iTMS Now Available in the UK, France & Germany

[MacRumors]

Announced in London today, an abridged version of the European iTunes Music Store is now available in the UK, France & Germany, with plans to open to the rest of Europe in October of this year. Using the already released iTunes 4.6 in localized versions for the UK (http://www.apple.com/uk/itunes), France (http://www.apple.com/fr/itunes) and Germany (http://www.apple.com/de/itunes) users can download from the same 700,000+ song catalog available in the United States at prices of €0.99 and £0.79. Release of the iTMS in Europe was previously reported (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=75479).

“The number one online music store in the world has finally come to the UK, France and Germany,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “With a huge catalogue of over 700,000 songs, breakthrough prices of just €0.99 and £0.79 per song and seamless integration with Apple’s wildly popular iPod, we think this is the digital music store that Europe has been waiting for.”

More information is available in a press release (http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2004/jun/15itunes.html) from Apple. There is no word on a release date for a Canadian version.

[TBR]

79p a song.....Not bad at all.

Hope there is a blaze of publicity but I doubt it, there never is in the UK outside of London!

Oh found a spelling mistake, there's one audiobook by Tery Pratchett not Terry Prachett :)

[joeconvert]

Well, it's done. No need to keep asking when.

[lou tsee]

99 cents! that's great news!!

now waiting for switzerland to join :/

[jcshas]

One word - "FINALLY!"

[johnnyjibbs]

I've bought 5 songs already!

Glad we can access the whole store! And 79p a song is not bad. Nor's £7.99 an album, although I'll probably still use Play.com

I can see Canadians, and Europeans not in UK, France or Germany a little annoyed though. Oh and Australians. :(

[mattthemutt]

Aww man! I was so excited that iTunes was gonna be in Canada. I hope Apple and that music board thing get their asses in gear! :mad:

[~Shard~]

Excellent news, glad to see it's finally a reality! I am plesantly surprised by the price point as well, I think many people will find this reasonable, especially compared to the 1.29 Euro price rumor that was being thrown around earlier.

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Why do the rest of us here in Europe have to wait until October...??? That's just not fair......

[mattthemutt]

Excellent news, glad to see it's finally a reality! I am plesantly surprised by the price point as well, I think many people will find this reasonable, especially compared to the 1.29 Euro price rumor that was being thrown around earlier.

Aren't you upset that its not in Canada?

[freddiecable]

hm...still waiting...ah well - who gives a rats a** about sweden?

[Stella]

At last, the iTMS goes international...

There are several things that are worrying me about iTMS however:

Other stores seem, particularly, Napster seem to be aggressively getting bulk customers, particularly, universities, NTL in the UK (which have broadbrand services) as others. What are apple doing? Nothing, or very little - it seems! BWM - a small market, and HP with iPod.

I can see Napster getting ahead due to this, and because its compatible with more players.. If iPod wasn't so successful then iTunes wouldn't be as success I'd suspect. Say if Napster do get ahead and iTMS start dropping market share significantly then Apple may choose to license out fairplay to give other stores iPod compatibility, but this will be too little, to late. They should do it now. After all, wasn't iTMS just to boost sales of iPod? What are Apple losing by licensing fairplay and making iPods compatibility with other stores?

Anyway, having got a UK switchcard, I've bought some music and I'm really impressed with iTMS, its so easy to browse ( which I've done before, of course) and to buy the music. Absolutely no hassles whatsoever. However, I'm going to have to be careful, the UK <-> CAN exchange rate isn't so good!! It'll be expensive.

BUT WTF - No Steps!!!???

Please Canada next!

[Skiniftz]

All I can say is, ABOUT ****ING TIME!!!!!!111eleven

Stupid record labels making us wait. :mad:

[the silver fox]

Now all they need to do is a healthy level of advertising in the UK and they may actually get somewhere!

Well done Apple on getting round the legal.

[danieluk]

[nitro]

79p is a lot better than most people were expecting but Has anyone noticed that France and Germany (and the rest of europe when they get it) will only be paying 66p

[Stella]

Its been said a few times on this board - some one from the music board posts here -sorry, I've forgotten his name. Anyway, He says all the negogations for the artists have concluded... its Apple dragging their heals.

Aww man! I was so excited that iTunes was gonna be in Canada. I hope Apple and that music board thing get their asses in gear! :mad:

[trigger]

Yeah, so that's Apple's so-called Europe? I'm not even surprised considering that they can't even get their non-English characters right in their operating system... but they do alot of other things well so I guess we have to forgive them....

One angry non-iTMS customer from Iceland...

[Skiniftz]

79p is a lot better than most people were expecting but Has anyone noticed that France and Germany (and the rest of europe when they get it) will only be paying 66p
Hey it's not known as "rip off Britain" for nothing you know.

[JFreak]

Why do the rest of us here in Europe have to wait until October...??? That's just not fair......

that probably means no mini ipods before october? well, i can hope having one for christmas ;) i'm kind of sad now because the itms europe wasn't an euro launch but only pathetic three-big store.

how about itms US that is available only to california and florida? wouldn't be good. there are americans in texas also ;) oh well...

this might not be apple's fault, but still, i expected being able to buy some songs today. didn't happen.

[littlejim]

Now all they need to do is a healthy level of advertising in the UK and they may actually get somewhere!

Well done Apple on getting round the legal.

I think I read on Macworld.co.uk that billboards were across London as from this morning.

And iTMS UK has just had a good few minutes exposure on the BBC one o'clock news - complete with loads of shots of iPods, footage of Steve J. and a good quota of interviews with dumb teenagers!

[iGav]

79p is a lot better than most people were expecting but Has anyone noticed that France and Germany (and the rest of europe when they get it) will only be paying 66p

it's down to taxes, blame the government for that... ;)

[AmigoMac]

I wanted to buy some of the songs I saw before the european iTMS (1 month ago) and they are not there anymore :( ... Just wanted to buy some latin/tropical music and a lot of artist frames are just EMPTY!!!

if I browse (Shakira is listed 2 times) and some other people up to 3 times ... and all of them EMPTY... What's going on with the music from 1 month ago...? :(

But good, I bought already 5 and counting ;)

[iChan]

I've bought 5 songs already!

Glad we can access the whole store! And 79p a song is not bad. Nor's £7.99 an album, although I'll probably still use Play.com

I can see Canadians, and Europeans not in UK, France or Germany a little annoyed though. Oh and Australians. :(

irish and japanese are pretty annoyed too!!!! (me!)

[JFreak]

79p is a lot better than most people were expecting but Has anyone noticed that France and Germany (and the rest of europe when they get it) will only be paying 66p

maybe you stupid english people should finally begin using euro :D :D :D

(can you take a joke?)

[curmi]

There is no word on a release date for a Canadian version.

Or an Australian version.
Or a New Zealand version.
Or a Japanese version...

Perhaps you guys have forgotten that there are more countries in the world than just the US, Britain, France, Germany and Canada (when you remember Canada which is rare)...

[uv23]

Hmm no iTunes Canada, no international iPod Mini. What a dissapointment...

[littlejim]

Now ... can us Brits (and Germans and French) play on DailyTunes.com please :)

[Stella]

Hmmm.... London London ****ing London. Billboards in London, so that is effective UK advertising!

The UK consists more than ****ing London! Really, the UK does not consist of just London! It grinds me when people ask
"Are you from London?"
"When are you going back to London?"
Or

"I've been to England, I went to London (and no where else)".

Sorry, I'll get off my stool.


I think I read on Macworld.co.uk that billboards were across London as from this morning.

And iTMS UK has just had a good few minutes exposure on the BBC one o'clock news - complete with loads of shots of iPods, footage of Steve J. and a good quota of interviews with dumb teenagers!

[g4cubed]

3 countries, that's all, all my friends in Canada are pissed

[voncheech]

i am in the usa and wanted to download some french hiphop (ex. IAM), only to find i can preview it, but not buy it!!! when can the usa get axcess to european artists....?

[filipp]

hm...still waiting...ah well - who gives a rats a** about sweden?

I hear ya man
This sux.. I was all ready to start buying music.. but NOOOO :mad:

[DGFan]

What are Apple losing by licensing fairplay and making iPods compatibility with other stores?


What you suggest takes resources. There are limited (qualified) resources at Apple's disposal. So implementing what you suggest would cost Apple opportunities to work on other things. That is what they would lose.

Yes, I came up with this all by myself, but Jobs also seems to agree with me (read yesterday's WSJ).

[danieluk]

[Machead III]

In regards to the Euro comment: I wish we bloody would, you have no idea how humiliating it is to have the QUEEN on every one of our legal tenders...

Anyway, the apple.com site is down for me, is it just my ISP?

[jamesbulman]

It's great that iTMS UK has launched and the pricing is sensible (everyone remember when it was going to be £1.09!!!) but what the hell has happened to the music catalog? There is so much stuff missing from iTMS UK that you can get in iTMS US.

This is really not good :(

[DGFan]

I wanted to buy some of the songs I saw before the european iTMS (1 month ago) and they are not there anymore :( ... Just wanted to buy some latin/tropical music and a lot of artist frames are just EMPTY!!!

if I browse (Shakira is listed 2 times) and some other people up to 3 times ... and all of them EMPTY... What's going on with the music from 1 month ago...? :(

But good, I bought already 5 and counting ;)

Seems like they can't handle the load. Heck, I can't even get to apple.com this morning. It just times out.

[the061]

Hmmm.... London London ****ing London. Billboards in London, so that is effective UK advertising!

The UK consists more than ****ing London! Really, the UK does not consist of just London! It grinds me when people ask
"Are you from London?"
"When are you going back to London?"
Or

"I've been to England, I went to London (and no where else)".

Sorry, I'll get off my stool.

Couldn't agree more. What most people fail to realise too, is that London is one of Britain's nastiest cities :p

I guess word will spread faster elsewhere anyway. People aren't so out of touch outside the capital. :D

[iGav]

Hmmm.... London London ****ing London. Billboards in London, so that is effective UK advertising!


I've seen iPod ad's in Birmingham. ;)

Apple will likely advertise in the press, they're already frequent advertisers in the weekend broadsheets, and then there's targetted magazine advertising as well.

Whether they'll have a TV campaign is another matter, but again that is national coverage if they do.

Expect the tabloids to pick it up as well.

It's not just London that get's the focus of the attention. ;)

[JDOG_]

79p is a lot better than most people were expecting but Has anyone noticed that France and Germany (and the rest of europe when they get it) will only be paying 66p

(Off topic): And you guys pay nearly twice as much for everything in general...I'd be a little angry about that. Us American's whine our heads off about $2.50 gallons of gas while people in the U.K. pay close to $7. It's injustice on a global scale.

(On topic): Does this mean stevie is in London right now?

[caveman_uk]

maybe you stupid english people should finally begin using euro :D :D :D

(can you take a joke?)
Oh don't say that or you'll start kettle...:D

[bob_the_gorilla]

Excellent news, glad to see it's finally a reality! I am plesantly surprised by the price point as well, I think many people will find this reasonable, especially compared to the 1.29 Euro price rumor that was being thrown around earlier.

And this is why we shouldn't bicker about a price that some joker probably plucked out of the air, before we have facts!

[yoman]

Seems like they can't handle the load. Heck, I can't even get to apple.com this morning. It just times out.

I can't get apple.com to load either. This is from the US west coast. hmm...
New hardware? :D

[g4cubed]

i am in the usa and wanted to download some french hiphop (ex. IAM), only to find i can preview it, but not buy it!!! when can the usa get axcess to european artists....?

Couldn't tell you, right now. I just went to apple/uk/itunes and the site is down or I can;t connect to it to check. I was under the impression it was the same :mad: I still am hope for more european bands.

[bob_the_gorilla]

I can't get apple.com to load either. This is from the US west coast. hmm...
New harware? :D

Me neither. It's probably just down from all the people checking about iTMS Europe.

[wowser]

Well, i woke up nice and early (12:30pm) and bought my first ever legally downloaded song - Lou Reed's Who Am I? . I'm just waiting for them to build their collection of Krautrock :p

[MacsRgr8]

Apple has to start somewhere.

I'm happy it has finally launched in Europe. October will be the month the rest of us Europeans can start downloading..... legally. ;)

The rest will follow someday.

[cube]

One has to be really stupid to use this service when one can find CDs in amazon.de which are cheaper than in amazon.com

[Montserrat]

I can't get apple.com to load either. This is from the US west coast. hmm...
New hardware? :D

OOh - down for me now too

New hardware a bit hopeful methinks, but no harm in hoping

Maybe everyone's downloading iTunes after the news today...

[hardon]

LoL watch the abba Video on itms'uk its really funny!!! :)

[bob_the_gorilla]

One has to be really stupid to use this service when one can find CDs in amazon.de which are cheaper than in amazon.com

But, you can't find a CD of a single track for €0.99, and you can't have it immediately :-)

[Mac+1]

Apple must have opened the flood gates. Can't log onto Apple.com website, kept getting either a timeout or server busy, anyone else getting this??

[yoman]

Apple must have opened the flood gates. Can't log onto Apple.com website, kept getting either a timeout or server busy, anyone else getting this??

several of us have reported the same thing on page 2 of this thread.

[cube]

apple.com, apple.fr, apple.de, apple.ch do not work

[wowser]

MUHAHAHA!!! All for Europe ! All for Europe!

First the EU Elections, then Euro 2004, now iTMS! It's a busy week in Europe :)

[centauratlas]

It's injustice on a global scale.


It is called high taxes. (Yes, responding to the OT)

See (for example, http://www.saltspring.com/bobmcginn/gas_tax.htm):
In Europe, where tax revolts are out in the street, the main culprit is the value added tax, hidden at the pump but comprising 76.2% of the price in Britain, 69.1% in France, 56.5% in Italy and 67.9% in Germany. Of course, as the cost of oil goes up, the VAT adds an escalating hidden cost, enriching the governments in question.
Or

That compares to around $2.50 a gallon in taxes in Western Europe. [That was a year ago and it increases as a % of the taxes.]

So, the injustice is self-imposed by the governments.

[JGowan]

I've bought 5 songs already!

Glad we can access the whole store! And 79p a song is not bad. Nor's £7.99 an album, although I'll probably still use Play.com

I can see Canadians, and Europeans not in UK, France or Germany a little annoyed though. Oh and Australians.Enjoy your new music and welcome to the "music store for the rest of us" :p

About all of those still not in the loop... you have to walk before you can run. There must be tons of legal reasons and many hoops of fire they had to jump through to get this far that no one is even aware of. And Apple, though we consider them a big deal, is still a pretty small company in the scheme of things and I think it's great that they've ventured out as far as they have. I'm glad you now can access the stores, guys!

[the061]

apple.com, apple.fr, apple.de, apple.ch do not work

They do all redirect to the .com/** site though, so they are working on their servers, its just the .com thats down.

[MikeTheC]

Hmm no iTunes Canada, no international iPod Mini. What a dissapointment...

I keep hearing about this country called, uh what was it again, oh yes, Canada. Anyone here know where it is? Last I heard, the only thing north of the U.S. was snow, ice, and polar bears... :p

[Mac+1]

several of us have reported the same thing on page 2 of this thread.

As is the ITMS store!!!! :eek: Good first impression, NOT!

[JGowan]

... I'll get off my stool.You say that phrase in the UK? In the US, We say "I'll get off my soapbox." A stool generally is either something you sit on or something that comes out of what you sit on. :D

[ScotRobson]

Hi

Anyone published a playlist to iMix yet? I was playing around and published a few songs got a confirmation email but I cant see it listed.

Anyone know why?

Cheers
Scot

[the061]

Hi

Anyone published a playlist to iMix yet? I was playing around and published a few songs got a confirmation email but I cant see it listed.

Anyone know why?

Cheers
Scot

I've published 2. One has appeared the other hasn't yet. I think they just take a while to be approved and sent up.

Shame there aren't more tracks in the store though. It cut mine down to 3 songs!

[oldpismo]

It's not just apple that is down, microsoft is, google was, and lots of others.

It looks like some big DNS problem.

[yoman]

It's not just apple that is down, microsoft is, google was, and lots of others.

It looks like some big DNS problem.

I can load the microsoft site.

[MikeTheC]

Seems like they can't handle the load. Heck, I can't even get to apple.com this morning. It just times out.

Wow! This is a first. I'm in Florida and I can't even get on apple.com.

[oldpismo]

All I get is -

Service Unavailable - DNS failure
The server is temporarily unable to service your request. Please try again later.

or redirected to www.microsoft.com.org???

[Montserrat]

Maybe someone trying to hijack the iTunes Europe party?

Or alternatively someone clicked the wrong cryptic message in Windows bringing half the world to a halt.

[UKMacBod]

(Off topic): And you guys pay nearly twice as much for everything in general...I'd be a little angry about that. Us American's whine our heads off about $2.50 gallons of gas while people in the U.K. pay close to $7. It's injustice on a global scale.

(On topic): Does this mean stevie is in London right now?

Yep, he's in London. If you have a look at:

http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index.cfm?NewsID=8911

You'll see he gave the speech on stage.

[eSnow]

Anything outside the mainstream is very scarce or completely missing. I just checked some of the music I am listening to:

- 2raumwohnung (german pop): nothing
- Wir sind Helden (german retro pop): 2 songs
- MC Solar (french rapper): nothing
- Anne Clark (80's electronica): one album
- Neoangin (german elektronica): nothing.

[bob_the_gorilla]

Google works erratically. Interestingly, iTunes.com works enough to redirect you to apple - which then times out, of course.

[kansast]

Been reading all the reports of apple.com being down.. NOT GOOD.. bad timing to say the least. I was however able to reach iTMS with iTunes. Maybe they shut down traffic to webservers temporarily to allow more access to iTMS ?

[whooleytoo]

irish and japanese are pretty annoyed too!!!! (me!)

Yeah, I'm quite surprised it isn't open in Ireland. No need to localize for language (to be sure.. ;) ), they obviously can already handle euros, and I'm sure the licensing laws are tied in with the UK music industry..

[MikeTheC]

It's not just apple that is down, microsoft is, google was, and lots of others.

It looks like some big DNS problem.

Yup, every one you've mentioned I can't get to here in the U.S., either.

[caveman_uk]

I can load the microsoft site.
I can't. UK based sites seem OK though :confused:

[yoman]

apple.com is up here in western US

[NicoMan]

it's down to taxes, blame the government for that... ;)

I'd say that france and Germany's taxes are higher, no?

[Redflame]

Well, first viewing of the UK Store show's a limited range. Certainly not as extensive as the US one. So if there are 700,000 tracks available to UK users, what are they using to make up for the shortfall of those we can't buy?
I did the 'Oasis' album test.
8 available to US
5 to France and Germany
0 to UK
Shurely shome mistake!

Also, any ideas if Apple will be streaming the 'event' through QT?

hoping for better things

[jamesfowler2k]

me brought 1 album already U2 joshua Tree :> few others i want too :>

[NicoMan]

Or an Australian version.
Or a New Zealand version.
Or a Japanese version...

Perhaps you guys have forgotten that there are more countries in the world than just the US, Britain, France, Germany and Canada (when you remember Canada which is rare)...

Well once in a while I do remember about Sweden... :D

[NicoMan]

I did the 'Oasis' album test.
8 available to US
5 to France and Germany
0 to UK
Shurely shome mistake!


Thank God for that!!!

[Xenious]

I keep hearing about this country called, uh what was it again, oh yes, Canada. Anyone here know where it is? Last I heard, the only thing north of the U.S. was snow, ice, and polar bears... :p

Canada eh? Whats all that aboot? ;)

I love dishing it out to my french canadian friends as much as they love dishing it out to me on the US. A good time.

[iGav]

I can't. UK based sites seem OK though :confused:

Microsoft is working fine for me... as is Apple.com so is the UK site and iTMS.

[grouse]

It is an ABSOLUTE disaster that they have allowed switch and solo payments, totally irresponsible. I now have about £70 less in my account, and there's so much more I need! to buy.

For the moment, I'm quite pleased with the content and that a lot of the US content is here, for broadening my mind, but there are some odd things... My personal hero, Elvis Costello, is hardly here, but his latest three albums are in the US (!?) (WTF?). Obviously no Radiohead, for reasons they've stated, lep zep? Supergrass? Manics and the flagged up lack of Coldplay and Travis and such due to Apple pulling a fast one on the independents (I find it hard to believe that after a bit of brinkmanship from both sides, they won't all sort it out). The lack of mention for the rest of the world is rather poor though. He could at least say, sorry folks, we're having a bit of trouble here...

Anyway I wandered past the launch on my way to a meeting, my offices are just across the river, I couldn't force my way in, but there was a very healthy media scrum, I did see his Steveness, but by hangin round the back I saw a stretch green rolls royce deposit Ms Keys and friends at the back of the old market., Sorry, no pics...

I can confirm there are about 30 billboards on the building, and these are all clearly visable from the river, though I don't know how long they'll stay there, I'll try and get a pic...

Have fun you lucky folks!

xxx

[Redflame]

Thank God for that!!!

As I said, it was just a test!

[iGav]

I'd say that france and Germany's taxes are higher, no?

I thought our VAT was higher??

[Karlchen]

79p is a lot better than most people were expecting but Has anyone noticed that France and Germany (and the rest of europe when they get it) will only be paying 66p

One more reason for the UK to join the EURO-zone...
ITMS-ing works great here in Germany..
Good job, Jobs...
:-)

[DJY]

I can see Canadians, and Europeans not in UK, France or Germany a little annoyed though. Oh and Australians. :(

I don't know if we will EVER see a local iTMS here (in Australia)

[jamesfowler2k]

Why is there no radiohead do you know above poster? cheers i was looking for em a min ago

[nsb3000]

It is called high taxes. (Yes, responding to the OT)

See (for example, http://www.saltspring.com/bobmcginn/gas_tax.htm):
In Europe, where tax revolts are out in the street, the main culprit is the value added tax, hidden at the pump but comprising 76.2% of the price in Britain, 69.1% in France, 56.5% in Italy and 67.9% in Germany. Of course, as the cost of oil goes up, the VAT adds an escalating hidden cost, enriching the governments in question.
Or

That compares to around $2.50 a gallon in taxes in Western Europe. [That was a year ago and it increases as a % of the taxes.]

So, the injustice is self-imposed by the governments.

<offtopic>
Its true. When you look at base gas prices and compare, say the UK and the United States without the taxes, we both pay about the same at the pump.

However, I think the UK has the right idea hear, given all the costs to society of driving an automobiles that are not accounted for in the US system. It makes sense to put a strong incentives in place to encourage drivers to efficient with their how they use their cars, and it also created the revenue necessary for a effective mass transit system, which is better for everybody.


</offtopic>

[steve-not-jobs]

(Off topic): And you guys pay nearly twice as much for everything in general...I'd be a little angry about that. Us American's whine our heads off about $2.50 gallons of gas while people in the U.K. pay close to $7.

Just to be pedantic;
As an Englishman in the US I know how you guys think everything is Bigger and Better here - but a real (Imperial) gallon (like we have in the rest of the world) is Bigger than a US gallon - 1 US Gallon = 0.8327 Imperial Gallon.
So technically the US $2.50 a gallon is more like $3.00 a gallon.
$7 in the UK still hurts, but its nothing compared to clothes, electronics etc etc
I think the UK should dump Europe and sign up for the $ and US taxes - looking forward to the GBP 0.55 iTunes track.
Started converting my family in the UK to Macs - but they are really getting impatient for the mini iPods..............

[nsb3000]

Well once in a while I do remember about Sweden... :D

Don't forget Mexico, Brazil, China, South Africa, and Argentina either...

[MikeTheC]

Sorry, this is somewhat off-topic, but given the discussion already underway here regarding currency, I have a question of my own.

Hey folks from Europe, I've got a question. Now that (apart from England) the Euro is your universal currency, what are the names for the different denominations? Example: $1 is "one dollar", and slang for dollar is "buck". If something is a fraction of a dollar, say $.50 (50¢), it is "50 cents". Now, I know in England, their slang for pound is "quid", and AFAIK, they refer to fractions of £1 as "pence" (SP?). In common usage here in the states, if something were to cost, say $1.50, we would say "one dollar and 50 cents" or "one dollar 50" and, unless I'm mistaken (by all means, folks, feel free to correct me), in England if something were £1.50 they would say "one pound 50". How does this work with Euros?

BTW, is there an explanation behind "quid"?

Thanks!

[iGav]

they refer to fractions of £1 as "pence" (SP?).

pence yes... but most say 'p' or pee as opposed to pence. ;)

[grouse]

Why is there no radiohead do you know above poster? cheers i was looking for em a min ago

'cos like Supergrass I think, they don't want parts of their albums downloaded without the full album, to do with the concept of an album (a bit like Mozart saying you can't have just the slow movement, you need the whole thing to appreciate my string quartets), although I have noticed that certain albums on the UK store, don't allow you to download every track, just one or two and list the others with a BUY ALBUM button beside them, same with some of the classical (for the classical it's a price thing, since a symphony may only have "four tracks/movements" it would be a little too good to be true to buy the whole symphony for 79p x 4.)

I haven't heard any more from the oxford lads for about six months on this issue, but I hope it changes, although I do in fact own on CD all the radiohead money can buy...

[mklos]

Aren't you upset that its not in Canada?


Who cares about Canada! Obviously not Apple!

[NicoMan]

It is called high taxes. (Yes, responding to the OT)

See (for example, http://www.saltspring.com/bobmcginn/gas_tax.htm):
In Europe, where tax revolts are out in the street, the main culprit is the value added tax, hidden at the pump but comprising 76.2% of the price in Britain, 69.1% in France, 56.5% in Italy and 67.9% in Germany. Of course, as the cost of oil goes up, the VAT adds an escalating hidden cost, enriching the governments in question.
Or

That compares to around $2.50 a gallon in taxes in Western Europe. [That was a year ago and it increases as a % of the taxes.]

So, the injustice is self-imposed by the governments.

My 2 cents on that slightly off-topic subject. It's not that the European prices of petrol are too high, it's that the US price is way too low. It's an aberration. The government should be levying enormous taxes on it to pay for environmental damage from all those oil-guzzling SUVs (it's an example). But the petrol lobby is way too powerful in the US (Bush - check, Cheney - check, etc...) and the american people love their trucks way too much for that to happen.
So, Europeans rejoice, you are doing some good (even though the cash levied by European governments' tax on petrol does not go to the protection of the environment).

Oh well... Let's go back to lighter matters. Where is my Powerbook G5?? :)

[GregA]

I don't know if we will EVER see a local iTMS here (in Australia)It's a shame eh. It's not that we believe we'll take a while... we actually believe it will NEVER be released here - same as for the iPhoto printing options.

It's a VERY good argument for allowing other music stores to sell AACs!

[NicoMan]

Sorry, this is somewhat off-topic, but given the discussion already underway here regarding currency, I have a question of my own.

Hey folks from Europe, I've got a question. Now that (apart from England) the Euro is your universal currency, what are the names for the different denominations? Example: $1 is "one dollar", and slang for dollar is "buck". If something is a fraction of a dollar, say $.50 (50¢), it is "50 cents". Now, I know in England, their slang for pound is "quid", and AFAIK, they refer to fractions of £1 as "pence" (SP?). In common usage here in the states, if something were to cost, say $1.50, we would say "one dollar and 50 cents" and, unless I'm mistaken (by all means, folks, feel free to correct me), in England if something were £1.50 they would say "one pound 50". How does this work with Euros?

BTW, is there an explanation behind "quid"?

Thanks!

€1.50 would be 1 euro 50 or 1 euro 50 cents. But that's in english. In french it goes 1 euro 50 or 1 euro 50 centimes (like with the now-defunct franc). I think the jargon is country-specific.

[wowser]

The government should be levying enormous taxes on it to pay for environmental damage from all those oil-guzzling SUVs (it's an example).


Somehow i think that's the last thing Bush's government would be spending the taxes on

[danieluk]

[b.k.jackson]

A previous poster was correct - it's not Apple that's down, it's Akami having problems. Many large sites (like Apple, Microsoft, Google) have their content cached by Akami.....

So not Apple - but the timing does suck :(

Brian

[NicoMan]

Don't forget Mexico, Brazil, China, South Africa, and Argentina either...
I have yet to visit Brazil, China and Argentina. I don't think it's gonna happen now (my son is one month old). It's hard enough to get some sleep, let alone think about exotic places... :)

[NicoMan]

Somehow i think that's the last thing Bush's government would be spending the taxes on

I would be deluding myself if I thought otherwise...

[rvernout]

In common usage here in the states, if something were to cost, say $1.50, we would say "one dollar and 50 cents" or "one dollar 50" and, unless I'm mistaken (by all means, folks, feel free to correct me), in England if something were £1.50 they would say "one pound 50". How does this work with Euros?

1 euro = 100 cents
€1.50 = "one fifty", "one euro fifty" or "one euro and fifty cents"

It's that simple, pretty much the same as in the US. There are no slang words for the euro that I know of (yet).

[Jack White]

article on nme
http://www.nme.com/news/108835.htm

with pic of itunes saying '#1 music download store'

[NOV]

Sorry, this is somewhat off-topic, but given the discussion already underway here regarding currency, I have a question of my own.

Hey folks from Europe, I've got a question. Now that (apart from England) the Euro is your universal currency, what are the names for the different denominations? Example: $1 is "one dollar", and slang for dollar is "buck". If something is a fraction of a dollar, say $.50 (50¢), it is "50 cents". Now, I know in England, their slang for pound is "quid", and AFAIK, they refer to fractions of £1 as "pence" (SP?). In common usage here in the states, if something were to cost, say $1.50, we would say "one dollar and 50 cents" or "one dollar 50" and, unless I'm mistaken (by all means, folks, feel free to correct me), in England if something were £1.50 they would say "one pound 50". How does this work with Euros?

BTW, is there an explanation behind "quid"?

Thanks!

I'm afraid we not yet have any names for denominations (at least not here in Holland). We used to have for our previous demoniations like:
stuiver (5 cents)
dubbeltje (10 cents)

but most of the denominations we used to know have now disappeared. Most of our small money transactions are usually paid with so called electronic PIN (debet card) and chip (chip card). Shops usually don't accept the paper denominations higher than € 20, because there are so many falsifications. So this makes me wonder if we'll ever see popular names for Euro denominations.

Yet the Euro itself already has popular "nicknames" but that has much to do with the fact that most people HATE the new currency, because it made our lives 50-100% more expensive.

So in Holland the Euro is often named PLEURO (referring to the disease "pleurisy") en in Germany they name it TEURO (referring to the word "teuer" = "expensive").

So to all British on this board: "Never make the mistake of introducing the Euro in your country!!"

[astray]

Well having perused the UK Itunes store, i must say im disappointed, it seems theres more music worth buying the German store let alone the US one. A friend of mine pointed out to me that Black Eyed Peas don't even have their latest album in the UK store and only a live version of their new single, but it is in the German one. If Apple is to be a success in the Uk they need the big bands such as BEP (had many popular singles this year and last) to be available for purchase to capture the youth market. Furthermore with the absence of many massive UK bands such as Radiohead and even Oasis (available in Germany) not being present they really are going to nosedive. Hopefully they can sort this out soon.

[Jack White]

serach still doesn't work for me :(

[Hattig]

it's down to taxes, blame the government for that... ;)
Except that taxes are higher in France (19.6% compared to our 17.5%) and they are still paying 13p a track less.

[Jack White]

nice to see the Pixies at #1 at the UK Store.

[macridah]

nice. good day if you're a apple share holder :D

I would like it to go to the rest of europe faster, and also asia.

[dogcowx]

I'm still not thrilled that as a U.S. customer I can't buy some of the Euro artists (or Canadian for that matter, when they go live) that aren't "shipping" in the U.S.

MOOF!

[msandersen]

LoL watch the abba Video on itmsuk its really funny!!! :)
Unfortunate acronym! Chuck a hyphen in there, or something! Windows people will have a field day!! :D

[gpedder]

so whats the deal with uk pricing?

1 euro = 66p

why are we in the UK paying more than this??

[rhoughton]

EU VAT on recorded music ranges from 15% to 25% so tax isn't the reason. Also $0.99 + 17.5% = 65p. Also £7.99 seems to be the minimum price. Naxos albums, for instance, are $5.99 or $7.99 (forget which) in the US but the standard £7.99 in the UK.

[ahasver]

I have an American account for the ITMS but I live in Germany. Now I wonder is it possible to have to accounts on one computer? Does anybody have any experience with that?
How about changing the American account to a European?
Would you loose the ability to play the older songs?

[kristianm]

Two things:

Taxes, or VAT, when you buy something inside the EU are based on the selling country. Since apple are selling from luxenburg everyone is paying 3%. Price differences are probably just currency insecurity.

I do not think there is a legal way that apple can stop someone from any other EU country to buy tracks. There is free flow of mechandise and services.

Just my opinion, but I would be really surprise if it is not like this.

[phantompigger]

Clearly, there is not going to be an iTunes Music Store for Canada anytime soon. I mean, if you look at the lead-up to the European iTMS, Jobs and other Apple execs confirmed their intent to bring the store to market months before, making several quotes to the press that iTMS Europe would debut in 2004. Now, with the debut of the store for the UK, France and Germany, Apple has announced that a European Union store will debut in October of this year.

Nothing of that nature has been said about iTunes Canada. There have been no statements from anyone at Apple on the issue at all. The only thing we've heard is that Apple was in meetings with an agency representing Canadian songwriters in the fall of last year.

It now seems to be Apple's intention to make the contents of the US iTMS available to international users, rather than establishing a separate store (and music catalog) for each country. This could very well be the reason that it's taking so long to expand the store to other countries.

And if that's the strategy, it's too bad, really. I'd much rather have a truly Canadian version of the iTunes Music Store that showcased (and promoted) lesser-know artists in Canada, like buck 65 and Widemouth Mason. Sure, you've got the big-name exports on the American iTMS, but how much Alanis Morisette, Avril Lavigne, Sarah McLaughlin and Barenaked Ladies do you really want?

-c

[mklos]

I have an American account for the ITMS but I live in Germany. Now I wonder is it possible to have to accounts on one computer? Does anybody have any experience with that?
How about changing the American account to a European?
Would you loose the ability to play the older songs?


Well you can sign in and out of accounts if you have multiple accounts. Just remember that only certain songs will be able to be played under certain accounts. I don't think there is a way to have more than 1 account going at the same time. If there was then you would be able to listen to everyone elses music that you know the username and password for at the sametime as your music. I would think that would piss the record companies off a little. They already don't really like the sharing feature built into iTunes.

[PeterBonnar]

I can't seem to be able to buy the avril live exculsive e.p cause its not out till the 13th of april..... but it's june already!!!!

i also am able to browse through the artists to audioslave, who have nothing on the store. why oh why if i can't buyt these things are they on the store. Is it to make the UK store look as good as the u.s. but funcation like a microsoft product? :mad:

[TENBLUE7™]

...at last we have it and very good it is too. Be even better in a years time when the catalogue is much bigger.

I think this starts the demise and resulting death of the cd single and maybe album though i'd still prefer a material item to a some data on my mac / iPod, for now anyway.

Bought the pixies track as well - it'd be rude not to.

Welcome to the future?

[Jack White]

how much Alanis Morisette, Avril Lavigne, Sarah McLaughlin and Barenaked Ladies do you really want?

-c

None. None at all.

[Stike]

One has to be really stupid to use this service when one can find CDs in amazon.de which are cheaper than in amazon.com
Completely wrong...

The Calling - Two
Amazon.de : 14.99
iTMS: 9.99

And free shipping at amazon starts at 20 Eur....

[Abstract]

Well, first viewing of the UK Store show's a limited range. Certainly not as extensive as the US one. So if there are 700,000 tracks available to UK users, what are they using to make up for the shortfall of those we can't buy?
I did the 'Oasis' album test.
8 available to US
5 to France and Germany
0 to UK
Shurely shome mistake!

Also, any ideas if Apple will be streaming the 'event' through QT?

hoping for better things

Sorry about my stupid question, but since I'm a Canadian living in Australia (ie: I'll NEVER get the iTMS at this rate :( ), how can you go to the iTMS America, iTMS UK, and the other 2 iTMS stores? I thought it was country specific. I'm trying to get into any of the iTMS stores right now using iTunes, and I can't.

And the music catalogues aren't identical, are they? I'm only asking because all the stores have 700 000 songs, and yet people complain about not being able to find certain albums on iTMS UK.

EDIT: Okay, I've figured it out. I can get into any of the stores in Australia, but I can't buy songs. However, can someone in the US enter the French store and buy songs at 0.99 Euros?

[hardon]

Unfortunate acronym! Chuck a hyphen in there, or something! Windows people will have a field day!! :D

have done, sorry about that lol

:eek:

[Zaty]

In the offical press release Apple states that a "EU version of of the iTMS" will launch in October. I can only hope that Switzerland (as well as Norway and Iceland)will also get access to iTMS when it opens for the rest of Europe. Legally, I don't see a problem at least for Switzerland because I can buy software or books from German or German based companies (e.g amazon.de) without any problems. So come on bring it on for the hole continent!

http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2004/jun/15itunes.html

[painimies]

hm...still waiting...ah well - who gives a rats a** about sweden?

The soccer watching public. Nice job, guys.
...AND this is coming from Finland!

Regarding the ITMS Europe. I've been wondering how I could persuade my uncle living in Paris to give me his credit card information. :)
I'd got tons to spend, literally.

[Stella]

Nope, the music catalogues are not the same. I've found music that isn't available on the US store, but is on the UK store..

Others say the same, for example the posting about Oasis - none on UK, but is available on German store.

And the music catalogues aren't identical, are they? I'm only asking because all the stores have 700 000 songs, and yet people complain about not being able to find certain albums on iTMS UK.

No you can't.

EDIT: Okay, I've figured it out. I can get into any of the stores in Australia, but I can't buy songs. However, can someone in the US enter the French store and buy songs at 0.99 Euros?

[kettle]

Oh don't say that or you'll start kettle...:D

That would be too easy :)

although, paying less for iTunes is about the only semi sane argument to be put in favour of a Federal Superstate. If only I could dumb myself down far enough to actually swallow the sweeteners.

Also, wasn't that a Racist comment from Finland just then?

[littlejim]

article on nme
http://www.nme.com/news/108835.htm

with pic of itunes saying '#1 music download store'
And lead articles on the BBC site (Technology and Entertainment sections)

BBC Entertainment Page (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/default.stm)

[Porchland]

From the press release: "The iTunes Music Store will be releasing its first ever iTunes Originals in-studio series featuring an exclusive recording session and interview clips with Alanis Morissette."

This is a logical and orderly step toward a potentially powerful tool for Apple/iPod/iTunes: vertical integration. As I have written here before, I think signing artists to an Apple-based record label would give Apple a weapon it doesn't already have.

The obstacle will, of course, be the dispute Apple is currently involved in with the Beatles' Apple record label. The reorganization of iPod/iTunes into a business unit is looking more and more (to me anyway) as a potential manuever for spinning off iPod/iTunes in a majority-owned subsidiary of Apple.

This would allow Apple to do two things:

1. Unlock the tremendous value in the iPod and iTunes brands, and

2. Distribute exclusive content without the Beatles burden.

The defection of a major act from one of the Big Five labels -- U2, Radiohead, Dave Matthews Band, etc -- to iPod/iTunes would start things off with a bang. Apple would own the rights to distribute the, say, new U2 album on iTunes, license it to other download services on terms it deems acceptable, license to a CD distributor for in-store sales on terms it deems acceptable, etc.

And after they've sufficiently turned the market upside down, Apple can buy EMI or Warner or whoever at a much better price than what it could get today.

[Jack White]

Completely wrong...

The Calling - Two
Amazon.de : 14.99
iTMS: 9.99

And free shipping at amazon starts at 20 Eur....


i think you'd be really stupid to waste money on the calling

[Porchland]

Nope, the music catalogues are not the same. I've found music that isn't available on the US store, but is on the UK store..

Others say the same, for example the posting about Oasis - none on UK, but is available on German store.

I think these are licensing issues that Apple will get worked out over the coming months.

[kettle]

Also, have you noticed that some of the Artists are only listed in name? If you click them, some of them have no catalogue attached to them.

A little padding out here and there me thinks.

[The Cheat]

Canada eh? Whats all that aboot? ;)

I love dishing it out to my french canadian friends as much as they love dishing it out to me on the US. A good time.

Huh? Who's french Canadian? You do realize most of us don't speak a word of french, right?

[rvernout]

In the offical press release Apple states that a "EU version of of the iTMS" will launch in October. I can only hope that Switzerland (as well as Norway and Iceland)will also get access to iTMS when it opens for the rest of Europe.[/url]

Nope... Steve wants you join the EU first :) The Swiss should hold a referendum after the iTMS is opened for the EU, but not for Switzerland...

[NicoMan]

I can't seem to be able to buy the avril live exculsive e.p cause its not out till the 13th of april..... but it's june already!!!!

i also am able to browse through the artists to audioslave, who have nothing on the store. why oh why if i can't buyt these things are they on the store. Is it to make the UK store look as good as the u.s. but funcation like a microsoft product? :mad:

I don't think it's fully operational yet. Songs are being made available progressively... I think.

[Montserrat]

Does iTMS-UK(!) require iTunes 4.6 or will 4.5 suffice?

As I've already said on these boards, I'm not planning to get APExp, so I haven't bothered with the 4.6 download, although compatibility with iTMS might persuade me....

(iTunes 5.0 at WWDC?!)

[iLilana]

i bet they are still arguing over pricepoint for canada. puretracks is the cheapest and will remain so. I hear A&B Sound are going to do it at well.

[Stike]

i think you'd be really stupid to waste money on the calling
Thats a personal opinion, and I like that music, sorry :p

[tny]

Yeah, so that's Apple's so-called Europe? I'm not even surprised considering that they can't even get their non-English characters right in their operating system... but they do alot of other things well so I guess we have to forgive them....

One angry non-iTMS customer from Iceland...

There are no problems with Unicode in OS X. There are issues with some APPLICATIONS whose authors refused to use ATSUI, and now refuse to use Cocoa, but the OS is fine.

[pgwalsh]

I can see Canadians, a little annoyed though.
:D

Invade Canada...


Yeah... iTMS in Europe...

[Zaty]

Nope... Steve wants you join the EU first :) The Swiss should hold a referendum after the iTMS is opened for the EU, but not for Switzerland...

Good idea, but most people in Switzerland don't know iTMS, so that wouldn't change people's opinion on EU membership at all. :(

[Montserrat]

:D

Invade Canada...


Yeah... iTMS in Europe...

"Blame Canada, Blame Canada, with their beady little eyes, tomorrow night we'll see them fry"
- South Park

[rhoughton]

Steve wants you join the EU first

And the UK to join the Euro, it seems.

[iLilana]

Huh? Who's french Canadian? You do realize most of us don't speak a word of french, right?

my whole family is french... I don't speak a word. I can however understand it when it's being yelled at me.

[Jimmni]

I'm feeling pretty insulted that the Americans, French and Germans are all paying 65p for a song, while here in the UK we're expected to pay 79p. And that's taking into account taxes. That's just not even funny. No way in hell am I shopping at the iTunes Music Store UK. My business will continue to go to play.com and AllofMP3.

J

[ts1973]

Well, I'm sorry, for most of Europe this is a letdown : good for France, UK and Germany I suppose. I'll have to wait till October...

[rvernout]

On the bottom of the UK store it says:
© 2004 iTunes S.à.r.l.

So the store is based in Luxembourg indeed. Some stated that there is 3% VAT, but in my view the 3% would apply only to certain basic & essential goods. Wouldn't be music downloads charged the highest rate, which in Luxembourg is 15%?

Has anyone bought something from the store and noticed a VAT statement?

Here's link to an explanation about the EU directive on VAT and electronic services (http://www.amcham.lu/www/pdf/tax04_pwc_evat.pdf)

[Jack White]

Well, I'm sorry, for most of Europe this is a letdown : good for France, UK and Germany I suppose. I'll have to wait till October...
suppsosedly these three countries are 62 per cent of the total market for music, 22 per cent global. So for most of music buying europe it is good news.

[Redflame]

Just seen on BBC News 24 a (very) brief interview with Steve. The reason prices are higher on the UK store is because of our high rate of VAT.
US users don't pay tax on music downloads (apparently).

[rhoughton]

If it was just the VAT it would be $0.99 + 17.5% = 65p

Doesn't explain the difference with Germany and France (69p) where the VAT is a similar level, either.

[rvernout]

Just seen on BBC News 24 a (very) brief interview with Steve. The reason prices are higher on the UK store is because of our high rate of VAT.
US users don't pay tax on music downloads (apparently).

I thought customers in the UK (and in the rest of Europe) would pay the Luxembourg tax, because the store is based in Luxembourg? See my previous post. In the EU you pay VAT in the country of the seller's residence, as opposed to the US where VAT is raised according to the buyer's residence.

[deepkid]

Just seen on BBC News 24 a (very) brief interview with Steve. The reason prices are higher on the UK store is because of our high rate of VAT.
US users don't pay tax on music downloads (apparently).

U.S. citizens do pay taxes on iTMS downloads. I'm not sure if it's state specific or based on Californian sales tax. So a single is .99 USD before tax.

I forgot to add that with regard to buying products online in general in the U.S., often times a company won't charge sales tax, unless they have a physical store in the state that a consumer is purchasing from.

However, Apple had been charging sales tax for online purchases made from my state (Illinois) before they built their retail stores in the Chicago area. I believe it's around 6% or so, while Chicago sales tax is 8.75%.

[the061]

If it was just the VAT it would be $0.99 + 17.5% = 65p

Doesn't explain the difference with Germany and France (69p) where the VAT is a similar level, either.

That's if you treat the US price as cost price. Which it isn't. Remember these labels price differently across the globe, different countries pay different for CD's. Same as different countries will pay different for downloads.

Personally I think its cheap. 79p for a track that you own, for good. That you can move around without unfair DRM. Even for buying an album its still a good price. But for odd tracks that you don't want to buy the album for, or a crappy CD single then its fantastic! :D

[garybUK]

Apple sites being down + lack of music... hmm anyone thought that they maybe syncing the libraries over akamai ?? this would explain the outages... also if they are sending that much data across, MS use Akamai as well, this may be the reason???

[wowser]

This iTunes Music Store is TOO addictive! i keep going back, thinking - just one more track!!!

[snahabed]

I am so confused.

So is each country's store supposed to be the same? That is how the press release read to me.

But there are plenty of inconsistencies. But are the inconsistencies on PURPOSE or are they in the process of making things uniform?

I thought the whole point was to have 1 catalog, and different country localization pages for language and/or particularized marketing.

However, the Ash album, which was released on CD in the UK and not US, is available in the US, not UK store. The Moby anti-war track, is in the UK, and not US store (conspiracy!) :)

[rhoughton]

iTunes hasn't been down at all for me all day (Telewest cable). The fault isn't with Apple.

[wdlove]

U.S. citizens do pay taxes on iTMS downloads. I'm not sure if it's state specific or based on Californian sales tax. So a single is .99 USD before tax.

I forgot to add that with regard to buying products online in general in the U.S., often times a company won't charge sales tax, unless they have a physical store in the state that a consumer is purchasing from.

However, Apple had been charging sales tax for online purchases made from my state (Illinois) before they built their retail stores in the Chicago area. I believe it's around 6% or so, while Chicago sales tax is 8.75%.

I didn't pay any tax on my download. The Internet is supposed to be tax free.

I'm very happy for the UK, France, & Germany. I'm sure that now iTMS is on the continent the other countries will be soon to follow.

[a.j.byrne@wlv.a]

Not quite all of us can use the Store. I've got the standard Co-op Bank Visa debit card: not accepted by the Store. So I can buy actual vinyl records over the web with my card (thanks, action-records.co.uk) but not the latest technology. Thanks, Apple.

[Flowbee]

Well, now I know how the rest of the world felt being able to browse the iTMS but not buy anything. There are a ton of albums I want to buy from iTMS'France, but it won't let me. Arrrgh!

At least I can listen to all of the 30 second previews before ordering the import CD's.

[the061]

Not quite all of us can use the Store. I've got the standard Co-op Bank Visa debit card: not accepted by the Store. So I can buy actual vinyl records over the web with my card (thanks, action-records.co.uk) but not the latest technology. Thanks, Apple.

Visa Electron?

You probably already know that these types of card can't be used virtually anywhere? The electron card has a restriction that means that you have to sign in person for 70% of cards. There is no way Apple could deal with that.

Not their fault, speak to your bank.

[a.j.byrne@wlv.a]

Visa Electron?

You probably already know that these types of card can't be used virtually anywhere? The electron card has a restriction that means that you have to sign in person for 70% of cards. There is no way Apple could deal with that.

Not their fault, speak to your bank.

No, not Visa Electron: that's the one overseas students get if the banks don't trust them. It's just a plain Co-op Visa card, and I've never had a problem paying for anything before: even brand new iBooks (in the happy days when i could afford such things).

[autrefois]

I can't seem to be able to buy the avril live exculsive e.p cause its not out till the 13th of april..... but it's june already!!!!

i also am able to browse through the artists to audioslave, who have nothing on the store. why oh why if i can't buyt these things are they on the store. Is it to make the UK store look as good as the u.s. but funcation like a microsoft product? :mad:

Here's how to get the new "Live Acoustic EP". I don't know if it's an error or not that you can't get it the normal way, but a couple weeks ago I downloaded "don't tell me" this roundabout way and am now downloading a couple more from it, so it still works.

In the search bar, type in "avril lavigne shut me up" (her other live EP). The album cover for that EP will show up in the blue section above the tracks listed. Click on that cover.

In the blue section you'll see a list of Top Rated iMixes. Click on "All of music from Avril Lavigne..."

In there, the "Live Acoustic LP" tracks are listed. You can download them one by one (there are six of them).

Hope that helps! I'm sure there's another way to do it, but that's what worked for me.

Errol

[the061]

Well if Apple took it over their site for the iBook, then it will work. My Apple ID on iTunes is the same one I use to buy kit from the store.

P.S. I am also on a Visa debit card from Nationwide bank, and its fine, so is my girlfriends Barclays version. I really would try again, or speak to your bank.

Teething problems? Maybe.

[rhoughton]

According to Jobs: "The pan-European store [launching in October] will be in English, but will accept orders from across the territory" but there will continue to be local language versions.

macworld.co.uk (http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index.cfm?NewsID=8913)

[mrzippy]

Well I've made several purchases already :)

I have noticed some glitches in the store eg. I click Avril Lavigne exclusive EP advert at top of iTMS window only to get the message '...will be available 13 April 2004' - I take it not available in the UK.

Another glitch is albums seem to show US release date ie. Enigma MCMXC aD shows released 1992 when was released in UK/Europe in 1990.

They have spent so long working out licences for iTMS Europe, you'd have thought they'd have sorted these localisation issues out.

I have found several artists are not there - Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Britney Spears (one single only available - not current UK single), Madonna, Evanescence, Beverly Craven.

I would spend more money if the artists I want were there.

Layout, ease of use and PRICE are VERY good.

Just add more artists! and localise release dates

[kronos2611]

hmm... Well here in the UK I can't get anywhere near the music store - just getting "The store may be busy" errors coming back.... disapointing to say the least.

[manu chao]

Not quite all of us can use the Store. I've got the standard Co-op Bank Visa debit card: not accepted by the Store. So I can buy actual vinyl records over the web with my card (thanks, action-records.co.uk) but not the latest technology. Thanks, Apple.

I guess they simply only take credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club, etc.) not debit cards (like the EC card, now called Maestro, or the Carte Bleue in France).

Confusingly enough, Visa offers (at least in the U.S. and apparently in the UK too) both credit and debit cards.

[LANcaster]

It's about bloody time Apple! :)
Of course this isn't necessarily a good thing as I fear that if I don't watch myself I might spend all of my wages before too soon! Too addictive....

Oh by the way I really have to get this off my chest as I'm totally fed up with it, if you are American you probably make this mistake all the time:

"England" is often used to refer to the United Kingdom, Great Britain, the island of Britain or indeed the British Isles. This misuse of the term is not only incorrect but can cause offense to people from other parts of the UK. For example, someone from Scotland is also British but not English.

It's not hard to get it right really!

[bob_the_gorilla]

I guess they simply only take credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club, etc.) not debit cards (like the EC card, now called Maestro, or the Carte Bleue in France).

Confusingly enough, Visa offers (at least in the U.S. and apparently in the UK too) both credit and debit cards.

Well my Switch (debit) card works just fine in the UK store.

[bob_the_gorilla]

It's about bloody time Apple! :)
Of course this isn't necessarily a good thing as I fear that if I don't watch myself I might spend all of my wages before too soon! Too addictive....

Oh by the way I really have to get this off my chest as I'm totally fed up with it, if you are American you probably make this mistake all the time:

"England" is often used to refer to the United Kingdom, Great Britain, the island of Britain or indeed the British Isles. This misuse of the term is not only incorrect but can cause offense to people from other parts of the UK. For example, someone from Scotland is also British but not English.

It's not hard to get it right really!

Yeah, but the Scottish sold their country :-P

Hehe. I'm proud to be called English, so should you be. Even if you're Scottish! LOL.

[autrefois]

Well, now I know how the rest of the world felt being able to browse the iTMS but not buy anything. There are a ton of albums I want to buy from iTMS'France, but it won't let me. Arrrgh!

At least I can listen to all of the 30 second previews before ordering the import CD's.

How would one go about connecting to the French store? Even though I can't buy from it, I love French music and would like to hear the previews, too.

There's a "morceau exclusif" of Eddy Mitchell apparently, based on the picture here (http://www.apple.com/fr/itunes/store/). I don't like only Eddy Mitchell, but he's definitely one of my faves and I'd like to hear what the song is like.

Merci.

[ingenious]

I can't get apple.com to load either. This is from the US west coast. hmm...
New hardware? :D


Doubt it. I can get Apple.com to load, but the Music Store is unbelieveably slow. <joking> Hey, you crazy Euros! We were here first. :p</joking>

edit: I actually can't get on at all: "The Store may be busy. Please try agaiin later." Hm, the store may be busy... you figure?!?!? LOL

[LANcaster]

Yeah, but the Scottish sold their country :-P

Hehe. I'm proud to be called English, so should you be. Even if you're Scottish! LOL.
Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against England or the English, but I am British, not English and really resent people saying that I am the latter. I don't call Americans Canadian or vice-versa so I just think they should get it right when talking about the British.

[kettle]

Yeah, but the Scottish sold their country :-P

Hehe. I'm proud to be called English, so should you be. Even if you're Scottish! LOL.

Did you know that the correct term for a Scottish person living in England is Scotch?

Now you do... :p

[bob_the_gorilla]

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against England or the English, but I am British, not English and really resent people saying that I am the latter. I don't call Americans Canadian or vice-versa so I just think they should get it right when talking about the British.

I know, I'm only kidding :)

[ITR 81]

I believe iTMS Japan will be online the day the new Osaka Apple Store opens this fall. Approx. around Oct.

They may also open up the rest of Europe on the same dates as well.

I have a feeling iTMS Canada will open before the rest of Europe and Japan.

Then after all these we'll probably see Australia next, then Korea, then maybe the rest of Asian countries.

[ebik]

I was browsing through this thread and read the comments that other users made about the store being down or busy, but when I got on it this morning to check out the new stuff they'd added (it's Tuesday after all) it was mind blowingly slow, but only while browsing. When I actually got to a song page and bought something it downloaded as fast as ever. Is this just because the store is incredibly busy due to the European rollout, or is there some other sinister problem that I'm not aware of?

[rhoughton]

How would one go about connecting to the French store? Even though I can't buy from it, I love French music and would like to hear the previews, too.


There's a drop-down menu at the bottom of the iTMS page.

You can buy from an overseas store if you have an account (credit card?) with a billing address in that country. I wonder, though, if it isn't illegal to be blocked from buying online from another EU state.

[LANcaster]

I know, I'm only kidding
Yeah, I know, but I've started ranting now and there's no stopping me! ;)

Did you know that the correct term for a Scottish person living in England is Scotch?
Actually that's not quite right, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotch .

[rhoughton]

Is this just because the store is incredibly busy due to the European rollout, or is there some other sinister problem that I'm not aware of?

It's been OK all day with me (Telewest cable).

[kronos2611]

The UK Store is now working properly - and extremely quick! Clearly apple have fixed whatever glitch they had... - Buying:-) disappointed that the library is different from the US though

[noxes]

Doubt it. I can get Apple.com to load, but the Music Store is unbelieveably slow. <joking> Hey, you crazy Euros! We were here first. :p</joking>



Can't believe it, a line up at an online store...

Edit:
Forgot my rant about there not being an iTMS Canada
@#$@##%$@#$$^$%$%%$%!^@%^.... :mad:
How long is the flight from London to Ottawa, Maybe Steve is on his way to Canada right now to annouce iTMS Canada :) -wishful speaking.

[bob_the_gorilla]

Yeah, I know, but I've started ranting now and there's no stopping me! ;)

Excellent, never let reality get in the way of a good rant, that's what I always say!

[Flowbee]

How would one go about connecting to the French store? Even though I can't buy from it, I love French music and would like to hear the previews, too.
Merci.

At the very bottom of the iTMS front page there's a 'Choose a store' drop-down menu.

[Edit - someone beat me to it a few posts up.]

[asif3]

Apple sites being down + lack of music... hmm anyone thought that they maybe syncing the libraries over akamai ?? this would explain the outages... also if they are sending that much data across, MS use Akamai as well, this may be the reason???

None of this was Apple's fault. Akamai had a DNS issue so most of the sites hosted on it went titsup. Services may still be slow becuase of the backlog.

[DrGruv1]

More marketshare = less cost in future :)

[Jack White]

we better be getting New Music Monday, not this tuesday rubbish

[autrefois]

There's a drop-down menu at the bottom of the iTMS page.

Thank you! :)

This is so great: I will be able to preview songs and then order albums as import CDs, as Flowbee said. That is, until iTunes becomes completely international...

[asif3]

we better be getting New Music Monday, not this tuesday rubbish

I think 'new music tuesday' sounds better than 'new music monday' - dont you?

[swingerofbirch]

Are the songs available in Europe the exact same ones available here? I was under the impression they were going to be selling songs from European labels.

Is it a European music store that only has music that was originally released in the US?

I would rather have (living in the US) a music store with European catalogs as I sometimes have to pay up to $39 for Swedish imports. Maybe Apple could do something really revolutionary and make a global store that has local tracks, ie tracks usually released only in Sweden, released worldwide.

[Jack White]

I think 'new music tuesday' sounds better than 'new music monday' - dont you?

that's not the point. music comes out here on a monday, and people will expect to be able to get it then.

[rhoughton]

Maybe Apple could do something really revolutionary and make a global store that has local tracks, ie tracks usually released only in Sweden, released worldwide.

That'll depend on the record companies. iTMS is sure to influence how future contracts are drawn up, though.

[autrefois]

Are the songs available in Europe the exact same ones available here? I was under the impression they were going to be selling songs from European labels.

Is it a European music store that only has music that was originally released in the US?

I would rather have (living in the US) a music store with European catalogs as I sometimes have to pay up to $39 for Swedish imports. Maybe Apple could do something really revolutionary and make a global store that has local tracks, ie tracks usually released only in Sweden, released worldwide.

There is a different version for each country. There are country-specific songs and US songs (although based on previous posts not all US songs are on the European stores yet), but you need to have a valid credit card with an address in that country in order to purchase.

If you only have an American card, you can preview songs, watch videos, etc. in one of the 3 European stores (UK, France, Germany), but not purchase anything.

[Trekkie]

Just curious, but as a US citizen I can't check. I take it the Indies are there or was it Indies from your side of the planet that the previous article was talking about?

[asif3]

http://www.apple.com/uk/itunes/store/

if you look at the screenshot on that page, and then look at the top 10 chart, you'll see that half of those songs arent even in the music store - what's going on here? why would apple 'make up' the top 10? or have they just copied that list from the US store or something? I'm confused, but tis made me a bit optimistic about more songs...

[morespce54]

Well, it's done. No need to keep asking when.

Except for other countries... like Canada

Maybe I'll get access to it before I buy my BMW with WiFi and iPod control integrated... ;)

[Stike]

http://www.apple.com/uk/itunes/store/

if you look at the screenshot on that page, and then look at the top 10 chart, you'll see that half of those songs arent even in the music store - what's going on here? why would apple 'make up' the top 10? or have they just copied that list from the US store or something? I'm confused, but tis made me a bit optimistic about more songs...
Those charts are from the US store I guess.
It may be that this is taking quite some time, and the full selection will be available during the coming days. Who knows. Currently it seems the collection is growing hourly...

[asif3]

Currently it seems the collection is growing hourly...

Stike, THANK YOU SOO MUCH! I've been waiting for somebody to say that - I thought it was just wishful thinking on my part.

Hopefully it filled up in the next few days! :)

[Zaid]

Will UK residents be allowed to purchace from the german or french stores?

I've been at work all day, so i've not tried this, anybody else had a go at this?

Question to any lawyers out there:
Is there any legal reason why a UK resident should not be able to buy from the French or german stores?
Doesn't this violate the free movement of goods and services idea?

[asif3]

Will UK residents be allowed to purchace from the german or french stores?

I've been at work all day, so i've not tried this, anybody else had a go at this?

Question to any lawyers out there:
Is there any legal reason why a UK resident should not be able to buy from the French or german stores?
Doesn't this violate the free movement of goods and services idea?

I'm afraid you'll only be able to buy from your designated country (i.e. wherever your address is...)

btw, iTunes stories, clips and reports are all over the UK media now -while watchine the TV today I've seen around 7/7 itunes stories. I imagine the same will happen with tomorrow's newspapers too.

oh, and has anyone seen the new wild postings ad on tv yet?

[rvernout]

Will UK residents be allowed to purchace from the german or french stores?

Is there any legal reason why a UK resident should not be able to buy from the French or german stores?
Doesn't this violate the free movement of goods and services idea?

No, you can't buy abroad, unless you have a credit card of a bank in that country. The credit card number is checked when you try to sign up (I tried it).

In principle it is against the EU rule of free movement of goods and services indeed, but goods or services holding intellectual property rights (such as copyright) are exempt, so then it is legal.

[Stike]

Stike, THANK YOU SOO MUCH! I've been waiting for somebody to say that - I thought it was just wishful thinking on my part.

Hopefully it filled up in the next few days! :)
Its really true, friend. "The Darkness" for example only had liike 3 songs online when I first checked, now some EP and the whole debut album is online.

iTMS EU is pregnant, and the belly is getting bigger and bigger! ;)

[asif3]

Its really true, friend. "The Darkness" for example only had liike 3 songs online when I first checked, now some EP and the whole debut album is online.

iTMS EU is pregnant, and the belly is getting bigger and bigger! ;)


heh, I may jsut hold on until tomorrow to do my shopping then. I want to spend £769 in one day - I wonder if I can do it! :D

some other tidbits:

macworld has photos: http://www.macworld.co.uk/ituneseurope

and, it looks like we can listen to some french & german pop - see attached.

[OutThere]

(Off topic): And you guys pay nearly twice as much for everything in general...I'd be a little angry about that. Us American's whine our heads off about $2.50 gallons of gas while people in the U.K. pay close to $7. It's injustice on a global scale.

That's because the big wigs in the the U.S. are so afraid of what would happen to the american economy if americans couldn't drive their 6 mpg suvs everywhere, and what would happen if people had to pay a lot to fuel their cars, so the gov. subsidises gasoline costs. If that budget ran out over night it would be interesting to see the scene at the gas station the next morning. :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

[applemacdude]

What still no Rammstein?

[caveman_uk]

Its really true, friend. "The Darkness" for example only had liike 3 songs online when I first checked, now some EP and the whole debut album is online.

I hope more's being added because currently nearly everything I look for isn't there or the selection is woeful. Try 'Radiohead', 'Foo Fighters', 'Muse', 'Placebo', 'Nirvana' (1 album only), 'Linkin Park', 'Idlewild' (1 album only), 'The Wall' by Pink Floyd, etc., etc.

There is a lot of Dido though....phew, that's a relief! I've always wanted to complete my collection of dreary, melacholic, PMT-ridden whining! How the hell is she in the 'Rock' Section?!?!?! :eek:

[harrijh]

I hope more's being added because currently nearly everything I look for isn't there or the selection is woeful. Try 'Radiohead', 'Foo Fighters', 'Muse', 'Placebo', 'Nirvana' (1 album only), 'Linkin Park', 'Idlewild' (1 album only), 'The Wall' by Pink Floyd, etc., etc.



I would be suprised to see much Linkin Park. They won't put albums up unless it can only be purchased as an entire album. At least that is what I heard last. I don't know how the Family Values stuff got in the iTMS though.

[trose]

Argh, I wish there was a way to purchase from the French/German stores here in the US. I found a good number of tracks that I had tried to find before on the iTMS-US and weren't available, and lo and behold, there they were today. Then my joy was disrupted when I clicked "Buy Song" and was told I couldn't :(

I must say though, the selection of actual French music in the iTMS-FR is abysmal.
No Mylène Farmer, no Francis Cabrel and even the newer popular pop music like Lorie and Alizée weren't available. Indochine was the first thing I saw though, which was cool, except I already have the handfull of tracks available on the iTMS, I was looking for some older ones :(

[greg75]

In principle it is against the EU rule of free movement of goods and services indeed, but goods or services holding intellectual property rights (such as copyright) are exempt, so then it is legal.
What part of the directive says they're exempt?

[caveman_uk]

I would be suprised to see much Linkin Park. They won't put albums up unless it can only be purchased as an entire album. At least that is what I heard last. I don't know how the Family Values stuff got in the iTMS though..

Yeah, cos like they're such great 'concept albums' aren't they? I'll remember that the next time I listen to 'Nookie' - it's a concept, not just a good thrash about :rolleyes:

...and there's no Slipknot, Rammstein, Supergrass, Franz Ferdinand, Badly Drawn Boy and there's only one (ONE!!!!) PJ Harvey song

[spook]

I've just looked at the Terry Pratchett audio books, come on

£30.99 is just taking th P1ss :eek:

[caveman_uk]

George Orwell's 1984 was £24.99 - Amazon.co.uk have the book for £3.80. Though to be fair audible.com's prices are a rip off too....

[jessefoxperry]

this is sorta unrelated - but will there be a news feed for WWDC like macnews.de had?

[caveman_uk]

What part of the directive says they're exempt?
The bit the record companies just scribbled at the bottom in crayon...

[littlejim]

Well - I've stopped buying for the day!!

I've bought some tracks that I've not heard for years, some that I would never have listened to and an album that I could have bought for about the same price as iTMS, but would have had to wait a couple of days.

My opinion is - I love it ... flaws and all.

Well worth waiting for and in the words of the D:Ream song - "Things can only get better"

... ah ... that song isn't available ....
;)

[spook]

and NO TOLKIEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sacrilege!

anyone checked if the Beatles are on there?

[rvernout]

What part of the directive says they're exempt?

Sorry, I have it at work, I'm at home now. It boils down to the fact that you can use licensing to divide the market geographically.

[trose]

Pfft..

I thought "Cool, I wonder if there is a better Kraftwerk selection on the iTMS-DE than the poor one the iTMS-US has always had..."

Not a single Kraftwerk track on iTMS-DE. :confused:

[littlejim]

and NO TOLKIEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sacrilege!

anyone checked if the Beatles are on there?
Yep -

Hey Jude, Yesterday, All you need is love ...

Unfortunatly performed by James Last!

[asif3]

give it time everyone, they're still adding tracks as we speak. maybe try tomorrow, that's what i'm gonna do.

[Frump]

Lets hope it gets better! half the artists i click on are not listed with any content. So far it's not all that good. It is also not the only option in town!
I suppose it will get better as time goes by but for now it's sort of a let-down. The book selection is also lacking. I know Harry potter is available on tape but not on I-tunes?

[brap]

oh, and has anyone seen the new wild postings ad on tv yet?
Yeah, it's about time Apple got a bit of mainstream media coverage in ol' Blighty.
Does this work with iTunes 4.5?
Yes indeed.
I hope more's being added because currently nearly everything I look for isn't there or the selection is woeful.
See attached image. It's a joke! Ladytron, Skinny Puppy, sure, they can be considered 'indie', but to not carry Kraftwerk in a European music store is outrageous!

[DaBuzz]

Or an Australian version.
Or a New Zealand version.
Or a Japanese version...

Perhaps you guys have forgotten that there are more countries in the world than just the US, Britain, France, Germany and Canada (when you remember Canada which is rare)...

Well, aside from Japan, they've got the 4 biggest economic powers in the world covered (5 if you include California... :-))

I love how people think Apple just has to flip a switch and makes things like iTMS work. I work in IT, and I can only imagine the huge logistics, not to mention political hurdles Apple has had to go through to make this available in the U.S. alone, much less in regulation-happy Europe.

[autrefois]

I must say though, the selection of actual French music in the iTMS-FR is abysmal.
No Mylène Farmer, no Francis Cabrel and even the newer popular pop music like Lorie and Alizée weren't available.

They need to improve selection, you're right. The press release for example mentions by name Eddy Mitchell. He's pictured on the Apple iTunes site as one of the ads in the store.

Guess what—there's only ONE Eddy Mitchell track in the entire store.

There's One Nuttea track. One Lorie track. One Axelle Red track (and a two-song single she did with Renaud). No Gainsbourg. No Bruel. Different styles, different time periods, same small or non-existent selection.

Some artists do have some albums (lots of Piaf, some Brel, some Souchon). But it doesn't seem like there's many, if any, artists where you can get all of their material, or even a worthwhile portion of it.

I have 1400+ French songs from CDs I bought while I was there. That's probably more than iTunes has right now! :D / :(

I'm very happy iTunes has launched, but to compete against other services and illegal downloads, I hope they improve the selection soon. Which means I hope French labels realize the potential iTunes has.

[hob]

Does anyone know if there's a streaming video of Sir Jobs doing his thing - like there always is for WWDC's keynotes etc. I'd really like to see it!!

Also, someone wanted Radiohead? They're not even on the US store mister!

Hob

[DaBuzz]

Will UK residents be allowed to purchace from the german or french stores?

I've been at work all day, so i've not tried this, anybody else had a go at this?

Question to any lawyers out there:
Is there any legal reason why a UK resident should not be able to buy from the French or german stores?
Doesn't this violate the free movement of goods and services idea?

Doesn't the store have the same selection, regardless of which localized version you access? "Localized" version doesn't mean music specific to that country, from what I understand.

[heywhynots]

Here at the university I attend our email has been hit hard since yesterday by the W32.Erkez.B@mm worm. Email messages were getting delayed in delivering for hours in some cases up to a day. It has been resolved. Would this worm slowed the internet in general? You add that ontop of the increased traffic to the iTunes/Apple server due to the opening of iTMS Europe might expalin the troubles people were having earlier in the day.

[voodoofish]

No, you can't buy abroad, unless you have a credit card of a bank in that country. The credit card number is checked when you try to sign up (I tried it).

In principle it is against the EU rule of free movement of goods and services indeed, but goods or services holding intellectual property rights (such as copyright) are exempt, so then it is legal.

I know, the EU is so bizzario, how are they ever gonna make it one common market if there are different music distibuting deals that force something like a non-EU wide iTMS launch to happen? It's just so random how some things are unified but others aren't.

[jholzner]

They need to improve selection, you're right. The press release for example mentions by name Eddy Mitchell. He's pictured on the Apple iTunes site as one of the ads in the store.

Guess what—there's only ONE Eddy Mitchell track in the entire store.

There's One Nuttea track. One Lorie track. One Axelle Red track (and a two-song single she did with Renaud). No Gainsbourg. No Bruel. Different styles, different time periods, same small or non-existent selection.

Some artists do have some albums (lots of Piaf, some Brel, some Souchon). But it doesn't seem like there's many, if any, artists where you can get all of their material, or even a worthwhile portion of it.

I have 1400+ French songs from CDs I bought while I was there. That's probably more than iTunes has right now! :D / :(

I'm very happy iTunes has launched, but to compete against other services and illegal downloads, I hope they improve the selection soon. Which means I hope French labels realize the potential iTunes has.

You should continue to keep checking. Some previous posts are saying that things that weren't availabe earlier today are not availabe. Looks like things are still coming online.

[skunk]

There are so many gaping holes in the collection. No Beatles (we know why...), no Stones, only 2 crap Van Morrison albums, no Blonde on Blonde, Blood on the Tracks, Nashville Skyline, etc, etc, and no Joss Stone, even though she's English and her album is available in the US. Not NEARLY comprehensive enough. It's like half the shelves are empty. :mad: :confused:

And I was really looking forward to this.

[rvernout]

I know, the EU is so bizzario, how are they ever gonna make it one common market if there are different music distibuting deals that force something like a non-EU wide iTMS launch to happen? It's just so random how some things are unified but others aren't.

It has nothing to do with the EU. It is even possible to divide the market within a country. So theoretically (if the record companies would have negotiated such) there could have been for instance an iTMS South of France, and the people in the north of France would not be able to buy from it.

The problem of course it that record companies have indeed different strategies and price levels in different countries.

[inkswamp]

I'm hoping Apple will give iTunes Music Store users the ability to view the list of most popular downloads from other countries at some point in the near-future. One thing I find completely useless is the top downloads list on the store now. Yeah, I could probably guess what's going to be on 90% of the list in the U.S., but I'd love to be able to view what's popular in the UK or France or whatnot. If you've ever viewed a top 20 list of music from another country, you know that those lists are usually similar, but there are always some oddball songs and artists that show up in foreign lists that are worth looking at. Those songs and artists typically have no promotion in the US for whatever reason so they are unknown here.

Hmm... would Apple ever try to subvert the music industry's promotional machinery like that...? Heh-heh... ;)

[iChan]

i want to know if apple has localised (geographically) teams working on each individual localised store thrashing out licensing deals. I think if they are all working from the same place, or from one large team, then some countries will get neglected more than others.

[greg75]

I know, the EU is so bizzario, how are they ever gonna make it one common market if there are different music distibuting deals that force something like a non-EU wide iTMS launch to happen? It's just so random how some things are unified but others aren't.
I don't consider non-communist to be bizzario.

[Jack White]

i was just surfing the uk site, then i went to the us, then back to the uk store to buy a song, and it's telling me 'you must update to the newest version to use the store' ...i have 4.6, isn't that the newest??

[iChan]

and NO TOLKIEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sacrilege!

anyone checked if the Beatles are on there?

if you havne't heard, apple are in the middle of a legal battle with the beatles label company... also called apple!

so the prospects of the beatles' catalogue getting added to the iTMS are very slima nd tehre is even talk that the Beatles are looking to strike a year-long exclusivity deal with the MSN music store.


I wish (our) Apple would just end this once and for all and but out apple records... then we have permanent exclusive access to the beatles' music.

Apple could license the music to other store or just let it run with it's current management.

Apple would gain bragging rights if they had exclusive access to the beatles' music and would further engrain the iTMS into the public's conciousness as the ONLY place to buy music online.!!!

[steadyeddie]

i was just surfing the uk site, then i went to the us, then back to the uk store to buy a song, and it's telling me 'you must update to the newest version to use the store' ...i have 4.6, isn't that the newest??

I get the same. Hopefully it's just a temporary glitch!

[rvernout]

It would be possible to set up a company in let's say Germany, that buys songs on request from the iTMS there, and distributes it to clients in the other EU countries. Perfectly legal, because goods, once sold, cannot be barred from transfer to other EU countries under EU law, even if it's a commercial activity. Hmmm, 5 cents additional costs per song would be OK....

Opening next week: the iTM EU Distribution Store.... (could be easily done by using Gift Certificates)

[Jack White]

I get the same. Hopefully it's just a temporary glitch!

thats good

[Zaid]

Doesn't the store have the same selection, regardless of which localized version you access? "Localized" version doesn't mean music specific to that country, from what I understand.

no, they're not all carrying the same selection. (which is a great pity)

[steadyeddie]

thats good

The browse button on the top right still works, even though the front page complains about the iTunes version.

[diego]

It's fun that Apple used Wati Larke's icons for the homepages. Check them out at http://xicons.com/search.php?keywords=flags

Edit: Corrected some typos.

[spook]

if you havne't heard, apple are in the middle of a legal battle with the beatles label company... also called apple!

so the prospects of the beatles' catalogue getting added to the iTMS are very slima nd tehre is even talk that the Beatles are looking to strike a year-long exclusivity deal with the MSN music store.


I wish (our) Apple would just end this once and for all and but out apple records... then we have permanent exclusive access to the beatles' music.

Apple could license the music to other store or just let it run with it's current management.

Apple would gain bragging rights if they had exclusive access to the beatles' music and would further engrain the iTMS into the public's conciousness as the ONLY place to buy music online.!!!

Yep I had heard, thats why I asked!

[appleguy]

Why do the rest of us here in Europe have to wait until October...??? That's just not fair......
at least you are getting it..
Us the most important people of the world "THE KIWI's" (New Zealanders) :p
dont have it yet.. no time frame :(

[heywhynots]

if you havne't heard, apple are in the middle of a legal battle with the beatles label company... also called apple!

so the prospects of the beatles' catalogue getting added to the iTMS are very slima nd tehre is even talk that the Beatles are looking to strike a year-long exclusivity deal with the MSN music store.


I wish (our) Apple would just end this once and for all and but out apple records... then we have permanent exclusive access to the beatles' music.

Apple could license the music to other store or just let it run with it's current management.

Apple would gain bragging rights if they had exclusive access to the beatles' music and would further engrain the iTMS into the public's conciousness as the ONLY place to buy music online.!!!

Would buying Apple by Apple solve the problem? The publishing rights to many of the most popular songs are owned by Michael Jackson and Sony (MJ bought ATV's publishing rights and then later sold 50% to Sony, so MJ still own 50%). Sony/ATV would get a cut if I am not mistaken though that is subject to debate. EMI through its ownership of Capital Records controls the rights to the Beatles sound recordings in North America and has final say on who can use the sound recordings in North America. Wouldn't Apple Computers then still have to deal with Capital Records and Sony/MJ if they bought AppleCorp?

[rhoughton]

I'm hoping Apple will give iTunes Music Store users the ability to view the list of most popular downloads from other countries at some point in the near-future. One thing I find completely useless is the top downloads list on the store now. Yeah, I could probably guess what's going to be on 90% of the list in the U.S., but I'd love to be able to view what's popular in the UK or France or whatnot.

You can do this already - just change store (in the drop-down at the bottom of the iTMS window).