Google Music and Apple iTunes

[Super Dave]

Amen. If you don't like the way a company writes their OS, then write your own OS!!!

Kinda. What happens if you like Windows and don't like Messenger? I'm not sure what it's like now, but there was a time when it would take you 8 days of google research to figure out how to get it turned bloody off.

I personally think that's what makes Apple's situation a little better. If you like the iPod and not iTunes you can do it. If you like iTunes and not the iPod you can do it. And if you like the iTunes Music Store and not the iP...oh wait. Just kidding. You know what you're getting into with the iTunes Music Store. A store isn't like an operating system. You can get music down the street at the record store that's as good or better quality. With an OS well you can definitely get something better than Windows, but it won't run Windows software. Microsoft makes you use multiple Microsoft programs. Apple lets you use the products you want for the most part. The gentleman or lady who mentioned Airport Express had a point. Sorta.

David

 

[Sunrunner]

Microsoft still make Apple look like Angels ( just about ) due to their ( ms ) abuses in the past.

I understand that iPod and iTunes / iTMS is supposed to be a package - designed for ease of use and to ensure a quality that Apple want its users to enjoy.

However, the world isn't this simple. People like having choice - the iPod and iTunes shouldn't be mutually ( sp. ) inclusive. To tell people ( not you nagromme ) that they should either use the iPod or something else and stop complaining is arrogant ( and short sighted ).

Other music stores will catch up to iTMS, then what for Apple - license out Fairplay in an act of desparation?

Talking about video content - I wonder how long it is going to take for apple to offer full sized ( i.e., not iPod ) content available for download? At the moment its to encourage people to buy 5G iPods..

Youve missed the sales strategy completely. From Apples perspective, the iTMS only exists as a virtual loss-leader to encourage sales of the IPOD. Why the heck would they want to make it a loss leader for other players as well??!!?? Apple doesnt give a rats a$$ about iTMS beyond the extent that it effects iPod (and Macs to a lesser extent) sales.

 

[Stella]

Nope, I haven't, I know what iTMS is for ( its been stated more than enough times) - to sell iPods.

Apple didn't think they'd make a profit, and they didn't care. As it turns out, iTMS is doing rather better and are making a small profit. iTMS is not a loss leader, anymore.

I think Apple care more about iTMS these days than they once may have done.

Apple hope / want iPod sales to encourage people to switch to Mac computers. The side effects of the iPod success ( not lack of ) will filter through and have an affect on the entire Apple product range.

Youve missed the sales strategy completely. From Apples perspective, the iTMS only exists as a virtual loss-leader to encourage sales of the IPOD. Why the heck would they want to make it a loss leader for other players as well??!!?? Apple doesnt give a rats a$$ about iTMS beyond the extent that it effects iPod (and Macs to a lesser extent) sales.

 

[echeck]

It was great to see Crash Test Dummies as a sample.

Jerry
http://www.crashtestdummies.net

Ha ha ha! Nice shameless plug there, Jerry. I love CTD, so I agree it was nice to see them mentioned.

 

[nagromme]

Other music stores will catch up to iTMS, then what for Apple - license out Fairplay in an act of desparation?

I know what you are saying. My hope: when other music stores get as good as iTMS, what will happen is that Apple will compete! Improve their offering in response, rather than rely on the iPod crutch by licensing Fairplay to other player makers. (In a sense, licensing Fairplay would be leveraging their "iPod monopoly" in that situation, while keeping their closed system and improving iTMS to beat the newcomers would be more like real competition.)

Talking about video content - I wonder how long it is going to take for apple to offer full sized ( i.e., not iPod ) content available for download? At the moment its to encourage people to buy 5G iPods..

Right now, it's a toe in the water. The next step in quality will demand huge bandwidth and storage (for Apple AND users). Each download will take 4x as long, and your video library will take 4x the space on your computer (assuming they went from 320x240 to 640x480--to say nothing of high-def). The market for those huge files might turn out to be smaller than the market for the small ones--it depends on how many buyers are just not thinking or caring about the quality details.

The other factor is probably the content owners. They may want to see the system (and piracy protection) proven before they let high-quality versions loose. It's a toe in the water for them too.

But the next phase will come in time!

 

[iMeowbot]

Does nobody understand that you lose quality this way?

In real life, not many people really care. Home tape dubbing was far worse for losing stuff.

 

[d.perel]

Google could be a powerful ally. I don't however think they be a threat or even a big splash on web-music in the long run.

Plus, don't they make about 5 cents a song through linking to the music store? Its like search-link advertising all over again

 

[VanNess]

Oddly enough, I had just posted this tip earlier about how to use Safari to search iTunes in the OS X tips and tricks thread.

The new Google service is great because it provides direct links to iTunes songs and albums - if Google's new service can figure out that you're actually searching for music. Some album names, etc., are bound to be ambiguous in that regard. And you can just type right into Google's search box, but the tip is better because it's more direct and fool-proof if you're already surfing the net on Safari, because it hooks in directly to iTunes.

For example, there was an article today on Yahoo about a new album called "The Rising Tide." Selecting the album title and right clicking it to search Google produced the result in the first attached pic.

However, selecting the album title and choosing "search for album" in my bookmarks (see tip) produced the result in the second attached pic.

 

[iris_failsafe]

google and Apple together, it seems Microsoft now can believe in perfect storms.

Whou would have thought 8 years ago that the mighty Micorsoft could actually be beaten...

 

[Bonte]

Current State of iPod:
iTunes music works
No one elses does
=perfect interoperability

Possible future of iPod
itunes music works
Others work
= not perfect interoperability?!

Is this based on monopolies are cool as long as its Apple? I mean really how can you assume others having access to sell music is going to hurt interoperability? It's not like other people are going to be rewriting the bios with every song dl.

Monopolies aren't bad per-se (walkman, kodak ...), its just sucks if they (MS for instance) use one monopoly to force exclusive contracts and create other monopolies in the process. MS got away with it for to long and now they pay. The iPod is for sale in the stores side by side with the other players, isn't sold with a loss (to eliminate competitors), iTunes is far from the only music service and not the cheapest.

Apple won fair 'n square.

 

[Swift]

A Tip!

I discovered, at work, that people didn't necessarily understand this at first. A music search isn't immediately identifiable, and you have to click around to get to the full album list, etc.

Do this-- type "music:" first. It goes straight to the full database page with all the album covers.

 

[fatfish]

What a load of..........

I don't find the google music search much help, too much work to get where I want to be, think I'll stick with searching itms for music I want to buy. Its just so much easier.

 

[Sunrunner]

What a load of..........

I don't find the google music search much help, too much work to get where I want to be, think I'll stick with searching itms for music I want to buy. Its just so much easier.

The service is certainly not the end al be all of cool things, just one more way to find what you want, nothing much more exciting than that....

 

[Peace]

google and Apple together, it seems Microsoft now can believe in perfect storms.

Whou would have thought 8 years ago that the mighty Micorsoft could actually be beaten...

Google and Apple are NOT together.If you do any searching for music on Google you will find links to MSN music,J&R Music World and others.

Like I said before..Apple,along with MSN and others are merely paying Google for top-tiered link listings.A common corporate practice on the internet.

 

[nebben123]

Someone has excellent taste in music.

Of course, a better link would be to Throwing Muses =)


Ben