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Amazon Taking DRM-Free MP3s International in 2008
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Option? This isn't just another option. 256 kbps songs from all 4 major labels at a price of $0.99.
Goodbye iTMS. There's no way I'd buy their 128 kbps AAC files for the same price.
Goodbye iTMS. There's no way I'd buy their 128 kbps AAC files for the same price.
boycott amazon!!don't let us down, please...
Why should I boycott Amazon when they offer a superior product for the same, if not less, money?
Damn fanboys
Maybe this will push Apple to finally make their whole catalog 256k and DRM-free. The rest of the industry is passing you by, Steve.
and...
And the vast majority of the buying public likely agrees with you in regards to the tracks being DRM free. No matter how many people scream and moan on message boards, the majority of the general population doesn't appear hugely concerned about DRM or even mp3 v. AAC. (folks, just think about it a moment before shooting off narrow hypothetical cases) I say this as someone who wants high quality and usage flexibility, but many people simply don't understand/care about the ramifications of DRM. And quality? A great many songs on P2P networks are of horrible quality, but still make the rounds. Sure there are many high quality encodings out there, but low quality files are still being downloaded. Sad for the ears of the user, I know. Now the availability of Amazon's library worldwide? That's a bit bigger. [/MY OWN CRYING, RANTING, AND MOANING. SIGH.]
Well that interests me as much as roadkill.
And the vast majority of the buying public likely agrees with you in regards to the tracks being DRM free. No matter how many people scream and moan on message boards, the majority of the general population doesn't appear hugely concerned about DRM or even mp3 v. AAC. (folks, just think about it a moment before shooting off narrow hypothetical cases) I say this as someone who wants high quality and usage flexibility, but many people simply don't understand/care about the ramifications of DRM. And quality? A great many songs on P2P networks are of horrible quality, but still make the rounds. Sure there are many high quality encodings out there, but low quality files are still being downloaded. Sad for the ears of the user, I know. Now the availability of Amazon's library worldwide? That's a bit bigger. [/MY OWN CRYING, RANTING, AND MOANING. SIGH.]
Maybe it's not up to Apple. It seems obvious that the majors are seeking freedom from Steve Job's preconditions on music sales, flat rates etc. So, why not use Amazon as leverage?
Amazon may have flat rates right now, but what if Jeff Bezos negotiates lossless distribution with a choice of other compressed bitrates, and allows some form of variable pricing.
With the recent news that iPod sales seem to be levelling off somewhat, its ubiquity may not prove the bargaining chip it was two years ago.
Its hard to believe, since SJ was previously described as almighty on this very issue of DRM-free music. and there is a lot of evidence that its apple who want a rigid flat rate on the content. Not majors.
I agree with you completely. In fact, I bet the record companies are "punishing" Apple by not offering the same terms.
boycott amazon!!
Why boycott?
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This is great news and can only bring more options for the consumer. This will drive innovation. Competition is a good thing.
It is generally not a good thing for one company to dominate a particular market.
You misunderstand me. Amazon currently have flat pricing; they want to develop their own market. And when it has reached a certain critical mass, why shouldn't Amazon and turn round and give the labels what they want variable pricing with the proviso of offering a range of bitrates or even file formats? Win-win for both of them, Apple isn't part of that picture.
?? I think there is something not quite right, I bought quite a few mp3s from amazon, their price isn't flat AFAIK?
Why should I boycott Amazon when they offer a superior product for the same, if not less, money?
Damn fanboys
started this drm free movement... why should amazon benefit? i for one will not sell out itms or apple, you shoulden't either!!
Amazon should benefit because they've done a better job of it. They have a wider selection, the prices are cheaper, and they're using the more universal format. Besides, I'd hardly call what Apple's done a movement. Their DRM-free selection is pitiful. Besides, you sure don't seem to have a problem buying Apple computers when other companies started the PC movement.
Amazon won, Apple lost. Deal with it.
Agreed. You'd have to be the biggest fanboy on the planet to do that.Why should I boycott Amazon when they offer a superior product for the same, if not less, money?
Damn fanboys
I for one am completely threw with anything DRM. I moved from an iPod to a Zune recently (personal choice. I think the iPod is better overall) & I knew the day would come that I'd have to re-rip all my iTunes purchases to get the DRM off them. Luckily I didnt purchase that many songs from the ITMS.
Regardless, Im done with the iTunes/iPod "lock in". I want my media to be interchangeable regardless of what device or OS I choose. If they want any more of my money, they better get it together & realize people want media freedom.
i buy
, and i will support them. if that makes me a fanboy, then hell yes!!
Intel started intel chips, why should apple benefit?
Its not like apple invented everything, follow your logic, why do you want to buy anything from apple?
Why should any scientist get awarded since all (mostly) they do is based on previous achievement of others?
lol, its ok to be a fanboy. but don't come up with fake reasoning. Somebody would call it trolling.
Someone done lied to you. Maybe it was SJ with that open letter he wrote?
Whatever the case, I can assure you that Apple solely wasn't responsible for the studios moving to DRM-free, its just where the industry was naturally going. Stevie knew it & jumped on it with that letter of his so people would think "Yeah! SJ is our savior!"
C' mon, think about it. If Apple was solely responsible for it, don't you think iTunes would have all their music DRM-free by now & instead of places like Amazon, who've had it for months now???
Absurd argument.
You could equally say:
"Apple didn't invent the digital music player - so why should they benefit".
"Apple didn't invent or create the cell phone market... blah blah blah".
I'm glad of the competition and will be definitely buying from Amazon when they bring it to Canada.
Competition?
I don't think so.
The only reason Apple had Fair Play originally was to prove to the record companies that music couldn't be pirated.
The record companies didn't think Apple could pull it off.
When they did, they realised they wanted to make more money out of Apple by raising prices.
When Apple said "No" they have worked very hard behind the scenes to find a way to "increase competition" by finding a partner who will let them have their way of increasing prices for new release songs.
If the record companies were serious about competition they would immediately let Apple have access to the DRM free songs and let Apple, Amazon and others slug it out. Real competition.
Their current method just serves to make Apple look like they are hanging on to Fair Play to try and monopolise iPod/iTunes to make more money Certainly there is also a reasonable amount of truth in this, but Steve Jobs is on the public record saying he will drop DRM in a heartbeat.
While any of these large players (Apple Amazon Record companies) continue to only restrict their on-line products (movies, TV shows, rentals, DRM free music) to the US only, file sharing will continue unabated and even grow unless the equal playing field is established.
My 2 cents from an Australian perspective (rounded up to 5c as we don't have 1 and 2 cent coins anymore)
We want the iPhone!!!!
I don't think so.
The only reason Apple had Fair Play originally was to prove to the record companies that music couldn't be pirated.
The record companies didn't think Apple could pull it off.
When they did, they realised they wanted to make more money out of Apple by raising prices.
When Apple said "No" they have worked very hard behind the scenes to find a way to "increase competition" by finding a partner who will let them have their way of increasing prices for new release songs.
If the record companies were serious about competition they would immediately let Apple have access to the DRM free songs and let Apple, Amazon and others slug it out. Real competition.
Their current method just serves to make Apple look like they are hanging on to Fair Play to try and monopolise iPod/iTunes to make more money Certainly there is also a reasonable amount of truth in this, but Steve Jobs is on the public record saying he will drop DRM in a heartbeat.
While any of these large players (Apple Amazon Record companies) continue to only restrict their on-line products (movies, TV shows, rentals, DRM free music) to the US only, file sharing will continue unabated and even grow unless the equal playing field is established.
My 2 cents from an Australian perspective (rounded up to 5c as we don't have 1 and 2 cent coins anymore)
We want the iPhone!!!!