New iTunes Features: My Alerts and Complete My Album

[MacRumors]

Apple introduced two new features in iTunes today.

My Alerts (iTunes Link)

A custom page on iTunes which lists "recent releases from artists whose work you've purchased on iTunes." Apple also allows you to sign up to receive Email notifications of these alerts.

Complete My Album (iTunes Link)

Perhaps more exciting is the "Complete My Album" feature which was previously rumored late last year.

"Complete My Album" allows customers to purchase the remainder of an album for a discounted price.

Did you know that if you've purchased one or more songs from an eligible album, you may now be able to buy the rest of the album at a reduced price? You have up to six months after first downloading a song from an eligible album to purchase the remainder of the album.

The reasoning behind this strategy is to provide more incentives to customers to purchase full albums -- or at least not penalize them for buying singles ahead of time. Previously, if you purchased a single song from iTunes ($.99) and later bought the full album ($9.99), you were charged twice for that song. This new feature helps avoid that scenario -- at least for certain albums and for a limited period of time.

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[G5Unit]

Complete my Album looks like a reason to make me start buying from iTunes.

[Dandaman]

yeah, complete my album sounds pretty sweet

daniel

[aafuss1]

Is the Complete My Album feature on all iTunes stores yet?
Edit-Complete My Album works on the Australia iTS, so it's not US-only.

[Porchland]

Originally Posted by aafuss1

Is the Complete My Album feature on all iTunes stores yet?
Edit-Complete My Album works on the Australia iTS, so it's not US-only.

Hopefully, this is a sign of things to come for out-of-US consumers. With initial agreements in place for a large number of countries, Apple should have more luck negotiating broader content deals, i.e., getting more content in more places in less time.

[EricNau]

Complete my Album is exactly what iTunes has been needing. ...Although the time limit is a little disappointing.

[donlphi]

Originally Posted by EricNau

Complete my Album is exactly what iTunes has been needing. ...Although the time limit is a little disappointing.

I agree, the time limit does suck, but I suppose if I'm going to get the whole album, it will be within the first 6 months or never.

LOOKING FOR REAL RUMORS HERE PEOPLE!!! MOVE ALONG!!

[dejo]

Originally Posted by donlphi

...REAL RUMORS...

Isn't that a bit of an oxymoron?

[randyharris]

The complete album idea sounds like a good idea, however, I still favor subscription based solutions like Rhapsody.

[katie ta achoo]

I've already completed a few of my albums. This is nice... I can finally have a beautiful bacchanal of Ben Folds, Elton John, and Barry Manilow with FULL ALBUMS.

[hollerz]

i'm sure "my alerts" has been there forever?

[bluebomberman]

I don't think My Alerts is technically new; I've had alerts for a couple of artists for years. I think the alerts for artists from the Purchase History is new, though.

EDIT: Okay, took a look at all the albums I can buy under "Complete My Album" - and found exactly ZERO albums that interested me. This isn't going to change my current behavior of cherry-picking the best songs from bloated albums.

[theheadguy]

It's about time. Glad to hear these changes have been made.

[Peace]

I thought albums were $9.99

[mustard]

Glade to see that they have provided an incentive / viable option for people that want to purchase pre-album release singles then get the album.

[bluebomberman]

Originally Posted by Peace

I thought albums were $9.99

Generally, but not always. There's been a proliferation of discounted albums ($7.99 or less) as well as a few albums that are more expensive than normal ($12.99 for Bloc Party's A Weekend In the City).

[koobcamuk]

This is:

a) A really boring rumour
b) Not in the least bit 'exciting'.

It is about time that you didn't have to pay twice for a song. I have stopped using iTunes because it's £0.79 for UK and $0.99 in the US - which is £0.50 after you convert currency. **** you apple.

[c-Row]

Originally Posted by koobcamuk

This is:

a) A really boring rumour
b) Not in the least bit 'exciting'.

Unless you previously bought a single song and like it so much now that you want to get the rest of the album as well - until now you would either have to pay twice for the same song you had already purchased, or get the other tracks one by one, which would result in a higher price.

[gavd]

Originally Posted by koobcamuk

<snip>
It is about time that you didn't have to pay twice for a song. I have stopped using iTunes because it's £0.79 for UK and $0.99 in the US - which is £0.50 after you convert currency. **** you apple.

Not really Apples fault. We pay more for everything over here...

[koobcamuk]

Originally Posted by gavd

Not really Apples fault. We pay more for everything over here...

I know. Sucks. Just going to buy things over there and ship them here and I move to Japan in 2009 anyway.

[synth3tik]

I have noticed the my alerts that last few times I was on the iTMS, the complete my album though is really cool.

[ortuno2k]

Pretty cool feature..
It's nice to have, even though I don't purchase any more than a single or two from iTMS - I still like buying my CDs.

[twoodcc]

sounds like some nice features....

[Sandfleaz]

Excellent idea ....I'll be spending some bucks!

[belovedmonster]

Originally Posted by koobcamuk

I have stopped using iTunes because it's £0.79 for UK and $0.99 in the US - which is £0.50 after you convert currency. **** you apple.

You expect iTune prices to change with the current exchange rates?? Dude, are you aware that theres such things as exchange rates and they change over time? The reason the tunes are cheaper in the US is because their economy isnt doing so well and they have a weak dollar, so when it comes to exchange rates you get a lot of dollars for your pound. If the dollar was doing well against the pound then you would see that the prices would be closer together.