Apple Australian iTunes Contract Terms?

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

ThinkSecret claims to have some details surrounding (http://www.thinksecret.com/news/australianitmscontract.html) Apple's negotiations with Australian record labels and the iTunes Music Store (http://guides.macrumors.com/ITunes_Music_Store).

According to the rumor site, Apple is paying AU$.99 for every single that sells for AU$1.69. Apple leaves itself the option to raise customer prices at any time after giving 5 days notice to the labels. Album pricing and reimbursement appears to be more variable.

Apple ensures that all tracks can be sold separately as well as part of albums with the exception of certain exclusive and limited time promotions. This along with variable song pricing has been at issue between Apple and music labels.

Apple also promises to respond in a timely manner to circumvention of the Digital Rights Management (http://guides.macrumors.com/FairPlay) in the iTunes store.

Apple's agreements with U.S. music labels will expire in early 2006 according to earlier reports (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2005/09/20050930092813.shtml).

[pdpfilms]

Wow... hopefully this kind of action won't reach us in the states.

[Mechcozmo]

...and how is this different from the other country stores?
You must protect the DRM! (Okaayyy)
Songs can be separate but for a few! (How it is already!)

Did Apple win or did the lawyers get paid much money for nothing?

[Staffroomer]

Sounds to me like Apple has the upper hand in this situation. Too much power perhaps? I don't think so. The record companies have been in control too long!!!

[nagromme]

I wonder how much of Apple's .70 Australian goes to credit card companies?

And it seems unlikely, while the .99 cost is fixed, that Apple would ever choose to raise the per-track price beyond 1.69.

[johnnyjibbs]

It seems odd that the music labels seemed particularly greedy in Australia but it sounds like Apple is going to find it increasingly difficult when renewing contracts in the US and Europe to keep the conditions and prices the same.

I think this is a real shame and it's about time that the music companies realised that it's their greed which drives piracy. They also seem to forget that, if it wasn't for Apple, this digital market may still not have existed. I'm hoping Apple can stand tough on this.

[barneygumble]

I still haven't bought a song yet, buggers don't accept Bankcard, that's cost em a video ipod as well;)

[Nermal]

Nobody accepts Bankcard :p

My dad runs a business and he got a letter from Westpac a couple of months ago, saying that they're discontinuing Bankcard merchant support. It doesn't really surprise me, I've seen very few cards in recent years.

[macidiot]

Hmm, is this really news? Or worthy of macrumors page one? No offense but I have to think that Australia is a marginal market at best. I'm thinking its a smaller market than Los Angeles. I get that macrumors has a "down under" bias for some reason, but how about something a little more relevant? Please don't turn macrumors into another macbytes, linking to articles from Australian and New Zealand news outlets. Often days or weeks after the original(and identical) story appeared in America.

FYI, here's something newsworthy... How about the fact that the Wall St. Journal is reporting that NBC/Universal is "very close" to signing a deal to provide tv content on iTunes. And the source is the CEO of NBC/Universal. And guess what? This news is actually current.

[barneygumble]

Nobody accepts Bankcard :p

My dad runs a business and he got a letter from Westpac a couple of months ago, saying that they're discontinuing Bankcard merchant support. It doesn't really surprise me, I've seen very few cards in recent years.

I really should get a visa, but am afraid i will go on a spending spree, at least i can still buy my food and petrol with it

[GorillaPaws]

Hmm, is this really news? Or worthy of macrumors page one? No offense but I have to think that Australia is a marginal market at best.

Maybe Austrailia is somewhat "marginal" in the global picture but insights into Apple's international pricing strategies IS interesting to macrumors community. They may indicate future trends in pricing on ITMS among other things, like reflecting Apple's relationship w/ the music companies etc.

As for your other rumor. I think that's very interesting and it ALSO seems worthy of a thread. Why don't you start one?

[andrewag]

Hmm, is this really news? Or worthy of macrumors page one? No offense but I have to think that Australia is a marginal market at best. I'm thinking its a smaller market than Los Angeles.


And this is why the entire world hates Americans (assuming you are by the comparison to LA). :)

[barneygumble]

Hmm, is this really news? Or worthy of macrumors page one? No offense but I have to think that Australia is a marginal market at best. I'm thinking its a smaller market than Los Angeles. I get that macrumors has a "down under" bias for some reason, but how about something a little more relevant? Please don't turn macrumors into another macbytes, linking to articles from Australian and New Zealand news outlets. Often days or weeks after the original(and identical) story appeared in America.

FYI, here's something newsworthy... How about the fact that the Wall St. Journal is reporting that NBC/Universal is "very close" to signing a deal to provide tv content on iTunes. And the source is the CEO of NBC/Universal. And guess what? This news is actually current.


And yet we've bought more than a million ipod's and god knows how many macs, you truly are a mac idiot, and yes i agree with a previous poster, that is why people hate (most) Americans, egotistical.

[mad jew]

Bigotry aside, I find it pretty interesting just how much of a margin Apple does take although I realise this of course doesn't all go straight into their pockets. I assume that "Apple paying 99c for every single" is referring to the amount they pay the record companies though.

barneygumble, ask your bank about VISA cards with zero credit. Depending on your bank you should be able to get either VISA access to your current account or be able to divert a savings account into a new VISA-accessible account. I just did it and I have no fees, no credit, minimal risk of debt (still technically possible but only ever $50 and very unlikely) and credit card abilities. :)

[xrayzed]

Hmm, is this really news? Or worthy of macrumors page one? No offense but I have to think that Australia is a marginal market at best. I'm thinking its a smaller market than Los Angeles.

Los Angeles County has a population of 9.9m, Australia a population of 20.4m.

Of course we only have electricity during the day, so we only buy half as much music as people in LA, and Australia is a barter economy (1 CD = .25 sheep) so the size of the Australian market in economic terms is much lower.

I need to log off. The brown-outs are starting to kick in.

(Population sources: http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/06037.html, http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs%40.nsf/94713ad445ff1425ca25682000192af2/1647509ef7e25faaca2568a900154b63?OpenDocument)

[barneygumble]

Los Angeles County has a population of 9.9m, Australia a population of 20.4m.

Of course we only have electricity during the day, so we only buy half as much music as people in LA, and Australia is a barter economy (1 CD = .25 sheep) so the size of the Australian market in economic terms is much lower.

I need to log off. The brown-outs are starting to kick in.

(Population sources: http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/06037.html, http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs%40.nsf/94713ad445ff1425ca25682000192af2/1647509ef7e25faaca2568a900154b63?OpenDocument)

Yeah i am gonna have to walk to work tommorow, my kangaroo needs a rest
;)

[mad jew]

Yeah i am gonna have to walk to work tommorow, my kangaroo needs a rest
;)


Yours is lucky. I ate mine. :o

[barneygumble]

Yours is lucky. I ate mine. :o

I have already started feeding mine garlic and rosemary in preperation for that if the little bludger doesn't pick up his act

[cbigfoot1987]

The currency conversion tool in dashboard is telling me that 99¢US = AU$1.34 So dont panic!!!!

[300ZX]

And this is why the entire world hates Americans

That's terrific! I was actually considering study abroad to Australia, but since you and the entire rest of the world hate us Americans, why bother?

You guys may have a point, but you are just coming off as pricks with your anti-america comments. For all I care you could burn the stars and stripes, but generalizing that the whole world hates a particular culture shows pretty extreme prejudice.

Does the whole world hate the Middle East? It sure seems like it over here...

[barneygumble]

That's terrific! I was actually considering study abroad to Australia, but since you and the entire rest of the world hate us Americans, why bother?

You guys may have a point, but you are just coming off as pricks with your anti-america comments. For all I care you could burn the stars and stripes, but generalizing that the whole world hates a particular culture shows pretty extreme prejudice.

Does the whole world hate the Middle East? It sure seems like it over here...

Another thing americans lack, a sense of irony:p

Note to all Americans I've had 8 beers (home brew too it is strong stuff)

[adt]

lmao @ roos.

[adeptboy]

Another thing americans lack, a sense of irony:p

Note to all Americans I've had 8 beers (home brew too it is strong stuff)

nahh, it's not all americans that lack the sense of irony, just the one who voted for president bush.

:rolleyes:

acutally, fuel prices a re getting a bit high...where could i get me one of them kangee-roo-mobiles?

[GorillaPaws]

That's terrific! I was actually considering study abroad to Australia, but since you and the entire rest of the world hate us Americans, why bother?

You guys may have a point, but you are just coming off as pricks with your anti-america comments. For all I care you could burn the stars and stripes, but generalizing that the whole world hates a particular culture shows pretty extreme prejudice.

Does the whole world hate the Middle East? It sure seems like it over here...

Easy buddy.... macidiot basically called their country (a whole continent none-the-less) "marginal." That sort of thing tends to make people a little angry. The Aussies were joking us Americans because we tend to see the world from a very self-centered point of view. I think they're right, in general. I like to thing of myself as a smart guy, and I have to admit that I know almost nothing about their country, and that's kind of sad seeing as how I went to a magnet high school for government and international studies. I could tell you more about the history of Indonesia than I could about Australia. It's definetly on my list of places to check out before I die though. Anyways wasn't this supposed to be about the price of ITMS downloads?

[SiliconAddict]

Sounds to me like Apple has the upper hand in this situation. Too much power perhaps? I don't think so. The record companies have been in control too long!!!


Ummm no. No they don't. If the labels cut Apple off when it comes time to renegotiate their contract Apple can't say word one.

[SiliconAddict]

Yours is lucky. I ate mine. :o


I've heard roo tastest pretty nasty. Koala on the other hand.....Mmmmm :eek: ;)

[SiliconAddict]

Another thing americans lack, a sense of irony:p

Note to all Americans I've had 8 beers (home brew too it is strong stuff)


Maybe other American. I personally love my irony. I personally can’t stand wrinkled clothing. ;) :D

Sorry bad joke. Too early in the morning.

[asphalt-proof]

Ummm no. No they don't. If the labels cut Apple off when it comes time to renegotiate their contract Apple can't say word one.

I have to agree: THe buzz in the media is that Apple has the labels over a barrel but what is the real threat that Apple holds? Is that if the labels don't play ball with them, take their ball and go home, digital piracy will comeback with a vengence? The record labels will just start up their own iTunes-like site, watch it fail miserably and say that online music downloading is dead. I think they really think that they can go back to the 80's.
So what does Apple have to counteract this threat? An unspoken threat that if the labels refuse to re-up their contract, Apple's next iTune's update will strip off all the DRM and create some program that makes sharing digital content EXTREMELY easy? :eek:

[Hattig]

I really should get a visa, but am afraid i will go on a spending spree, at least i can still buy my food and petrol with it
What the hell is a 'BankCard' anyway?

Why not just get a standard VISA debit card from your bank?

On topic, it seems that Apple is getting a reasonable profit from the iTMS Australia. It'll be interesting to see how the future goes - I do know that I'm not going to buy music more than 3 years old on iTMS however, because CD prices drop in shops quite drastically - £7, £5, even £3 over here in England.

[susannahyork]

is it possible to download music from another country's store? if so, why go to all the trouble to create individual stores for different countries... just add more content to the U.S. store (assuming people can download from it from all over the world, if not, this is moot)

I personally prefer cds. (because I am a natural resource wasting American:) )

[manu chao]

is it possible to download music from another country's store?


No, you can't. Record companies don't allow it. They want to sell music at different prices in different countries, in each country at the highest price they can extract.

[Super Dave]

Yeah i am gonna have to walk to work tommorow, my kangaroo needs a rest
;)

I'll trade your Kangaroo for a beaver pelt. I'm sure the Kangaroo would make a great pet for my igloo. I could ride him 200km to the next igloo...er I mean 124.27424 miles, how dare I use such a marginal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SI) system of units?

I too am getting frustrated with these non-Canadian news items. I mean what's an amateur dog sled racer going to do if he has to spend his time reading stories about Australia? ;)

David the inuit from Canada :cool:

[Super Dave]

I have to agree: THe buzz in the media is that Apple has the labels over a barrel but what is the real threat that Apple holds? Is that if the labels don't play ball with them, take their ball and go home, digital piracy will comeback with a vengence? The record labels will just start up their own iTunes-like site, watch it fail miserably and say that online music downloading is dead. I think they really think that they can go back to the 80's.
So what does Apple have to counteract this threat? An unspoken threat that if the labels refuse to re-up their contract, Apple's next iTune's update will strip off all the DRM and create some program that makes sharing digital content EXTREMELY easy? :eek:

What Steve Jobs said: "If they want to raise the prices it just means they're getting a little greedy." "If the price goes up people will go back to piracy. Then everybody loses"

What Steve Jobs meant: "I understand people. If I tell them the record companies are greedy for asking more, it's hard not to believe me after they started suing kids and killing software that had legitimate purposes as well as the potential for piracy.

If the price goes up, people SHOULD go back to piracy. In fact, I'm fully endorsing it. Keep the prices the same or I'll continue to tell people to steal your music. It's not a hard sell; from their perspective you're trying to rip them off. We don't want that do we? Your best friend right now telling people to go pirate music again?

David :cool:

[Bonte]

If the record company's work together to rise the iTunes pricing, isn't this illegal cartel behavior?

[cbigfoot1987]

What Steve Jobs said: "If they want to raise the prices it just means they're getting a little greedy." "If the price goes up people will go back to piracy. Then everybody loses"

What Steve Jobs meant: "I understand people. If I tell them the record companies are greedy for asking more, it's hard not to believe me after they started suing kids and killing software that had legitimate purposes as well as the potential for piracy.

If the price goes up, people SHOULD go back to piracy. In fact, I'm fully endorsing it. Keep the prices the same or I'll continue to tell people to steal your music. It's not a hard sell; from their perspective you're trying to rip them off. We don't want that do we? Your best friend right now telling people to go pirate music again?

David :cool:



I agree I will go back to piracy if it goes above any more than $1.05USD i will revert to my old ways!!! Almost forgot why would they raise the price after all they are saving on shipping20¢or so each, CDs 10¢, Cases 50¢, Printing label & CDs 70¢  That about $1.50 savings each and a circuitcity, media play, ect they are about $4-$18 In fact they should go lower if any thing happens with the price

[winmacguy]

Hmm, is this really news? Or worthy of macrumors page one? No offense but I have to think that Australia is a marginal market at best. I'm thinking its a smaller market than Los Angeles. I get that macrumors has a "down under" bias for some reason, but how about something a little more relevant? Please don't turn macrumors into another macbytes, linking to articles from Australian and New Zealand news outlets. Often days or weeks after the original(and identical) story appeared in America.

FYI, here's something newsworthy... How about the fact that the Wall St. Journal is reporting that NBC/Universal is "very close" to signing a deal to provide tv content on iTunes. And the source is the CEO of NBC/Universal. And guess what? This news is actually current.

It doesn't matter what country you come from macidiot, it is ALL news. If you want to see more of a northern hemisphere bias to the Mac based news you could try searching for some. ;) Macs are used all over the world including Australia AND New Zealand:D

EDIT: Have you posted that article?

[winmacguy]

is it possible to download music from another country's store? if so, why go to all the trouble to create individual stores for different countries... just add more content to the U.S. store (assuming people can download from it from all over the world, if not, this is moot)

I personally prefer cds. (because I am a natural resource wasting American:) )
Unfortunately for us susannahyork the music industry is governed by greedy music execs and lawyers who want to confine our online music purchasing to the country we live in which means that you can only buy music from the online store of a given country if a) your IP address is from that country (few exceptions)
b) you have a credit card and billing address in that same country
(if you are a Brit but are living and studying at a US university and have a US credit card and billing address then you could purchase from the US iTMS while in the UK aswell as purchasing from the UK iTMS using your UK credit card and UK billing address- sneaky eh?!)

[winmacguy]

Hmm, is this really news? Or worthy of macrumors page one? No offense but I have to think that Australia is a marginal market at best. I'm thinking its a smaller market than Los Angeles.

FYI, here's something newsworthy... How about the fact that the Wall St. Journal is reporting that NBC/Universal is "very close" to signing a deal to provide tv content on iTunes. And the source is the CEO of NBC/Universal. And guess what? This news is actually current.

Incidently how did all that "American oil" get under Iraq soil?:confused: :p

[winmacguy]

Hmm, is this really news?
I have to say that I found the article very interesting and scary. You need to be a lawyer AND an accountant just to figure out the pricing scheme!:eek:

[macidiot]

And this is why the entire world hates Americans (assuming you are by the comparison to LA). :)


Perhaps my choice of words was not the best (it was pretty late when I wrote that). I didn't mean to imply any disrespect to Australia or Australians. However, in terms of a market for Apple, I do think it is marginal. Or small. I'm sorry if some find that offensive. But the reality is that it is a relatively small population of decent wealth. What is the potential market for iPods there? 2-5 million? If the Australian market disppeared for Apple how much would it impact them?

Apple and the US had nothing to do with creating the economic and population realities of Australia. So in this instance, your statement regarding hate towards America is misguided(unless of course it was tongue in cheek, I just noticed that smiley face...). America does a lot of stupid things deserving ridicule, especially recently. However, when it comes to the global economy we are flat out superior. And frankly, like it or not, the entire world is dependent on the American economy. Americans have the most wealth. But we also work harder and put in longer hours than anyone else to get that wealth. That's not being jingoistic, its reality. If people have a problem with that, or want to change that, they are welcome to stop buying Coca Cola, Procter & Gamble products, Gillette razors, Wrigley gum, watching movies, etc. Oh and stop exporting products to the US. And of course, stop using computers and the internet. Either that or develop their own OS, software, and routers. Oh, and increase Australia's population by about 50 million or so. And increase the avg. work week there to 43+ hours and vacation to less than 4 weeks/year. And completely reform the tax code there.

btw, this reply isn't directed solely at you andrewag. Its also to the string of replies calling me bigoted or whatever.

[macidiot]

It doesn't matter what country you come from macidiot, it is ALL news. If you want to see more of a northern hemisphere bias to the Mac based news you could try searching for some. ;) Macs are used all over the world including Australia AND New Zealand:D

EDIT: Have you posted that article?

Yes, your right, it is news. It just doesn't seem worthy of page 1 macrumors. Clearly it is worth posting in Macbytes.

And here's the link to the article... I don't know if it will work (I linked through Yahoo and the Wall St. Journal is offering its content for free for one day only):

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB113140185186190419.html?mod=yahoo_hs&ru=yahoo

[xrayzed]

Ummm no. No they don't. If the labels cut Apple off when it comes time to renegotiate their contract Apple can't say word one.
Especially as other companies continue to develop their own online download options. Apple currently dominates the market, but there is no necessary reason to believe they will continue to do so for more than a few years.

The labels may even eventually work out that they can sell directly at a lower price than Apple and still have higher margins. Improbable, but not impossible. ;)

[macidiot]

And yet we've bought more than a million ipod's and god knows how many macs, you truly are a mac idiot, and yes i agree with a previous poster, that is why people hate (most) Americans, egotistical.


Sorry, but Los Angeles is arguably a bigger market than Australia. Its easily bought more iPods and Macs than Australia. Throw in education and corporate sales, and I'd say Los Angeles is one Apple's most important markets. In fact, I'd argue that its critical to Apple.

California's economy by itself is ~9th in the world. Australia is around 18.

FYI, there are 9 Apple retail stores in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. There are 13 if you include Orange county. More than any other metropolitan area.

[winmacguy]

And frankly, like it or not, the entire world is dependent on the American economy. Americans have the most wealth. But we also work harder and put in longer hours than anyone else to get that wealth. That's not being jingoistic, its reality. If people have a problem with that, or want to change that, they are welcome to stop buying Coca Cola, Procter & Gamble products, Gillette razors, Wrigley gum, watching movies, etc. Oh and stop exporting products to the US. And of course, stop using computers and the internet. Either that or develop their own OS, software, and routers.

I don't know if you are aware macidiot but the Chinese economy is what is having a huge effect on the demand of raw materials at the moment which is having a massive knock-on effect to the rest of the world. The population of China also massively dwarfs that of the US. I think your also going to see the consuming power of China over take the consumer power of the US in the next year or so for hi tech products and for demand for hi tech research and innovation. There are also a very large number of wealthy Chinese industrialists who are looking to grow their wealth.

[winmacguy]

Sorry, but Los Angeles is arguably a bigger market than Australia. Its easily bought more iPods and Macs than Australia. Throw in education and corporate sales, and I'd say Los Angeles is one Apple's most important markets. In fact, I'd argue that its critical to Apple.

That would be because as anyone living outside mainland USA would know it is much cheaper to buy Apple gear stateside than anywhere else in the world:rolleyes:

[winmacguy]

And here's the link to the article... I don't know if it will work (I linked through Yahoo and the Wall St. Journal is offering its content for free for one day only):

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB113140185186190419.html?mod=yahoo_hs&ru=yahoo
macidiot if you posted the article through the standard submitting chanels it would then become a discussion forum like all the other articles. That might help you a bit more.:)

[sjl]

I've heard roo tastest pretty nasty. Koala on the other hand.....Mmmmm :eek: ;)
Kangaroo meat is actually pretty nice. You just have to be careful not to overcook it; anything beyond medium rare makes it too tough.

Mix it with a sweet chili or plum sauce, and it's a fantastic meal. Yummy.

[macidiot]

I don't know if you are aware macidiot but the Chinese economy is what is having a huge effect on the demand of raw materials at the moment which is having a massive knock-on effect to the rest of the world. The population of China also massively dwarfs that of the US. I think your also going to see the consuming power of China over take the consumer power of the US in the next year or so for hi tech products and for demand for hi tech research and innovation. There are also a very large number of wealthy Chinese industrialists who are looking to grow their wealth.

I absolutely agree that China is a powerhouse. I'm well aware of this. And yes, I'm well aware of China's effect on commodities. Actually I'm sure most people don't realize that China is just as much a factor with $60/barrel oil as the war in Iraq. Possibly even more so. I've said in other posts that China and Asia are the markets and competition of the future and that the EU-centric thinking of many is outdated. The EU is in decline for many reasons, among which are declining population and oppressive tax systems.

And most American companies realize this. Most are there in a big way. Unfortunately this reality has seems to have escaped Apple. Their presence in the Chinese market(other than contracting out manufacturing) is virtually non-existent.

In percentage numbers, I think it will be a long time till China rivals the US in per capita. However the population numbers are so much bigger than the US, if only 10% of China becomes wealthy, it would practically equal US buying power.

[mad jew]

GorillaPaws makes an excellent point, probably the most accurate and level-headed of the thread, but I just had to point this out. :o


I like to thing of myself as a smart guy...

[winmacguy]

It would/will be interesting to see what happens if Apple is able to open up an iTMS store in China... just getting slightly back on topic;) Looks like Apple might also need to drop its prices in Australia to get on par with the existing music stores and bring their pricing down to a US 99c equivalent since they dont have to "ship CDs" out from the US everytime they sell a few tracks, they just host the files on a server.:rolleyes:

[Super Dave]

<snip> And frankly, like it or not, the entire world is dependent on the American economy. Americans have the most wealth. But we also work harder and put in longer hours than anyone else to get that wealth. That's not being jingoistic, its reality.<snip>

I don't want to get political or economical for once, so I won't. But I do want to point out that there are other world views that suggest that happiness is more important than money.

Sadly we in Canada work about the same work year as those in the US. Although I am not sure about hours/week I'm pretty sure that holidays/vacations are relatively on par.

I personally would prefer vacation and holiday schedules on par with a number of European countries, than the money of the United States. It would give me more time to spend with my wife after I get married next summer and more time to devote to a family in the future. A man can dream can't he?

David :cool:

PS - Sorry madiciot for my part in the sarcasmo wars of this thread. In my defense I did think your comments were sort of anti-everyone-but-the-US, but if they were not then I am sorry. I think I was more excited to talk about silly Canadian imagery than to make fun of you, but I failed to resist the temptaton to do so. My apologies dude! Peace.

[winmacguy]

I think that the Canadians and US have a similar relationship as the Aussies and us Kiwis. The US and Aussies because of their comparative size usually come across as "brash" and "arrogant" although they are not always right and dont always win. Us Kiwis and the Canadians on the other hand tend to be more friendly and welcomeing to others and on a worldly scale come across as the friendlier under dog as well as "beating" our bigger arrogant neighbours in various sporting activities from time to time. The Aussies and US like to think that "they are the world" where as the Canadians and Kiwis know that "we are ALL just part of it"
Cheers
winmacguy

[macidiot]

I don't want to get political or economical for once, so I won't. But I do want to point out that there are other world views that suggest that happiness is more important than money.

Sadly we in Canada work about the same work year as those in the US. Although I am not sure about hours/week I'm pretty sure that holidays/vacations are relatively on par.

I personally would prefer vacation and holiday schedules on par with a number of European countries, than the money of the United States. It would give me more time to spend with my wife after I get married next summer and more time to devote to a family in the future. A man can dream can't he?

David :cool:


I'm with you on the work schedule and what constitutes quality of life. I used to average 65 hour weeks and didn't take a vacation for about 6 years. I cut back because I decided that I'd rather have a life than just accumulate wealth. Yes, Americans tend to be materialistic and wasteful. But generally, they work like dogs (and unfortunately, often accumulate debt) to get all that "stuff." Australians are welcome to compete and can probably do so, if Japan and South Korea are any indicators.

I didn't take any of the comments personally, so no worries there. I was just questioning the newsworthiness of this article. If anything the Aussies often come across as arrogant and egotistical. Like how they jumped at my post when I was simply stating fact. Then again, maybe that thinking is just because I happen to have The World Series of Poker on tv right now and I'm having the pleasure of hearing a small group of Aussies shouting "aussie aussie aussie oi oi oi!" over and over. ;)

[macidiot]

macidiot if you posted the article through the standard submitting chanels it would then become a discussion forum like all the other articles. That might help you a bit more.:)

I've tried submitting(both to macrumors and macbytes) before to no avail. Maybe its because I'm not Australian ;)

[mad jew]

Maybe its because I'm not Australian ;)


Not everyone's perfect. :)

[macidiot]

Not everyone's perfect. :)


lol. :) Actually I am very curious about where macrumors and macbytes originates from. There seems to be a sizable Aussie, Kiwi, and UK representation. But for the life of me I can not locate the information anywhere on Macrumors or Macbytes. All I can find are email addresses.

[mad jew]

It's definitely the USA, Chicago rings a bell. :)

It's kinda irrelevant where the servers are though, this is the internet.

*X-Files music*

[GorillaPaws]

GorillaPaws makes an excellent point, probably the most accurate and level-headed of the thread, but I just had to point this out. :o

LOL. That may be one of the stupidest errors of my life (I had been up most of the night and was very tired). I'm so glad you caught that! Anyways thanks for the compliment. I love Aussies in general after I got drunk w/ a bunch of them in a shady bar on a trip to London a couple of years ago.

[macidiot]

It's definitely the USA, Chicago rings a bell. :)

It's kinda irrelevant where the servers are though, this is the internet.

*X-Files music*


Thanks for the info. I couldn't find it anywhere. Yeah, it is sort of irrelevant. But I was curious.

[winmacguy]

I've tried submitting(both to macrumors and macbytes) before to no avail. Maybe its because I'm not Australian ;)
Thank God! neither am I:D :p Other wise my only good international sports team would be my cricket team:eek: :D

[winmacguy]

lol. :) Actually I am very curious about where macrumors and macbytes originates from. There seems to be a sizable Aussie, Kiwi, and UK representation. But for the life of me I can not locate the information anywhere on Macrumors or Macbytes. All I can find are email addresses.
Mudbug hosts Macbytes out of Lousiana (hope I spelt it correctly?), Not sure where Arn hosts Macrumors from...?

[winmacguy]

LOL. That may be one of the stupidest errors of my life (I had been up most of the night and was very tired). I'm so glad you caught that! Anyways thanks for the compliment. I love Aussies in general after I got drunk w/ a bunch of them in a shady bar on a trip to London a couple of years ago.
Very easily done:) The Aussies and us Kiwis tend to do the big OE (Overseas Experience for 2-4 years) usually during our 20's when we base our collective selves in assorted flats in and around London, get temp jobs in accounting, teaching, IT, in pubs and anywhere else that we can earn a few quid. Then we take off in droves, Kombi vans and Contiki tour buses to see the wonders of modern and ancient Europe and to meet and get 'aquainted' with the local population and to sample the many local brews that abound in pubs across the continent, we make our pilgrimage to the shores of Gallipoli to pay homeage to the ANZACs (Australian, New Zealand Army Corps) who gave their lives at ANZAC cove in Turkey and then ever so much more worldly experienced we return home to our respective countries.:)

[deanbo]

Hmm, is this really news? Or worthy of macrumors page one? No offense but I have to think that Australia is a marginal market at best. I'm thinking its a smaller market than Los Angeles. I get that macrumors has a "down under" bias for some reason, but how about something a little more relevant? Please don't turn macrumors into another macbytes, linking to articles from Australian and New Zealand news outlets. Often days or weeks after the original(and identical) story appeared in America.

FYI, here's something newsworthy... How about the fact that the Wall St. Journal is reporting that NBC/Universal is "very close" to signing a deal to provide tv content on iTunes. And the source is the CEO of NBC/Universal. And guess what? This news is actually current.

I think that you've pissed off more than a few people with those sorts of comments (including myself). I know that Weezer sells more records per capita in New Zealand than anywhere else in the world (probably why there are so many posts about the Australian iTMS), and Australia and NZ combined buys more than a few iPods and Macs. Maybe if you pulled your head out of your ass for more than 30 seconds a day you might have realised that.

[xrayzed]

Americans have the most wealth. But we also work harder and put in longer hours than anyone else to get that wealth. That's not being jingoistic, its reality.

If anything the Aussies often come across as arrogant and egotistical. Like how they jumped at my post when I was simply stating fact.
OECD Factbook 2005
Economic, Environmental and Social Statistics

Graph: Actual hours worked, hours per year per person in employment, 2003
http://miranda.sourceoecd.org/vl=4032695/cl=13/nw=1/rpsv/factbook/10-02-01-g01.gif

[winmacguy]

A little bit of research goes a looooooong way.;)

[JordanNZ]

Ha :)

[unknownfairy]

hehe. brilliant, xrayzed.