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Apple Managers Didn't Know How Spotify Worked, Engineers Used Pandora Over iTunes Radio
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I always wondered why they just seemed to ignore freakin' Spotify. I mean the social integration alone is a huge piece of the factor for the Spotify platform. I feel like they're just toying with the idea instead of just stepping in. I use iTunes but I will admit to having a Spotify account and enjoying it. Let's hope they can make the beats platform compete in a meaningful way.
The best feature of Google is that it integrates your music with their library. This is great for people with The Beatles, ACDC, and other artists that aren't in the Google Play library. The downside to Google is the lack of a desktop and native iPad app, when compared to Spotify or RDio.
My preference was for MOG, but Beats bought it and killed off its best features.
RDio is my favorite service, but they are still working on the switch to 320k. When that happens, IMO it will be the best service unless Apple fixes some of the issues with Beats.
Hardly surprising - Apple seems to be out-of-touch with a lot of things, of late, EXCEPT their egos.
But is that because people prefer owning music in principle or because streaming is still the new kid on the block and old habits did hard?
In a world where we hear about how pushed Apples employees are, its strange to hear that some management didn't know how spotify worked (considering that was was the platform they were trying to beat). So you have to ask whats happened: Was iTunes radio a bit of fun for apple, who wasn't 100% into it therefore wasn't watched over as much as other departments?
It's because they can't get the great ones in streaming. Music is a hit business after all. Streaming a bunch of mediocre songs don't exactly spell genius. And the studios of course don't give their Crown Jewels away for cheap.
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These streaming services actually offer a GREAT selection of music. I was buying over 3 albums a month before subscribing. I have probably purchased 1 album since I subscribed over a year ago. That speaks for itself.
They and some of the smarter posters here who question the source is a few steps ahead of you it seems.
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That's only when they spend their marketing dollars on select titles/songs like running tap water. It is not real.
They need to look for a sustainable model for the music industry to thrive.
What does that even mean? You state that all the good songs are not available on streaming but if you look at the top selling songs on iTunes you'll find that most of them are also available through streaming subscription services like Spotify and Google play all music.
Back up your comment. Name 10 great songs from 10 different artists that are not available on Google play all music and Spotify. I bet you can't.
Just about everyone is missing one of the major pillars of the Beats purchase. It's not just streaming music and Jimmy Iovine the content wizard. Beats makes the hottest line of wearable electronics right now. That's a very very big aspect of the purchase.
Holy ****. The MacRumors thread that Buzzfeed linked to was the thread I started that criticized iTunes Radio. However, everything I said in that thread starter post was true and I really meant it. To this day, iTunes radio still sucks compared to Pandora when it comes to creating customized stations. I hate that it sucks, but it does. Just recently, I tried to create a station of Flamenco Guitar. The third track it played was a country song. Then Mexican Banda (that's not Flamenco!). Or it would play some other world music style. I just don't understand why iTunes Radio still works so poorly. I was excited for it, and then severely disappointed. I don't think it's improved much at all. Pandora still, FTW.
P.S. I signed up for the Beats 3 month free trial for AT&T subscribers. So far, it's not bad, and I'm optimistic so far, though I haven't used it enough yet to form a definitive opinion. I do like the UI/UX of the iOS app though.
P.P.S. Business Insider linked to my thread last September. I had no idea.
P.S. I signed up for the Beats 3 month free trial for AT&T subscribers. So far, it's not bad, and I'm optimistic so far, though I haven't used it enough yet to form a definitive opinion. I do like the UI/UX of the iOS app though.
P.P.S. Business Insider linked to my thread last September. I had no idea.
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I don't know, I had always thought Apple was playing this cautiously. I mean, I didn't think any music service was even profitable... Didn't Pandora only turn a profit for the first time in a few years? And this due to its uptick in ad revenue, to the dismay of its free user base? I know both Spotify and Pandora are valued in the billions, but they are both also borderline profitable business models.
MobileMeI hate to be that guy in this thread... but something like this wouldn't have happened under Steve!
Ping
He was only human
Since when is Buzzfeed a credible news site? "Anonymous sources" on Buzzfeed more or less equate to the thousands of users who created those "top XXX" lists on that trashy site.
That's not to say that iTunes radio is good, though.
That's not to say that iTunes radio is good, though.
I have to say that a lot of what is written in the Buzzfeed article, I instinctively find hard to believe, and yet, the claim that all Apple was trying to do was drive downloads, and not build a real customized radio station platform like Pandora probably rings true to my ears. I think the Buzzfeed article is probably a mix of truth, exaggeration, and fiction.
Apple is bipolar. On one hand they do some game changing, great things. On the other hand they do incremental trailing edge things. Despite hundreds of thousands of employees (worldwide with contractors), they do not have a dozen tasked to view life from 40,000 feet and to adopt every feature the competition uses as a marketing advantage in the face of actual greatness by Apple. Tell management I sent you.
Apple is a bureaucratic defender of the hill despite its promise, history and hope for the future.
Can you hear me now?
Nope? After all, I am just a poster on MacRumors. I remind the upper staff I was doing rockets at DeAnza College back when Apple employees needed a well deserved diversion.
Apple does and should continue to dominate. They need a rear view mirror installed. It offends the Jobs culture.
Three decades later I have zero input to manglement, despite the clear need.
Just Rocketman
Apple is a bureaucratic defender of the hill despite its promise, history and hope for the future.
Can you hear me now?
Nope? After all, I am just a poster on MacRumors. I remind the upper staff I was doing rockets at DeAnza College back when Apple employees needed a well deserved diversion.
Apple does and should continue to dominate. They need a rear view mirror installed. It offends the Jobs culture.
Three decades later I have zero input to manglement, despite the clear need.
Just Rocketman
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Wrong. Apple KNOWS they can't win in low-margin products. That has never been an area they ever wanted to compete at and probably never will. They KNOW not to do that but mediocre middle-management creeping in can be subtle enough that they won't see it until its too late.
For me iTunes Radio killed any need of Pandora, but I still prefer Spotify on my Macs, as long as I'm connected to WiFi that is...
I am just the opposite, I hardly ever watch the same movie twice, but I listen to music over and over. I guess the difference is that a movie captures your attention, so if you watch it again you are spending an additional 2+ hours doing basically nothing but watch that movie, while music can play in the background while doing something productive.
I'm interested to hear what artists/songs you were searching for because I've found their library pretty impressive.
Wait, are you suggesting people re-watch movies more than they listen to the same song/album multiple times?
If the report is true, it's not that surprising. We heard numerous reports during the negotiations that part of Apple's deal with the music studios was that they would be able to drive downloads on the iTunes Store with the radio service. It is just a shame that parts of Apple no longer looks at things from a user's perspective but from a purely business perspective. I don't think all of Apple is like that, but we are seeing more and more of that recently.
probable
this is totally probable. it has to be hard to ignite a social media culture into a company that is used to creating amazing products that people buy. even in downloadable music....you own it.
it's a little surprising that no one "gets" the other services, though. We have a company of 30, and if I didn't "get" something, I would try to open up a new position or department to build the knowledge in house, even if it took a while.
maybe the new Beats acquisition will create some of that at Apple, but in corporations it usually works the other way around...the corporation dilutes the acquisition. i think this one might work in Apple's favor if they take the time to cultivate it.
this is totally probable. it has to be hard to ignite a social media culture into a company that is used to creating amazing products that people buy. even in downloadable music....you own it.
it's a little surprising that no one "gets" the other services, though. We have a company of 30, and if I didn't "get" something, I would try to open up a new position or department to build the knowledge in house, even if it took a while.
maybe the new Beats acquisition will create some of that at Apple, but in corporations it usually works the other way around...the corporation dilutes the acquisition. i think this one might work in Apple's favor if they take the time to cultivate it.
