iTunes Announcements?

[geerlingguy]

Maybe they could encode all their music at 48Khz or even 96Khz (24bit) instead of the normal 44khz (CD quality).

All Macs made in the last 5 years should be able to play 48Khz music and all you need is a USB or firewire sound card on the older Macs to play 96Khz music.

You can quote me on this: iTMS will not have 96 Khz. At least not in this decade. The only people who care enough are audiophiles... probably, at MOST, 1% of iTMS users. Very few consumers even have speakers good enough to hear a difference between 44.1 and 96 Khz audio, especially AAC compressed audio.

I'm just hoping for a few small things:

1) more promotions (free songs rock )
2) larger library (just think if iTMS was 'first to a million songs!')
3) full-length previews (I don't think this will happen, though... )

 

[jncrow]

music store

For me I am hoping for a wishlist feature on itms plenty of music I would like to get and get it all searched for but can only get a certain amount each time and just have to delete it from my shopping cart. Then have to remember and go add it again when I can buy some more. Would be nice to get a whole list built up and then just transfer to the shopping cart and buy as you can.

 

[Trowaman]

And there are updates and I am a very happy man. Hello Foo Fighters.

and there went my last 2 Pepsi credits.

Thanks Steve for giving me something really good to use my last 2 credits on.

 

[valx]

No New Music Tuesday = ?

Well, if they added _that_ much new music, you would think they would have at least done their normal "interface" updates. Instead they did not update even one thing on the Home page or _any_ of the genre pages. Hmmm, add "double or triple" the normal amount of music, but don't even perform the normal "interface" updates? Interesting....

 

[Koodauw]

iTunes 5.0???

I'm ready to donwload.

 

[Frisco]

iTunes 5.
What color do you think the icon will be?

 

[JGowan]

The CENT SIGN is easy to do!

$.99 just has a good 'ring' to it

It seems that most people do the whole "$.99" thing when 99¢ is so much better!

OPTION 4 on a Mac = ¢

(It's easy to remember the "4" because that's already the "$" sign)

I'm not dissing, just sharing.

 

[nesbitt_a]

I doubt they'll announce iTunes 5 tomorrow. Would Steve really pass up the opportunity to show off a new version of their flagship product?

I predict a new iTunes at the WWDC. Hard to know though.



By the way - WWDC is always Apples *big* product introduction chance. I've they've updated the powerbooks, ibooks, emacs etc what can we expect to see in June?!


-- Andrew

 

[niar]

They have Amalgamation of Soundz now. From Dorado Records
it's London based small Record label... Dorado and OM and have quietly came along.

 

[sushi]

You can quote me on this: iTMS will not have 96 Khz. At least not in this decade. The only people who care enough are audiophiles... probably, at MOST, 1% of iTMS users. Very few consumers even have speakers good enough to hear a difference between 44.1 and 96 Khz audio, especially AAC compressed audio.)

So true!

iTMS is designed for the average consumer who wants convenient decent sounding music.

Audiophiles comprise a very small portion of the population. For example, how many folks on this rumors list have stereos that cost in excess of 10,000 USD? I would venture to say very few.

And most true audiophiles have equipment that is way more expensive -- seen up to a 250,000 USD system before. Only played one CD at a time!

Anyhow, iTMS will remain a 44.1K store for quite some time.

Sushi

 

[sushi]

For me I am hoping for a wishlist feature on itms plenty of music I would like to get and get it all searched for but can only get a certain amount each time and just have to delete it from my shopping cart. Then have to remember and go add it again when I can buy some more. Would be nice to get a whole list built up and then just transfer to the shopping cart and buy as you can.

Neat idea!

Just like Amazon.com and some other web based stores.

That would definitely be sweet!

Sushi

 

[JGowan]

I bought ... a 2G 10GB iPod ... then ... Apple release the 3G iPod and the 15GB was bigger capacity for less ... than my 10GB one.

Well, IMHO, the only loss was the capacity and a few pounds because while the new 3G version is slick, the SOLID STATE scroll wheel with buttons along the edge kicks the crap out of the new version. Much more intuitive to stick your had in your pocket to manipulate the buttons. Also, the new 3G buttons are WAY TOO sensitive. I like the "roundness" of the new 3G, the sharper BLUE screen, the new features, BUT as far as usability, you have the winner! Take it from someone who has had:

1gen 5GB; 2gen 10GB; 2gen 15GB; 2gen 20GB; 3gen 30GB and finally 3gen 40GB.

I have had just about all of them because I buy at CompUSA and have worked their TAP plan like crazy.

 

[JGowan]

Foo Fighters...

"Learn to Fly" on the "There is Nothing Left to Lose" CD is BLANK ... 30 seconds of silence.

 

[Trowaman]

"Learn to Fly" on the "There is Nothing Left to Lose" CD is BLANK ... 30 seconds of silence.

The previews are out of order as well. Learn to Fly preview is on the next track and that preview is on the next, etc. Not up to par with the usual stuff iTunes, what gives? Too busy working on 5.0 for tomorrow?

 

[sushi]

Well, IMHO, the only loss was the capacity and a few pounds because while the new 3G version is slick, the SOLID STATE scroll wheel with buttons along the edge kicks the crap out of the new version. Much more intuitive to stick your had in your pocket to manipulate the buttons. Also, the new 3G buttons are WAY TOO sensitive. I like the "roundness" of the new 3G, the sharper BLUE screen, the new features,

Anybody have both a 3G and a Mini?

If so, how do the controls seem on the Mini vice the 3G?

Personally, I have the 1G 10GB iPod. Like it. Didn't particularly like the 3Gs button layout. Looking forward to seeing how the Mini works.

Thanks!

Sushi

 

[impierced]

What happened to $9.99?

I went to purchase two CDs today on iTMS, to help with the 100 million goal, and found that the two I wanted were $13.99.

I can purchase the physical CDs at that price.

 

[robsworld]

Major announcements through a telephone conference?

Hmmmm
I don't believe that Steve will announce major new things like iTunes 5 through a telephone conference

So I expect as the best thing a release date for iTMS Europe.

rob

 

[mprenfro]

When??

Is it coming to Japan?? Waiting forever!!!

 

[msandersen]

iTunes 5

Well, an otherwise reliable source who predicted the recent software releases also gave details of QuickTime 7. Assuming QT7 is ready for release, that certainly means a major iTunes release. More and better support for other music formats/codecs and faster encoding/ripping perhaps. They'll never support WMA, though, not even for playback only.
iTunes for Windows needs a lot better interface performance. Even on consumer Macs (well, before the update) the responsiveness is poor. Windows doesn't have the advantage of Quartz. I'm sure Apple won't get rid of the excessive chrome, but something to make it more responsive on lesser hardware would be good.
Included artwork and lyrics in downloads (optional hi-res jpegs?), plus the option of higher sampling rates for the audiophiles on broadband, would be nice. I have nothing to sync with, but the aforementioned improvements to syncing would be good.
Allowing others to use FairPlay is needed to broaden the takeup of AAC over WMA.
On a related note, I note 3G phones here will now get 3Mb downloadable videoclips from Sony and others in MPEG-4 AAC format for AUS$3 a pop, which is about what they sell music ringtones for. Currently, the only protection is that it won't save or send to anything. Add Fairplay, and they will be able to save and email those videoclips.

iPods are just begging for an inbuilt radio, even digital radio for some countries, to compete with some low-end offering coming out.

On the rumor that 40Gb iPods are going down in stock, the other niche market itching to be exploited are color iPods you can plug your camera into like a giant Flash card (Hmm, Bluetooth wireless connectivity?).
On a holiday, toting your laptop around or a large collection of backup Flash cards could be replaced by one video iPod with Firewire2 connectivity with an inbuilt iPod iPhoto for previewing your snaps, maybe even basic editing like cropping and rotating.
Consider how convenient it was for Peter Jackson who used his iPods in production of the last 2 LOtR movies to transport terabytes of roughs (over months and 2 movies, naturally!) sent from NZ to London by satellite, and transported by iPod to his home, and played directly into his Powerbook for approval and comment during videoconference calls. We may not need a FCPro iPod, but an iPhoto iPod (iPhod?) would be nice for the amateur camera buffs among us.

 

[ITR 81]

Is it coming to Japan?? Waiting forever!!!

Probably once the new Osaka Store opens this fall.

I have feeling iTunes will open in Europe, Canada and Japan this yr.

 

[Frisco]

Well, IMHO, the only loss was the capacity and a few pounds because while the new 3G version is slick, the SOLID STATE scroll wheel with buttons along the edge kicks the crap out of the new version. Much more intuitive to stick your had in your pocket to manipulate the buttons. Also, the new 3G buttons are WAY TOO sensitive. I like the "roundness" of the new 3G, the sharper BLUE screen, the new features, BUT as far as usability, you have the winner! Take it from someone who has had:

1gen 5GB; 2gen 10GB; 2gen 15GB; 2gen 20GB; 3gen 30GB and finally 3gen 40GB.

I have had just about all of them because I buy at CompUSA and have worked their TAP plan like crazy.

Agreed! The 1st generation iPod was the best one made. They fixed something that wasn't broke and made it worse. I love the 1st generation scroll wheel. I hope the 4th generation iPod uses a scroll wheel design like the original or at the least like the Minis.

 

[SiliconAddict]

Wow. Per someone's comment about higher priced albums I started browsing album prices. The prices have turned asinine. Did this just start or have I just been too focused on individual tracks to notice?!?! I'm not spending $13,$15,$16+ bucks on a freaking album when I can get a CD from the store for as much or cheaper. Thankfully iTMS is still selling by track but for how long. IMHO this is going to hurt the store.
Even more so if the rumors about jacking up the prices of individual songs comes true. Greedy, evil, SOB, music exec bastards.

I hope Jobs announcement for tomorrow is a strategic guerrilla warfare style takeover of all music studios' worldwide by Apple employees.
Quote from tomorrow's announcement: "Enough of this Bull****. I didn't like big business when I started Apple. I still don't. Time's up ******s"

One can dream can't he?

 

[Frisco]

Anybody have both a 3G and a Mini?

If so, how do the controls seem on the Mini vice the 3G?

Personally, I have the 1G 10GB iPod. Like it. Didn't particularly like the 3Gs button layout. Looking forward to seeing how the Mini works.

Thanks!

Sushi

The controls and scroll wheel on the Mini is way better than 3rd generation iPods. It offers much more tactile feedback.

 

[m-dogg]

"Anybody have both a 3G and a Mini?

If so, how do the controls seem on the Mini vice the 3G?

Personally, I have the 1G 10GB iPod. Like it. Didn't particularly like the 3Gs button layout. Looking forward to seeing how the Mini works.

Thanks!"

I've had a 2nd gen 20gb and now use a 3rd gen 30gb, and my girlfriend has a mini. While I have no problem using the controls on my 30gb without looking at it (I t took me maybe 2 days to adjust from my 2nd gen, tops), I really like the mini's click wheel except for one thing - The wheel is too small for my taste. I guess my big thumb likes to make bigger circles when scrolling.

When it comes down to it though, they're all amazingly easy to use in my opinion...

Also, my guess for tomorrow's call is that Steve will announce ITMS Europe - That seems easier to announce over a phone call to me...

 

[pkradd]

Tomorrow is a telephone meeting between Apple's SJ and the analyst and tech reporter community so don't be disappointed if no new products are released. It's possible but really it isn't the reason for the conference call. It is basically going to be a live press release rather then a printed one (which will most likely also be published). Some reports say a color screen iPod with a scroll wheel similar to the mini is next, but release dates are foggy. Makes sense that this would be Gen 4 for the iPod. It has been mentioned over the past few months as well. It's coming but when is the question.