iTunes Countdown to 100 Million

[respin4]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that graph just based off of numbers coming from Apple's site anyway?

Also interesting to note, looking at the numbers: the last numbers before the last two 100,000 rollovers were quite interesting--

Before the 95,700,000 mark, the number was 95,699,366
Before the 95,800,000 mark, the number was 95,799,366

Quite the coincidence! Conspiracy theorists, your turn!

Spooky..!. Let's hope it is just a coincidence (or an error). The data is indeed taken from Apple's site but that's the point: if the counting is behind the real number by, let say, 10 minutes, then when everybody rushes to buy right before the 100 000 mark (let say at the 98 000) in reality they would be 10 minutes late and the jump in downloads from the Apple site would show up 10 minutes later. That is not the case.

Since Apple updates the count every 5 minutes there is still a possibility for a lag of that order but I doubt it. Also, by looking at the data it seems that some are rushing and buying quite early (between the 90 000 and the 95 000): in average 5 minutes represent less than 2000 songs with the amount going to around 4000 at the 100 000 mark. The best bet I believe is to buy once the counter passes 98 000.

Mr. E.

 

[Whyren]

Spooky..!. Let's hope it is just a coincidence (or an error). The data is indeed taken from Apple's site but that's the point: if the counting is behind the real number by, let say, 10 minutes, then when everybody rushes to buy right before the 100 000 mark (let say at the 98 000) in reality they would be 10 minutes late and the jump in downloads from the Apple site would show up 10 minutes later. That is not the case.

Since Apple updates the count every 5 minutes there is still a possibility for a lag of that order but I doubt it. Also, by looking at the data it seems that some are rushing and buying quite early (between the 90 000 and the 95 000): in average 5 minutes represent less than 2000 songs with the amount going to around 4000 at the 100 000 mark. The best bet I believe is to buy once the counter passes 98 000.

Mr. E.

Ah, I didn't think it through that way...I must've stayed up too late trying to get the overnight turnover last night

 

[MacinDoc]

If Apple would get its backside in gear and open a music store in Canada, I'd help push it over the top sooner...

 

[~Shard~]

If Apple would get its backside in gear and open a music store in Canada, I'd help push it over the top sooner...

Yep - you can add me to that list too. I realize it's not a simple thing to do, but what always gets me is how Napster and others have already launched music stores in Canada, proving that it's not impossible. If they can do it, what's your excuse Apple? Hopefully iTMS Canada is announced soon. We may not have a huge population, but we ARE the second-largest country in the entire world - doesn't that count for something?

 

[~Shard~]

95,979,208 - we're getting close to another winner!!! Apple must be loving this promotion... I'm surprised they didn't advertise it more though (not that they need to!)

 

[Savage Henry]

Does anyone know whether this 100mil target promo is actually pulling in new customers, or is it milking the rabid enthusiams of long-standing die-hards?

[95,980,933]

 

[nagromme]

I don't think this promo is meant to draw huge numbers of new people--it's meant to turn the 100-mil milestone into a bigger, more-reported, more-noticed event.

The short-term extra sales are fine too, but I suspect they're existing customers mainly.

 

[MacFan25]

I'm glad to see that this is becoming a successful promotion for Apple. Now if the media would start talking about it, like a blurb on CNN.com's technology section, then it would probably help a lot too.

 

[sebisworld]

http://itunescount.tijdweb.nl/

The time seems to be at least 4 minutes off. Take that into account when you try to win me the 17" PowerBook.

 

[starboard]

Yep - you can add me to that list too. I realize it's not a simple thing to do, but what always gets me is how Napster and others have already launched music stores in Canada, proving that it's not impossible. If they can do it, what's your excuse Apple? Hopefully iTMS Canada is announced soon. We may not have a huge population, but we ARE the second-largest country in the entire world - doesn't that count for something?

If you take the UK, France, and Germany stores as example, you can see that Apple fights harder to get terms that it wants. Compared to other musics store in Europe, iTMS has the lowest price with the most liberal DRM. Some would argue that the price could be lower or that the DRM could be more liberal, but no one can argue that they far better than Napsters and others. Napster and others were able to open their stores before iTMS by sacrificing consumer interest.

Just because Napster and other are able to open a store in Canada doesn't mean that its the kind of store that consumers want. I suspect that Apple is still negotiating to get a store up with terms that would be consistent to its current four stores.

 

[~Shard~]

If you take the UK, France, and Germany stores as example, you can see that Apple fights harder to get terms that it wants. Compared to other musics store in Europe, iTMS has the lowest price with the most liberal DRM. Some would argue that the price could be lower or that the DRM could be more liberal, but no one can argue that they far better than Napsters and others. Napster and others were able to open their stores before iTMS by sacrificing consumer interest.

Just because Napster and other are able to open a store in Canada doesn't mean that its the kind of store that consumers want. I suspect that Apple is still negotiating to get a store up with terms that would be consistent to its current four stores.

Very true - us Canucks will just have to be patient! I'm sure iTMS will definitely be worth the wait.

 

[VL-Tone]

The weirdest thing in Canada is that the Sony free tunes big mac promotion uses the Canadian PureTracks online music store, so what exactly is Sony promoting? The WMA tunes from PureTracks won't even play on their own new line of portable players and no conversion possible either since they are DRMed tunes.

The PureTracks DRM is also one of the most restrictive: you can only play tunes on ONE computer, and copy it to up to only three portable players, and the cd burn limit is usually three (they tout unlimited burns for some tunes but I guess it's only a few).


iTunes Music Store Psychedelic Counter

 

[backspinner]

The time seems to be at least 4 minutes off. Take that into account when you try to win me the 17" PowerBook.

Well, actually it's 3 minutes and 6 seconds. I'm sure that I will address this some time but I had other priorities first (as getting it to work in the first place for example).

 

[jessefoxperry]

hey, anyone using my itunes promo checkup app, just wanted to let ya know i updated it a bit. and if you aren't using it, you should.

iTunes Promo Checkup

 

[kafelatte]

The counter doesn't seem to update at a different rate that /100million/does.
For some one up above who asked - here is where to keep up on the elusive 2nd free song every week:

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPublishedPlaylist?id=47821

 

[krykert]

Oh, no!!

I think Apple just pulled the live count from their website. So much for the chase to 10 million.

It was fun while it lasted...

 

[degrush]

Counter taken down on Apple.com

It looks like Apple has taken down the counter for the moment at least.

 

[Whyren]

I think Apple just pulled the live count from their website. So much for the chase to 10 million.

It was fun while it lasted...

Back now. Good thing too. I nearly freaked out.

 

[backspinner]

they are back in business...

2004-07-05 06:20:00 96378125
2004-07-05 06:18:00 96378125
2004-07-05 06:16:01
2004-07-05 06:14:00
2004-07-05 06:12:00 96374086
2004-07-05 06:10:04 96374086


itunescount.tijdweb.nl now just fills in the mising values

 

[i_am_a_cow]

No Purchase Necessary!

 

[Whyren]

I hate to burst your bubble, but from Apple's official rules under section 3:

any Free Download Single of the Week will be deemed an ineligible entry

I wish it was that easy, though. However, if you still don't want to spend any money, also from the official rules under section 3:

a free alternative means of sending an email to Apple at itunes100@apple.com via the iTunes “Tell a Friend” feature (a song download or Tell a Friend email will be deemed an “Entry(ies”). The “Tell a Friend” feature can be easily accessed at iTunes by selecting a song, and clicking the “Tell a Friend” link that is displayed for that song. One Entry will be automatically submitted for each song downloaded or Tell a Friend email sent.

 

[wdlove]

I didn't really expect that downloading a free song would count. As long as it is clearly spelled out in the rules, then it's OK.

 

[Max12]

Buying or downloading?

Does anyone know what is it that counts as entry for an album, buying or downloading? For example, when I buy an album all the songs show in the Purchased Music playlist, in grey, and when they each download they turn to black. So if the count when I purchased was say, 96,489,560, then my entries would be ...560 to ...574, or do they count whenever they download, with many songs downloaded in between each of my downloads?

The thing is that if they count as entries when they download, then in theory you could quit iTunes after the count has gone over the 100,000th mark and continue downloading the rest of the album (by clicking on Check on Purchased Music) at the next 100,000th mark. If not, then it is probably better to buy songs at different intervals than buying a whole album and risk being way of the mark. (what is the point of buying 24 songs in a row when the best approximation is +/- 3000 songs, given the frequency of the updates?)

 

[purell16]

Any Winners

Has anybody actually won an iPod yet? Everytime the counter reaches the next 100,00 mark I have bought over 50 songs and sent some Tell a Friend emails and I still do not know if I have won anything. Are yall as determined to win as much as I am?

 

[Whyren]

Has anybody actually won an iPod yet? Everytime the counter reaches the next 100,00 mark I have bought over 50 songs and sent some Tell a Friend emails and I still do not know if I have won anything. Are yall as determined to win as much as I am?

Apple's official rules (section 7):

Notification. Apple will notify winners by e-mail and/or by post at the address provided within approximately three (3) days following selection of each winner. Apple is not responsible for any delay or failure to receive notification for any reason, including inactive e-mail account(s), technical difficulties associated therewith, or winner’s failure to adequately monitor any e-mail account or physical address. The winner must then respond to Apple within five (5) days. Should the winner fail to respond to Apple or be disqualified, Apple reserves the right to select a new, replacement winner. The replacement winner will be the entrant whose Entry was timed at immediately after the previous winner’s Entry. The winners will be listed online at http://www.apple.com/itunes/ within ten (10) days following the End Date. Individuals may request the name of the winners by submitting a self-addressed, stamped envelope before December 31, 2004 to: iTunes100 Contest, 1 Infinite Loop, MS: 301-4AM, Cupertino, California, 95014, United States. By participating, you agree to Apple’s inclusion of your first name on such list if you are a winner.