Apple-Owned Lala Media Shuts Down on Schedule

[MacRumors]

Following the schedule announced in late April, music streaming service Lala Media permanently shut down as of late yesterday, bringing an end to the popular service that was acquired by Apple late last year.

Apple has been rumored to be tapping the Lala team for assistance in rolling out a cloud-based version of iTunes that would allow users to upload their media collections to Apple's servers and stream the content to their computers and portable devices, reducing local storage requirements and eliminating the need to specifically sync content between devices. Such a move would require, however, that Apple strike new deals with content providers, and music industry sources indicate that there has not been much activity on this front, suggesting that an announcement of a cloud-based iTunes is likely some time off.

As noted on Lala's site, customers who held purchase credit through the site's service will receive new iTunes Store credits by June 14th.

If you purchased web songs on Lala or had an outstanding wallet balance as of May 31st, 2010, an iTunes Store credit code will automatically be sent to your member email address no later than June 14th, 2010.

Credit amounts will be based on your account activity as of May 31, 2010. iTunes Store credit amounts will be rounded up to the nearest $1 for refunds under $10, or to the nearest $5 for refunds greater than $10.

Members can also request refund checks to be sent to their shipping address on file with the company.

Article Link: Apple-Owned Lala Media Shuts Down on Schedule

 

[RonHC]

Damn You

 

[Bonte]

Hopefully Apple will remove the need for a computer completely so that the iPhone and iPad can synch to the cloud, this can be so much more than music.

 

[ajsnow6234]

Bye LaLa, I actually enjoyed using you.

 

[Hitchophilia]

If you sign up to DRM or "the cloud" (which is a really annoying way of saying "online"), you sign away at least some of your control.

From my cold dead hands will my CD/physical media be wrenched.

 

[Digitalclips]

We will learn the reason on June 7th I am sure.

 

[*LTD*]

Who cares. They were bought. This is what happens.

 

[rols]

We will learn the reason on June 7th I am sure.

yes and the promise of an iTunes store credit a week later than that .. seems more than possible you will be able to use that store credit to subscribe to the new LaLa

 

[MrCrowbar]

Dammit, I got stuff for sale on there.

 

[RMo]

For once in my life, I'm shocked that there are more "positive" than "negative" votes on this story.

I really enjoyed using Lala, I don't enjoy that it's been shut down, I wonder why Apple bought them in the first place, and I hope they bring back something similar. Streaming my music isn't similar--I want to be able to discover new artists or songs with the full track, not a 30-second preview.

 

[yg17]

Who cares. They were bought. This is what happens.

I'm sure all of Lala's customers who used and liked their service care.

 

[janstett]

I will miss both Lala and Simplify (who was bought by Google and is shutting down, at least their old product).

 

[Freis968]

Here's a song for all you lala people!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcFKIckf6qw

 

[DontMacTheGyver]

If you sign up to DRM or "the cloud" (which is a really annoying way of saying "online"), you sign away at least some of your control.

From my cold dead hands will my CD/physical media be wrenched.

"The Cloud" is really a weird expression... especially we people here in Europe don't get it... it sounds like a Steven King title and just means online!?
I don't like that whole "online stuff", too... but most probably this is the direction we are going to...

 

[reubs]

Lala was great (for me) when it was a music-trading service. I really got some great stuff and farmed out some CDs that I had grown tired of. When it transitioned from a physical-media trading site to what it became in the end, I lost interest.

I hope, though, that Apple can do something cool with Lala. I'd love to see an iTunes app for all devices (android included) that let me stream my iTunes library anywhere I was.

 

[yg17]

Bye LaLa, I actually enjoyed using you.

Dammit, I got stuff for sale on there.

For once in my life, I'm shocked that there are more "positive" than "negative" votes on this story.

I really enjoyed using Lala, I don't enjoy that it's been shut down, I wonder why Apple bought them in the first place, and I hope they bring back something similar. Streaming my music isn't similar--I want to be able to discover new artists or songs with the full track, not a 30-second preview.

I will miss both Lala and Simplify (who was bought by Google and is shutting down, at least their old product).

Lala was great (for me) when it was a music-trading service. I really got some great stuff and farmed out some CDs that I had grown tired of. When it transitioned from a physical-media trading site to what it became in the end, I lost interest.

I hope, though, that Apple can do something cool with Lala. I'd love to see an iTunes app for all devices (android included) that let me stream my iTunes library anywhere I was.

See LTD? There are people who care. Not everyone approves of everything Apple does like you do.

 

[patsfan83]

I will miss both Lala and Simplify (who was bought by Google and is shutting down, at least their old product).

Same here. Simplify works great. Do you think someone will update the app when OS 4 comes out and put it up on Cydia so we can get background music?

 

[Moopy Sac]

People often click negative on every article. This article just proves that many people click positive on every article, no matter the content.

How is this possibly positive in any way? Please explain how this is a good thing?

 

[jeffisme]

I'll miss lala as it was such a wonderful place to listen to independent music. Has anyone found a suitable alternative?

 

[cvaldes]

Same here. Simplify works great. Do you think someone will update the app when OS 4 comes out and put it up on Cydia so we can get background music?

No chance.

The Simplify software is now the property of Google Inc.

 

[proglife]

upload your entire itunes library to the cloud, stream it to your iPhone OS 4...is this not what's going to happen?

 

[cvaldes]

People often click negative on every article. This article just proves that many people click positive on every article, no matter the content.

How is this possibly positive in any way? Please explain how this is a good thing?

Apple will use the now-shuttered Lala technology/staff in its own technology which will increase AAPL shareholder value.

For shareholders, that is a good thing. Trading close to $265 right now.

 

[Tailpike1153]

Never used Lala or Simplify. To those feeling loss, I'm sorry. If Apple doesn't make any announcement of Lala functionality being imported into the new iTunes this year, anybody willing to take a stab at what the NC data center is really about?

 

[deconstruct60]

Who cares.

Perhaps Apple stockholders? How does Apple make the $17M or $80M ( http://techcrunch.com/2009/12/07/lala-was-bought-by-apple-for-17-million-not-80-million/ ) back if there service is not generating revenues and profits ?

That lala was burning lost of money means it wasn't generating profits. Now it isn't generating money.

If a iTunes facade is slapped on top and released, then this may be an execution issue. It was terminated before the replacement was deployed. A one week cut-over isn't that bad. So if operational next week is one thing but if doesn't come back online for weeks then that's another.

 

[Eric S.]

upload your entire itunes library to the cloud, stream it to your iPhone OS 4...is this not what's going to happen?

Not for me. I'm happy carrying all my music in my pocket, thank you.