Dell DJ and Dell Music Store Details

[MacRumors]

CNet provides some rumored details to the upcoming service from Dell.

According to their sources, MusicMatch will be launching their online music service next week, and will be providing a stand-alone Dell branded version of the service.

Ironically, MusicMatch currently provides the PC jukebox software bundled with the PC version of the Apple iPod. Apple has been working on its own version of iTunes for Windows, however, and is due by the year's end.

CNet's article comments on the industry feeling that an integrated jukebox/store application is the way to go... and reports that BuyMusic.com is also working on it's version of a standalone jukebox/store application.

Meanwhile, according to a statement from Apple, Dell is also rebranding a Creative MP3 player as the upcoming Dell DJ:

It appears that Dell is re-branding one of the second-tier music services that will be announced soon, just like they are re-branding Creative's MP3 player. There is little original here

[dstorey]

nice to see some original creative thinking going on at Dell and Musicmatch then.... though being dell, it'll be preinstalled I would guess on all their new machines and give it huge market penetration, in much the same way as emmm$ can do with their service...people often use what softwares given to them on PC's as they don't know or dont care how to install new software or look for alternatives. Apple has this problem on the wintel side of the fence, unless they can strike a deal with the likes of AOL to include it as a component that is installed with their service...mayber the iPod will be enough to get it onto peoples computers though....

[MacFan26]

I hope this means that iTMS for Windows is coming out soon. Last thing I want to hear about is all my friends and their Dells, downloading music from their own service.

[LimeLite]

the industry feeling that an integrated jukebox/store application is the way to go

Oh is that what they think? It never ceases to amaze me when I see jobs whose criteria is stating the obvious.

[NicoMan]

Originally posted by Macrumors
CNet's article comments on the industry feeling that an integrated jukebox/store application is the way to go...

Isn't it what the iTMS/iPod combo is?

[Tom800]

Good thing that they're rebranding the Creative JB - The Zen MX is pretty sweet, and maybe Dell will let it play AAC files. I wish the iPod would get the same sound quality that Creative's had for years.

[bbarnhart]

I think we should all launch an online music store. It can be powered by the same back end.

I wonder what will happen when customers realized that the half dozen or so PC centric online music stores are basically the same store with just a different front. If Apple wants to stay ahead of the game it needs to find a way to differentiate itself.

Exclusives are good. I've bought several songs that you can't buy at a traditional store (usually remixes). Good luck, Apple.

[dbally]

I should start a company where I'd take products by companies we all know and love and then put my name on them and sell them as my own. Since they'd all have my brand on them, they'd obviously be original and unique. Damn! Dell beat me to it.

[mymemory]

Ok, why is it taken so long for Apple to come out with a shi** version of iTunes for PC???

People are coping the ideas and have time even to produce the software.

Damn, with the slow ditribution of the G5 and the iTunes software I gues some people are under too much pot at Apple.

If Apple has the crappy market share they actually have is because they want to.

[Omek]

Danget! Why can't Mike Dell come up with his own dang ideas!?!? He copies EVERYTHING Apple does and calls it "innovation." Ya right... please... Dell can kiss my arse.

As for iTunes for Windows, expect Apple to get on the ball once Dell and these other people start releasing new online music stores. I'm sure they'll have it ready by late October when they release Panther...

[cwkoller5]

I can't help but remember just before the iPod debuted that Jobs said this would "change everything." The press passed this off as Jobsian überhype and RDF, but in retrospect ... he was right.

Apple was obviously in the early stages of developing ITMS when the iPod came out, and it was the combo that created the critical mass, but regardless, thanks to Apple, music will never be the same.

I imagine with Jobs, this philosophy goes far beyond music, so eventually all digital media (as part of the Digital Hub concept) will receive the same treatment. But the main beneficiaries are always going to be Mac users. This may seem like Apple letting Dell and MS simply scoop up the Windows side of the equation, and letting them claim the "innovation" for themselves, but in this case, it's readily apparent to all that Dell is "copying" the true innovators. Dell is seen in the press as lunging for the money with no inspiration or risk on their part, just drafting in Apple's innovative wake.

And dayyam, is that DJ fuhglay!

If/When ITMS for Windows launches (probably at the same time as Dell's), Apple should be able to hold its dominance. The real test here, isn't if Apple can innovate (a given), it's whether they can ultimately capitalize on their intellectual capital, instead of historically allowing others to sneak off with the profit and market share.

I'm hoping they can this time. I'm sure that's what the market is looking at, because never have I seen as many opportunities for Apple (in these days of distain for the MS "monoculture" and its national security risks) as right now.

Let's see if they can seize this chance to break out of the niche...

[DGFan]

You should all know by now that Dell doesn't actually invest in research or invent stuff. They sell "Dell" printers and other peripherals that aren't theirs. It just makes sense they would do the same with a music service and player.

[kuyu]

WOW! those "dudes" at dell certainly are original. Did you see that new silver laptop they "invented." Here's some insight into the creative process at every wintel manufacturer. Step one: buy some Apple stuff and copy it. Step two: Rinse and repeat.

[cthorp]

They don't copy ideas. Their interns come up with them. Just kidding of course.

How about the ad where the interns travel accross the country and "discover" they should bundle the software people use with the machines. It drives me crazy!!! They must of visited an apple store on their trip.

[Freg3000]

I can't understand why Apple is taking so much more time to get a PC iTMS out. Although it does not need too be first (as shown by buymusic.com) it does need to come out soon. Especially is the Dell one is released relatively soon. People know Dell, and would naturally use their service if there is no iTMS.

The only thing I am hoping for that justifies why Apple is taking so much time, is that they will have much less stringent DRM management. Hopefully Dell (Music Match) is just pounding out contracts without broad rights just to get it out there.

Apple Hurry Up!!!

[LethalWolfe]

Originally posted by Tom800
Good thing that they're rebranding the Creative JB - The Zen MX is pretty sweet, and maybe Dell will let it play AAC files. I wish the iPod would get the same sound quality that Creative's had for years.

I don't understand your comment about poor sound from the iPod. AFAIK the iPod is the only MP3 player that's been endoursed<sp?> by various home theater sites/mags as being good enough to use as a home theater component. And I'm sure that w/the introduction of the dock and it's line-out that that has only improved things for the iPod in regards to home theater.


Lethal

[Java]

I think this will work to Apple's advantage. I am hypothesizing here, but I feel Dell's online music service will serve up some .wma files with varrying DRM so some songs can be transfered to the dPod, some can't. Customers will be frustrated after they realize that it is not as glamorous as it looked.

Then comes along Apple. Same DRM rights across the board, great quality with AAC, and will turn the tide over to Apple.

Apple's iTMS for Windoze will come out at exactly the right time it needs too. Meanwhile we have to put up with Tommy Lee and Michael Dell as the leaders of the PC Music Stores.

Just my $.02.

[fred]

Originally posted by mymemory
Ok, why is it taken so long for Apple to come out with a shi** version of iTunes for PC???

People are coping the ideas and have time even to produce the software.

Damn, with the slow ditribution of the G5 and the iTunes software I gues some people are under too much pot at Apple.

If Apple has the crappy market share they actually have is because they want to.

I must say there are probably other issues (acceptable Windows licensing terms -- notably DRM issues --from the Big 5 record labels) , but aside from that I must say I am disappointed in Apple's PACE of innovation. When they do deliver they deliver far above average products.... but where's the PDA and/or tablet and other consumer electronics products Apple should be in in order to compete with Sony, Dell and Gateway ?

[zim]

The only way that any of these other services will work is by making them work with the dominate player, the ipod, as I see it, it is dominate. Just about every other student that I see at college has one, well every other student in the design/art building.

The only think that I see Dell doing right is the bundle, I wonder, would apple be able to do an amazon thing and license its library of music to be sold through another provider?

[NicoMan]

Originally posted by fred
I must say there are probably other issues (acceptable Windows licensing terms -- notably DRM issues --from the Big 5 record labels)

I don't get it: why should it be any different than what we already have on Macs. It's the format of the files and the iTMS account that provides for DRM. And those 2 will be no different with iTunes for Windows.

[tYNS]

I posted a message a long time ago before the Apple Music Store was launched that a PC iTunes was needed. I also said stated that it should be done at launch or "shortly" after. Why? for this exact reason.

I used to be a PC guy and never really realized how much the rest of the computer industry rips apple off all the time. Although apple does their share of ripping off too. PC companies generally tend to rip-off the REALLY good idea and innovations.

Anyhow, because of this rash of expanding online music stores, I think Apple has lost their niche. It has taken WAY too long to get the PC version of iTunes out now. Many alternatives have filled the void. It is basically going to be a struggle to get people to download there software and use it now. As a previous writer wrote, dell has desktop dominance and will surely bundle musicmatch music store software on their machines.

If iTunes does come out for PC it better be 100% bug-free. When there are so many choices out there, one bad experience with any application will make the user go to the next one and try.

PC iTunes BETTER come out quick too. Being the first on the MAC means nothing if you really want to make a large business out of a venture.

[macmax]

I really love Apple , you all know it by now, but Apple has a huge marketing problem.

If people don't know you are there, they will never see you.

We need more adds, a revolution, lot's of noise, sound , colors.

Not these lame adds like the world is all white.

And noise, lot's of noise so everyone would understand once and for all who researched and developed good things.

I bet there will be lot's of folks going crazy with this "new" idea from Dull

[LethalWolfe]

Originally posted by NicoMan
I don't get it: why should it be any different than what we already have on Macs. It's the format of the files and the iTMS account that provides for DRM. And those 2 will be no different with iTunes for Windows.

PC users tend to be more hack happy than Mac users. I mean, you release something on a PC and it's probably hacked w/in days. Also, the current community that uses iTMS is relatively small so if someone hacks/by-passes the DRM it's not a huge deal in the eyes of the record companies. But if the same thing happens on the PC side of things that is a huge deal. It's basically the reason that the iTMS has the most liberal DRM. Apple provides a smaller and easier to control client base than the windows world.


Lethal

[thedoc1111]

Dell, glamourous…

[NicoMan]

Originally posted by LethalWolfe
PC users tend to be more hack happy than Mac users. I mean, you release something on a PC and it's probably hacked w/in days. Also, the current community that uses iTMS is relatively small so if someone hacks/by-passes the DRM it's not a huge deal in the eyes of the record companies. But if the same thing happens on the PC side of things that is a huge deal. It's basically the reason that the iTMS has the most liberal DRM. Apple provides a smaller and easier to control client base than the windows world.
Lethal

I don't know if you can say that PC users are more hack-happy. The numbers of hackers is obviously much higher, but in percentage to the total user base I'm not so sure. But anyway, it is all a question of trust between Apple's DRM rights management and the Big 5.