iLounge

1

Still, I think that Apples service will still turn out on top, as all the rest of the services always manage to take a good idea and nerf it into an oblivion.

Pressplay and those other services out there are having a much less succesful time than Apple’s iTunes because of the simple fact that they have so many restrictions that the lower 79 cent price is not really worth it anymore.

Really, what this all comes down to is: who will get the most tracks from indie labels and musicians? With the deals with the RIAA, it is needless to say that all these new services will have popular music, but eventually it is the lesser common music that will count in the long run. People will want to buy from the source that is the most complete.

Posted by Sraphim on July 20, 2003 at 7:37 PM (PST)

2

Got to disagree on this one. When Sony, EMI and any of the big names decide to enter the arena the important thing will be price.

99 cents per song is too much for something you might only listen to once or twice.

Now that the big boys are over their fretting about this type of thing expect home entertainment devices that can plug into a LAN interface to the internet and store & play tracks.

Get digital rights management sorted and you should be able to download an album to 2-3 dollars tops.

This is not the sideline. This is the whole ballpark. Moving to a pay to play paradigm and erasing the overhead of head up their **ses A&R jerks, executives,secretaries and massive production and media distribution costs.

You can keep all your grunge bands, give me a company with the rights to the Beatles and Frank Sinatra as a meal ticket.

Pac3r

Posted by Pac3r on July 20, 2003 at 11:27 PM (PST)

3

If Apple comes through with an iTunes for Windows, it will be the greatest thing for those poor windows users.  I constantly hear comments about all the media players for windows just not being up to par.  So combine an easy to use organizational too, and player like iTunes, with a quality store, and I think they’ll hit gold for sure.  Just 2 cents worth of my opinion.

Posted by Twitchy on July 21, 2003 at 3:03 AM (PST)

4

What are you talking about Twitchy?  The best media player is one that has the smallest footprint and plays at a good speed.  Winamp is one of the best so far at doing this.  You must be talking to the wrong people.

I think the best thing with an iTunes for Windows is the ability to encode AAC w/ tags compatable with their Ipod.

Posted by tetro on July 21, 2003 at 10:11 AM (PST)

5

Whoa, let us address issues one by one.

1. Competitions is good. Generally speaking. Apple is only a) Mac b) US. Needs (is working?) to work on both ends.
2. Price is important, thake it from a man who owns about 8000 songs. $8000 ($1 per song) or $6000 (75c per song) . Take your pick.
3. Apple is good, but not the ultimate, there can be way, way better (ie no AAC, no restrictions, etc.)
4. Twirchy: Who needs iTunes, when you have WinAMP. It is up to par, and way beyond par (where par is iTunes).
5. Pac3r: Wide selection is important. Not just wide but universal. Will not happen, unless gov. regulated. I want grunge and Beatles from the same store.
6. Apple is a new comer. The absolutely impossible best case scenario if they capture the most of the market. More than likly they will be a small player 5-10 years from now (even if that). Remember they are at mercy of the labels, will not be able to compete with them.

Posted by pbox on July 21, 2003 at 10:48 AM (PST)

6

WinAmp is as good as iTunes? In my opinion, that’s nowhere near true. Smartlists alone put the two in different leagues.

Again, in my opinion, iTunes is currently the best music collection software for the common user and JRiver’s MediaCenter is the best software for the power user.

Just my opinion, of course…

Posted by Pensive Chimp in Hollywood Park, Texas on July 21, 2003 at 12:06 PM (PST)

7

Tetro,

I was thinking as a capitalist not as a consumer.

The final model will be not dissimilar to the current configuration. i.e. Copyright holders owning rhe content and telecoms providers, IT companies etc retailing it to the customer.

A total cash cow that once in place will work for all media content. DVD Movies, radio, games, etc etc.

As a consumer in this situation I’ll use a search engine to find me the best price on a particular piece. If it is something contentious like many movies I’ll buy it from whatever datahaven (servers in countries with strong privacy laws and low censorship tollerance) has it at the cheapest price.

Posted by Pac3r on July 21, 2003 at 3:26 PM (PST)

8

pbox,

Apple is a newcomer to what?  The idea of a digital music store - one that has the backing of big labels?  Unless I’m mistaken, Apple got the permission of the big five to enter their vaults and get this music to begin with. 

And Apple has already had a meeting with independent labels - so you’ll get your grunge and Beetles in the same store.  The iTunes Music Store.  Sorry, but I think Apple if the forerunner.

Posted by ipodder in Austin, TX on July 21, 2003 at 5:57 PM (PST)