Apple iTunes for Windows... Soon?

[Doctor Q]

Apple may retain its market lead, or Apple's delayed entry on the Windows side may hurt them. But, in either case, it looks like the era of wide-audience mass-marketed healthy-competition customer-accepted for-pay online music is here. If you step back and look at a timeline of music history, we are right at one of the milestones. With Apple providing the innovation and leadership, of course.

 

[pkradd]

iTunes for Windows will be free. Why wouldn't it be. The software is not where the profit is. It's downloading songs and buying iPods (That's really where the money will come from). The quarterly analyst meeting is next Wednesday the 15th. Look for iTMS for Windows to be announced the 14th or 15th. Apple may also announce the long rumored peripherals as well!

 

[JoeRadar]

Re: Re: Side effect of iTunes for Windows?

Originally posted by caveman_uk
What's the point of porting Safari to windows?

(1) To blunt the tendency of web site developers to create IE-only web sites; (2) to get Windows users to think more about Apple products.

Many web sites are tuned for, and in some cases only support, Internet Explorer. They can do this because IE is so dominant in marketshare. If the community can create a more heterogenous browser environment, this will put pressure on web sites (and web site development tools) to be more standards compliant.

Also, the more Apple products Apple can get into Windows users' hands, the more likely they would at least consider buying a Macintosh.

 

[JoeRadar]

Originally posted by pkradd
iTunes for Windows will be free. Why wouldn't it be.

I believe you are right. I hope you are right.

However, over the years I have seen a lot of companies, including Apple, make some bone head decisions on prices and distribution plans.

 

[elmimmo]

I just hope it is not a resource hog as QuickTime for windows is. Apple is really to shame on that one.

 

[robeen]

good for mac user too, and spelling

iTunes for windows will solidify the store and make it bigger and better (i.e. more artists sooner)

Its better for apple to wait as long as is needed for it to run correctly right out of the box.

finally, I know I am a prude...but the spelling of emergence by the awesome arn is killing me.

Rob

 

[Wash!!]

Do a serch on aac !!

Originally posted by micvog
It will be interesting to see if Apple also includes WMA support for Windows iTunes and the iPod at the same time.

Even though WMA is a proprietary Microsoft format, it has the appearance of being an open standard since there are a number of third-party devices that support WMA. As an example, my DVD player (Panasonic) plays WMA files, my Pocket PC plays WMA files, my co-worker's Honda Accord plays WMA files and most MP3 players do as well. AAC on the other hand, while being an open standard, has the appearance of being proprietary since only Apple is pushing it (AFAIK). I don't know of a DVD player, PDA, car CD player or MP3 player (besides the iPod) that plays AAC.

This, along with Apple's poor reputation on writing Windows software (Quicktime is pretty bad on the PC side), are the two biggest concerns I hear from PC users about a potential iTunes for Windows.

Meanwhile, I am waiting for new iBooks or eMacs along with Jaguar to make the Switch.

You will find several units by panasonic, philps and others that support aac files format it just takes time..

PS here are some:
anasonic SV-SD80
e-wear™ MP3/WMA/AAC player with SD memory card, iDP-100 better yet check this out http://www.epinions.com/Personal_CD_Players-AAC

 

[IlluminatedSage]

Honestly,

we should want the ipod to be compatible with WMA protected media. I know it is a negative. but when Microsoft comes out with their system, we still want people buying Ipods.

Just like it is compatible with songs from music match, it should also be compatible with songs from MSFT new music service.

It will just mean more money in the pocket of apple from those companies also.

 

[Wash!!]

Why?

MS is doing this becuase it wants to push its "standard"
There is no reason for apple to support it. have evre try to listen to a song using wma it sounds like crap full of noise and other noises...I stick with aac and mp3.

my 2¢

 

[AidenShaw]

GIGO

Originally posted by Wash!!
have evre try to listen to a song using wma it sounds like crap full of noise and other noises...

Yes, and we can find poorly encoded MP3 files that sound bad, and overly compressed Quicktime movies that are horrible.

On the other hand, WM8 and WM9 can give very high quality at very small file sizes.

Your "head in the sand" approach of just saying that WM is low quality won't work when people have seen good WM.

 

[Wash!!]

So Apple should play dead

And support what ever the oh mighty M$ says it going to be the standard, switch all of the itms tracks to wma and the world would be a better place.. come on.
you don't see sony runing to drop their MD file format for wma why should apple do it. be sides wait until wma comes out and thier drm you go ahead an listen to your track on your computer that only plays in your computer and God forbid you want to make a cd of it you have to pay more or paid a yearly subcribtion to burn or play songs tha M$ feels you should listen to..

My God what I was thinking to have a choice on sould I listen or burn the songs that i want...

 

[inkswamp]

Re: Re: Re: Side effect of iTunes for Windows?

Originally posted by spankalee
If Apple is using KHTML in iTunes for Windows, then a Safari port could help them in the enterprise. [...] Dunno, I see what they can gain, but it seems like a lot of work, since Safari is all Cocoa.

And oddly enough, someone on comp.sys.mac.advocacy just posted about how iTunes might be running with the help of Cocoa libraries ported to Windows. Not sure about the credibility of the poster, but it seems interesting that all these little tidbits keeps trickling in.

The post to c.s.m.a under the subject header "Windows iTunes Cocoa based... Hrmmm"

-----
There are rumors going around the 'net that Windows iTunes is Cocoa
based -- basically like NeXT's OpenStep for Windows, but an updated
version in-line with Cocoa today... Cocoa for Windows...

Any confirmations of this? ;-)
-----

 

[Wonder Boy]

i dont have windoze so i dont care.

i have a mac and stopped using itms. why? i dont like how i cant use itms songs on my os 9 machine.

 

[WM.]

Re: GIGO

Originally posted by AidenShaw
Your "head in the sand" approach of just saying that WM is low quality won't work when people have seen good WM.

'Preciate that, Aiden.



WM

 

[kansast]

Here's to big success

I just hope this thing gets released for freakin WINDOZE and is just a big freakin' success. (of course, let's hope it doesn't get slammed and there's not enough bandwidth ?) and just blows these other copy-cat music sites out of the water !!

 

[Phil Of Mac]

Originally posted by Wonder Boy
i dont have windoze so i dont care.

i have a mac and stopped using itms. why? i dont like how i cant use itms songs on my os 9 machine.

You have an OS 9 machine? You want to play music on it?

Good luck...

(OS 9 has terrible multitasking, and if it wasn't for the fact that it precaches the music, iTunes would never work on it.)

 

[Wash!!]

Sorry I have to tell you something

Originally posted by Wonder Boy
i dont have windoze so i dont care.

i have a mac and stopped using itms. why? i dont like how i cant use itms songs on my os 9 machine.

OS 9 is dead so I think is time for you star looking into a new mac.. you know you can pick up a bw g3 for about $200 on ebay or even better an imac for a little more or if you want to spur you can buy a g4 for $500..just a thought

 

[JayBee]

Re: So Apple should play dead

Originally posted by Wash!!
And support what ever the oh mighty M$ says it going to be the standard, switch all of the itms tracks to wma and the world would be a better place.. come on.
you don't see sony runing to drop their MD file format for wma why should apple do it. be sides wait until wma comes out and thier drm you go ahead an listen to your track on your computer that only plays in your computer and God forbid you want to make a cd of it you have to pay more or paid a yearly subcribtion to burn or play songs tha M$ feels you should listen to..

I don't think anyone was suggesting that Apple should drop AAC support and move entirely to WMA. That would be dumb.

Equally dumb might be the blank refusal to allow WMA files to play on an iPod AS WELL AS AAC/MP3/Whatever. The more music the iPod plays, the more they'll sell. That's just simple arithmetic meets simple logic.

Whether it will happen or not is another question. However, when you're advocating "choice" and "options", you have to realise that, for most people on "the other side", refusing to play with their existing systems is denying them the choice of your kit. Selling them an iPod that they can't play their existing choons on isn't much of a choice. Selling them one that they CAN play their existing music on, PLUS showing them the light of the AAC/iTMS combo lets them have the best of both worlds.

By burying one's head in the sand about WMA, one demonstrates a lack of understanding of the purpose of iTunes for Windows.

Case in point is my flatmate. He's a Windows/Linux user, and we share our music on a central server (well, on my G4 box, but anyway). I can play all his stuff as he doesn't encode much, but since iTunes 4, he can't play any of my AAC files on his Media Player software. I can't wait for iTunes to come out for his machine as it will mean less headaches of the "can I borrow that CD of yours?" variety when the damn thing's already on the server.

However, he DOES have a few WMA files on his own box. If iTunes won't play em, he either has to re-encode or still use Media Player. Not a problem with a small library, but if he had 20 GB of stuff, I doubt anyone could be assed re-encoding *JUST* for a shiny metal interface...

MORE compatibility GOOD... whiny MS bashing BAD

 

[yosoyjay]

Re: Underground Labels

Originally posted by mclosers
Did anyone notice that smaller labels are now on the ITMS. Epitaph is one that I know of that is on there. (lots of punk bands) Anyone see any others?

I noticed Om and Epitaph today. I it would be nice to be able to search by record label on the Power Search. That would be really handy for me.

I'm still waiting for Sub Pop and Def Jux...

 

[Wash!!]

you can find aac player for win

There are several available on the net for download you just have to find them...

If the ipod plays wma files is just like saying that ms format is the best, why would they do that when they are pushing aac as an open standard with better sound quality and compresion than wma...once they get itms up and runing on winblows people are going to realize that aac is the better format I did I had tons of mp3 files that I rip from my cd collection that I have re-rip into aac because they were smaller files with better sound quality,.
The reason ms is trying to lunch there version of itms cause they know that is the only way they can become the "standard" by shoulving down the throut of the pc crow and forcing them to use it as you will see that their player will not allow you to play aac or mp3 files..

PS i have 20 gig + of mp3s that a re-rip into aac so it can be done

 

[Coca-Cola]

I am placing my bets on an October 21st release. Hence, the Sarah Mclaghlan leak today. And, the exclusivity of it. Thursday is Napsters release and it will be in the news for a while. I think a panther shipping now anouncement, ibook, emac, and dark iTMS will be on October 21st. Also, The 15th is apple's shareholder meeting. Not a good time for a product launch.

October 21st, is the day.

 

[SeaFox]

Originally posted by arnette
Just curious. Someone brought up iSync for Windows and what kind of synching solution Apple will have for PC. I hadn't thought of that but it's a good point.

Nobody brought up iSync for Windows. That's a .Mac service so you have to have a Mac to use it. What york2600 mentioned was Rendevouz library sharing. Since Rendevouz is just Apple's brand of ZeroConf network configuring I'm sure the Windows version will have it, too.

Syncing the iPod contents is just a matter of having a script or something that runs when it detects the iPod has been connected.

What I wonder is how big a download this will be. It will have to include lots of stuff Macs already have in their system but are missing in Windows. I bet it will be like installing iTunes and QuickTime on a Mac, plus maybe store rendering libraries.

 

[Phil Of Mac]

Originally posted by Coca-Cola
Also, The 15th is apple's shareholder meeting. Not a good time for a product launch.

Don't see why not

"iTunes Music Store sales have been at 5 million, but we anticipate in the next quarter that will increase due to our recent release of iTunes for Windows."

"What?"

"Oh, didn't we announce that today? Guess we didn't get around to it. Well, it's out. You can thank us later."

 

[Phil Of Mac]

Originally posted by Phil Of Mac
Don't see why not

"iTunes Music Store sales have been at 5 million, but we anticipate in the next quarter that will increase due to our recent release of iTunes for Windows."

"What?"

"Oh, didn't we announce that today? Guess we didn't get around to it. Well, it's out. You can thank us later."

"While we're on the topic, Panther's out."

 

[SeaFox]

Originally posted by Dippo
I wonder if iTunes will support plugins? I really would love to buy music from iTMS and burn it to a MiniDisc. Would this be possible you think?

No, because the Minidisc uses a different format. If we can't even get Sony to make a version of OMGJukebox for Mac, how likely do you think it is they'll give someone else permission to build it into their software.

However, you could burn you iTMS purchases to CD (and no, Nero wouldn't be usable) and then use Simple Burner to transfer them.

Or, if you're on a Mac and it's a G5 you could just hook you Minidisc up to the optical out and record them at the player digitally.

I would like to see format plugins for iTunes. Mp3PRO capability for one.