracks from an album available for individual download, you have the option of buying the entire thing.

Posted: 2003-10-16 06:58pm
by Hotfoot
Durandal wrote:Yes, you can purchase albums. Normally, the going rate is $10, but it can go either higher or lower, depending on the contract that the label has with Apple.
Fair enough. Unfortunately, I cannot use iTunes, it would appear.
You're referring to things like "Forward" on Linkin Park's "Meteora," which is an 18-second intro track. If the store has all the tracks from an album available for individual download, you have the option of buying the entire thing.
Interesting. Sounds promising then, though the potential exists for abuse.

Posted: 2003-10-16 07:14pm
by YT300000
kojikun wrote:*pic snip*
Best app for PC? Don't make me laugh.

Posted: 2003-10-16 08:44pm
by phongn
Bah, no APE/FLAC support. I demand lossless encoding goodness!

Posted: 2003-10-17 04:14pm
by phongn
As a music library program, iTunes is damn slick, certainly better than WinAmp or foobar2000. Alas, I'm awaiting some more QT Components before I can use it :(

Also, an interesting sidenote is that Apple makes little or no profit off of iTunes Music Service. It's a loss-leader in order to get people to buy iPods.

Posted: 2003-10-17 05:04pm
by The Cleric
QT? Quentin Tarantino? And can I use iTunes as a my music player?

Posted: 2003-10-17 05:21pm
by phongn
StormTrooperTR889 wrote:QT? Quentin Tarantino? And can I use iTunes as a my music player?
QuickTime: all of Apple's software products use it as their media framework, as do many applications on the Mac, though it may not be obvious. The Windows implementation has historically sucked (as have several Mac releases), but it is quite a powerful framework.

iTunes can be used as a music player, that's the entire intent. It organizes all of your music and such.

Posted: 2003-10-17 07:21pm
by Durandal
phongn wrote:
StormTrooperTR889 wrote:QT? Quentin Tarantino? And can I use iTunes as a my music player?
QuickTime: all of Apple's software products use it as their media framework, as do many applications on the Mac, though it may not be obvious. The Windows implementation has historically sucked (as have several Mac releases), but it is quite a powerful framework.

iTunes can be used as a music player, that's the entire intent. It organizes all of your music and such.
QuickTime 6.4 is a big improvement on the Mac side of things. Though the player application still sucks interface-wise, in my opinion. I think the biggest gripe on the Windows side is the lack of full-screen playback. It's not a big deal for Mac users because there are dozens of third-party QuickTime player applications which support full-screen and are free. If the Windows world would write one, you'd be better off. The problem is that most people don't really know what QuickTime is. Windows users tend to think that QuickTime is equivalent to Sorenson Video 3 (no I'm not joking), so they don't really know it's possible to write a QuickTime app for free that can play full-screen, export to different formats, edit or do whatever.

And by the way, iTunes does utilize QuickTime plug-ins. I can play Ogg Vorbis with iTunes using the QuickTime Vorbis plug-in. So start cheering for a FLAC QuickTime component. :)

Posted: 2003-10-17 08:45pm
by phongn
Durandal wrote:QuickTime 6.4 is a big improvement on the Mac side of things. Though the player application still sucks interface-wise, in my opinion. I think the biggest gripe on the Windows side is the lack of full-screen playback. It's not a big deal for Mac users because there are dozens of third-party QuickTime player applications which support full-screen and are free. If the Windows world would write one, you'd be better off.
IIRC, there are a few players that do it, but they're not widely known. Most people just use the basic QuickTime Player.
The problem is that most people don't really know what QuickTime is. Windows users tend to think that QuickTime is equivalent to Sorenson Video 3 (no I'm not joking),
I know. On Spacebattles, I have to fight that all the time.
And by the way, iTunes does utilize QuickTime plug-ins. I can play Ogg Vorbis with iTunes using the QuickTime Vorbis plug-in. So start cheering for a FLAC QuickTime component. :)
I might try begging some devs to make a Windows QuickTime FLAC (or even better, APE) component, but its unlikely. There is an experimental and inefficient Vorbis component.

Posted: 2003-10-18 07:40am
by Faram
Okay iTunes just replases winamp as my fav mp3 player goodamn it's great!

I really love the search!

Posted: 2003-10-18 11:05am
by Crazy_Vasey
Durandal wrote: QuickTime 6.4 is a big improvement on the Mac side of things. Though the player application still sucks interface-wise, in my opinion. I think the biggest gripe on the Windows side is the lack of full-screen playback. It's not a big deal for Mac users because there are dozens of third-party QuickTime player applications which support full-screen and are free. If the Windows world would write one, you'd be better off. The problem is that most people don't really know what QuickTime is. Windows users tend to think that QuickTime is equivalent to Sorenson Video 3 (no I'm not joking), so they don't really know it's possible to write a QuickTime app for free that can play full-screen, export to different formats, edit or do whatever.
Media Player Classic does the job for Windows users. Tis only about 600k as well.

Posted: 2003-10-18 03:07pm
by Durandal
Crazy_Vasey wrote:Media Player Classic does the job for Windows users. Tis only about 600k as well.
I take it you mean 6.4, the last version before Windows Media Player turned into a bloated piece of DRM crap? By the way, how's QuickTime 6.4 on the Windows side of things? Any better?

Posted: 2003-10-18 03:14pm
by phongn
No, MPC is a third-party program.

QT6.4 still sucks, but now they at least let you set individual associations.

Posted: 2003-10-19 03:23am
by Faram
MS iPod is too Limited for Windows!

Linky
Microsoft: iTunes Store too limited for Windows users
By Jim Dalrymple jdalrymple@maccentral.com
October 17, 2003 2:10 pm ET

On the eve of the iTunes Music Store introduction for Windows-based personal computers, Microsoft's General Manager, Windows Digital Media Division, Dave Fester posted his thoughts on iTunes for Windows. In his comments, Fester concludes that iTunes is too limited for Windows users.

"Unless Apple decides to make radical changes to their service model, a Windows-based version of iTunes will still remain a closed system, where iPod owners cannot access content from other services," said Fester. "Additionally, users of iTunes are limited to music from Apple's Music Store ... this is a drawback for Windows users, who expect choice in music services, choice in devices, and choice in music from a wide-variety of music services to burn to a CD or put on a portable device. Lastly, if you use Apple's music store along with iTunes, you don't have the ability of using the over 40 different Windows Media-compatible portable music devices. When I'm paying for music, I want to know that I have choices today and in the future."

When asked how the iTunes Music Store differs from Windows-based services, Fester talks about Napster and the different types of options it will offer users. Fester concludes that it will be the best experience that ultimately wins over consumers.

"All told, music fans should look for services that offer the best experience and take advantage of the best digital media platform available on Windows. With Windows Media 9 Series, you get faster starts, better quality music, and support for the most devices," Fester said.

For its part, Apple still feels they have the best offerings in the market today and didn't seem too worried about Fester's comments.

"If someone buys music from another source and it can't play on the number one digital music player, that would probably be very disappointing for them," Rob Schoeben, Apple vice president of Application Product Marketing, told MacCentral. "With our solution, we provide seamless integration of all the component parts that you want and it creates a compelling enough experience that you can do what you want to do and that is enjoy music."

"We think the leading portable music player, the leading music store and the best jukebox is a fantastic offering for consumers," said Schoeben.
MS bloving smoke and FUD as usual.

Posted: 2003-10-19 04:44am
by Johonebesus
Faram wrote:Okay iTunes just replases winamp as my fav mp3 player goodamn it's great!

I really love the search!
Eh, it takes too long to startup. I like being able to click on a file and have Winamp just pop right up. Then again, I use the File Manager alot. The easiest library system of all is a good organized set of folders under Windows Explorer.

If iTunes didn't encrypt their files so that they can't be played by any other application, I might buy their songs.

Posted: 2003-10-19 12:43pm
by phongn
Well, you usually can go through the somewhat-slow-method of burning an audio CD from the M4P file and then ripping that into an MP3.

But there's no way iTMS would have gotten off the ground if there wasn't a DRM feature.

Posted: 2003-10-19 01:37pm
by Pu-239
phongn wrote:Well, you usually can go through the somewhat-slow-method of burning an audio CD from the M4P file and then ripping that into an MP3.

But there's no way iTMS would have gotten off the ground if there wasn't a DRM feature.
Isn't there supposed to be a quality loss?
I'm not one who usually notices poor quality, but even I notice poor quality from mp3s burned to CDs, then ripped back to mp3.

Posted: 2003-10-19 01:48pm
by phongn
Yes, there is - any transcoding between lossy formats causes that.

Posted: 2003-10-19 04:05pm
by Durandal
There's always a quality loss when going from one lossy format to another. But it depends on where you'll be listening to it. If you've got a good set of PC speakers or home audio theatre hooked up to your computer, I'd recommend against reripping to MP3. If you've got the crappy Harmon Kardons that came with your Dell, then you probably won't notice a difference. If you're going to be playing it on a portable MP3 player with headphones, you will most likely not notice a difference.

Posted: 2003-10-19 04:34pm
by phongn
Durandal wrote:There's always a quality loss when going from one lossy format to another. But it depends on where you'll be listening to it. If you've got a good set of PC speakers or home audio theatre hooked up to your computer, I'd recommend against reripping to MP3. If you've got the crappy Harmon Kardons that came with your Dell, then you probably won't notice a difference. If you're going to be playing it on a portable MP3 player with headphones, you will most likely not notice a difference.
Well, if you have good headphones you might notice ;)

Posted: 2003-10-20 01:11pm
by Durandal
On that note ...
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