'It's Only Rock and Roll' Rumor Roundup

[redfirebird08]

There seems to be a lot of people not understanding what the big deal about the Beatles on iTunes is about. Let me attempt to help you understand.

The Beatles are one of the few groups that cross generations with amazing success. While the older generations may already have every album and possibly every cd, the younger generations have few cds and get all of their music in mp3 form.
Let's consider a 15 year old that grew up listening to the Beatles on the radio in their parents car. Most teenagers today have iPods, not cd players. That 15 year old doesn't even have their own car stereo to play cds in. That 15 year old likely has a computer but uses iTunes to play their mp3 collection. That 15 year old may also only like certain songs and can afford a handful of their favorite songs but can't afford to go into a store (or onto Amazon) and buy all of the cds to get those songs.

Add in the fact that most young people get giftcards for iTunes as presents and not giftcards for music stores any longer. Plus the time required to rip all of the cds into your computer (a full length disc takes 3-5 minutes on my computer times 13 albums = about an hour of wasted time, maybe not a lot to you, but it's a lot to me and most people I know!)...it's a whole lot easier to pull up iTunes and hit "buy." Plus, the way we listen to music has changed. Most younger people do not listen to an album straight through...you listen to mixes or an artist on shuffle. You can't do that with cds!

Even for myself and my friends (late 20's)...we're all Beatles fans but none of us own all of the cds. Personally, I stopped purchasing cds (with the exception of my favorite artists that I collect their material) because it was such a waste. All I was doing was buying the cd, bringing it home to burn, and then the cd sat there, never being used again. I use iTunes on my computer, have my iPod wired into my car stereo, and have my iPhone with me for any other times I want to listen to music.
My PC using, non-iPod owning roommate put it perfectly the other day when she said that if Apple came out with a Beatles iPod preloaded with their music, she would run down to the nearest Apple store and wouldn't care if it costs $700...she'd be first in line to buy one.

Regarding the "shuffle" issue, the CD player in my car (2009 Chevy Malibu) has a "random" button that allows me to shuffle the songs on the CD if I want. Interestingly enough, I never use this feature and yet the CD player lacks a function that I wish it had: a constant display of the time of the current track. The only way it will display the time of the track is when you hit the fast-forward or rewind buttons.

As for CD's in general, I use them primarily as a backup of data at this point. When I buy something from the Amazon mp3 store or from iTunes, one of the first things I do with the album is burn it to a blank CD so that I can have a backup of it. My Macbook's hard drive crashed last year so I'm pretty paranoid about that.

 

[moneyman118]

I agree but your friend should buy the Beatles remastered box that comes out tomorrow then she can have the best possible quality, cool packaging and load them on her mac and into an ipod and still have money for beer.

I'VE NOTICED WHEN I IMPORT A CD IN TO MY ITUNES LIBRARY IT DOES NOT SOUND AS GOOD AS WHEN I PURCHASE STRAIGHT FROM ITUNES.

AND YES I HAVE PURCHASED THE SAME ALBUM TWICE, ONCE AT TARGET, AND ONCE THROUGH ITUNES. I WANTED TO SUPPORT THAT PARTICULAR ARTIST AND BOUGHT THE ALBUM TWICE.

 

[Bjohnson33]

I'm going to predict that no one will be satisfied, no matter what is announced.

That said, I think we'll get new iPods, iTunes 9, new iPhone OS and a revamped app store (so people can find stuff).

Haha! Funny because it's so true!

 

[dylangaff]

apple Corp or Inc

yes. Second time i've made that mistake on this board. I myself prefer the original Parlophone pressings but will buy the mono box. I rarely buy anything off Itunes unless it has serious extras. That said, the itunes releases would immediately capture many of the top selling spots on itunes and it would be great press and profit all around. Not that either side needs it as much as you or me, but alas...oh and BTW, Sgt. pepper and Rubber Soul stereo mixes sound fantastic, i already loaded them to my ipod (AIFF size, im that much of a beatles geek)...

 

[enda1]

If the Beatles are not announced tomorrow to be available on iTunes, especially if this new cocktail feature becomes available (perfect for a special edition re-release of albums no??) then I will eat my shorts! - In fact I will eat all your shirts!

 

[SirROM]

Couldn't resist and thread needed comedy relief....

I thought you were going to be malicious. Lets cross our fingers and toes(my wife can do that)!

Yeah, but can YOU make your wife cross her toes?

 

[robogobo]

sounds pretty boring.

 

[clmason]

I'VE NOTICED WHEN I IMPORT A CD IN TO MY ITUNES LIBRARY IT DOES NOT SOUND AS GOOD AS WHEN I PURCHASE STRAIGHT FROM ITUNES.

AND YES I HAVE PURCHASED THE SAME ALBUM TWICE, ONCE AT TARGET, AND ONCE THROUGH ITUNES. I WANTED TO SUPPORT THAT PARTICULAR ARTIST AND BOUGHT THE ALBUM TWICE.

Why are you yelling? Check your import settings in iTunes, you can set mp3 bit rates. 384 is very good quality, most people can't tell it from CD. If it's set to 128 by default, that's the reason.

 

[VideoShooter]

I hope Steve makes an appearance. And I hope he's eaten a couple of sizable sandwiches since the last time I saw him. (university Ave in Palo Alto - he looked WAY too thin. Scary thin)

In fact, I may just park my truck in front of his house until the tablet is released. I'll sleep in the back and use a bucket as my bathroom.

 

[moneyman118]

Yeah, but can YOU make your wife cross her toes?

i CANT MAKE THE WIFE DO ANYTHING, ESPECIALLY IF I WANT NEW TOYS TOMORROW!

Why are you yelling? Check your import settings in iTunes, you can set mp3 bit rates. 384 is very good quality, most people can't tell it from CD. If it's set to 128 by default, that's the reason.

sorry not yelling, I work at a place which requires I type in all Cap's.
I'll give that a try!
Thank you!

 

[Bjohnson33]

Honestly, I think most of the people who want the Beatles on their ipod, already have them using other mechanisms. I think they are a few years late.

I agree, and I don't understand why EMI didn't jump at the chance to make them available a long time ago. Why not make your music available to as many people as possible, in as many forms as possible? It seems like a pretty easy decision to me.

 

[redfirebird08]

sorry not yelling, I work at a place which requires I type in all Cap's.
I'll give that a try!
Thank you!

Rip at 256 kbps and it should sound the same as iTunes.

 

[Goodeye]

I'm sorry I have to call out BS on All things D I think they are just trying to keep the rumor mill going and generate more hits on their site.

Apple almost ALWAYS hosts these keynotes especially the iPod ones on Tuesday, why a Wednesday all of the sudden unless there is some sort of special reason why. Beatles music gets the remastered release on 09-09-09 there is just too much significance with that date for them not to release beatles on iTunes.

If I recall Apple has made some of those "11th hour" deals hours before keynotes to ensure that specific music or DRM issues made it onto the iTunes updates.

 

[jlasoon]

Problem is: the computer has to be awake all the time for streaming to occur...

My MacPro does not sleep.

 

[rdowns]

Apple almost ALWAYS hosts these keynotes especially the iPod ones on Tuesday, why a Wednesday all of the sudden unless there is some sort of special reason why. Beatles music gets the remastered release on 09-09-09 there is just too much significance with that date for them not to release beatles on iTunes.

Because Monday was Labor Day.

 

[tekboi]

Sorry, but this event

This Event has disappointment written all over it.

Do they even listen to the mac community? who's has been asking for this stuff exactly?

Ipod w/ camera?? like seriously, who gives a ****?

itunes 9? couldn't they just upload it and make the announcement on the site?

this will probably be the biggest disappointment since macworld

 

[Peace]

Not to be a conspiracy freak or anything but why couldn't Apple have done this Tuesday Sept. 1st instead on 9/9/9.. Doesn't that kind of create speculation ?

 

[iSpaghettiCat]

I'm sorry I have to call out BS on All things D I think they are just trying to keep the rumor mill going and generate more hits on their site.

Apple almost ALWAYS hosts these keynotes especially the iPod ones on Tuesday, why a Wednesday all of the sudden unless there is some sort of special reason why. Beatles music gets the remastered release on 09-09-09 there is just too much significance with that date for them not to release beatles on iTunes.

If I recall Apple has made some of those "11th hour" deals hours before keynotes to ensure that specific music or DRM issues made it onto the iTunes updates.

Something about Labor Day.

I also assume they took the day off today from updating the iTunes Music Store to prepare for tomorrow.

 

[SFStateStudent]

Yup, a whole lotta' nothing; going nowhere.....

 

[joueboy]

Someday!

What I'm hoping for the iTouch in the very near future is a data service. I want internet everywhere anytime (aka netbook, Apple style only smaller). Make it open to any GSM network with swappable SIM. It doesn't have to be subsidized like iPhone just open it to all wireless provider local and international. Apple think about it!

 

[SirROM]

i CANT MAKE THE WIFE DO ANYTHING, ESPECIALLY IF I WANT NEW TOYS TOMORROW!


I think you misunderstood my meaning <hint, hint>

 

[fuziwuzi]

the polycarbon macbook and imacs need updates or refreshes at some stage. i kinda hope these are a spurpise at the conference.

 

[aprilfools]

I hope Apple keeps the iPod classic alive. My 80 gig iPod 5th only has 3 gigs of free space left. I was planning on getting a new iPod. Maybe I should just get the 120 gig while I still can?

If Apple stops making the classic, I hope the flash based iPod's are big enough to hold my iTunes Library. That is gonna screw us folks that have a large iTunes library if they don't. Something tells me I am the one that is going to lose here.

 

[macfan881]

according to yoko ono she's saying Beatles are coming to iTunes.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/08/...ing-to-itunes-according-to-yoko-ono/#comments

 

[FreeState]

Someone, please enlighten me!

I don't quite get the fascination with having the Beatles on iTunes. I am a big fan of them and got most of my Beatles already on my iTunes from other sources like CDs. Why is it so important to have them on iTunes?

Im not a Beatles fan - however there are a handful of songs off several albums I would like to buy but not the whole album. Thats where it would benefit me and the Beatles because Im more likely to copy them off a friend than buy the physical CD to get a few songs. Im sure Im not the only one.