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iTunes Still Well Ahead of Amazon MP3 Store
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Jeeze. Amazon better quality and cheaper? Do they sell downloadable music in Canada or can I get it from Amazon.com? I thought Apple's quality was the best there is. It's not?
I download individual songs (I never buy albums), then burn them onto a compilation CD and I've had no problems at all with DRM - why is that an issue? I guess I should be re-thinking iTunes?
Rich
I download individual songs (I never buy albums), then burn them onto a compilation CD and I've had no problems at all with DRM - why is that an issue? I guess I should be re-thinking iTunes?
Rich
You are right about cheaper prices. Recently I ordered four CDs from Amazon. One of them was priced at only $1.99 the more expensive one was a double CD for About $12. I don't see any reason to buy MP3 tracks.
Amazon file quality, not seeing it...
Of the Amazon track I have a few top out at 256kbps, but I'm not seeing the 320s that are being mentioned. I like Amazon well enough, but their UI is awful and there is no shopping cart for digital tracks (at least one I can easily find).
How hard is it show me a list of tracks by an artists and let me sort on things like Album then Name rather than most popular or price (WTF, price is the last thing I would sort on).
In all fairness I have an eMusic account so I don't buy a lot. Though I have a few iTMS tracks saved up in my shopping cart (all iTunes +). Some day I may spend some real money there.
Of the Amazon track I have a few top out at 256kbps, but I'm not seeing the 320s that are being mentioned. I like Amazon well enough, but their UI is awful and there is no shopping cart for digital tracks (at least one I can easily find).
How hard is it show me a list of tracks by an artists and let me sort on things like Album then Name rather than most popular or price (WTF, price is the last thing I would sort on
).In all fairness I have an eMusic account so I don't buy a lot. Though I have a few iTMS tracks saved up in my shopping cart (all iTunes +). Some day I may spend some real money there.
The REAL losers here continue to be the record companies. It's still laughable to me to read post after post of people sounding like they're blaming Apple for the state of DRM on iTunes. It's the record companies. Check Amazon all you like, but while people want DRM-free, people truly LIKE iTunes... so in the end, the record companies are giving Apple a longer and STRONGER strangle-hold on the market, by allowing the continued sale of music that LOCKS people into iTunes, instead of what Apple is requesting... namely to remove all DRM from iTunes music entirely. Apple has offered non-DRM options to all of their partners, and while it seems blindingly obvious that the record companies should JUMP at the chance to not have their music "shackled" to iTunes, they continue to live under the delusion that if they totally go "DRM-free", they will be leaving money on the table somehow as piracy will increase.
Apple has done a great job of making it "difficult" to do much with music in the way of simply marching around to all one's friends, and redistributing all of your tracks. Apple has actively locked down the library file on its media devices. FINE. That's the trade off. You can't use Apple devices to redistribute the music you've added to your library. FINE. But, iTunes "music sharing" feature is a great way for a limited amount of listeners to "share" music without "redistributing" it.
The record industry needs to BACK OFF of their DRM stance, and let Apple free its customers to use their music however they like. The NEXT stop should then be the movie industry, and allowing people to "RIP" their DVDs freely and jukebox them.
~ CB
Apple has done a great job of making it "difficult" to do much with music in the way of simply marching around to all one's friends, and redistributing all of your tracks. Apple has actively locked down the library file on its media devices. FINE. That's the trade off. You can't use Apple devices to redistribute the music you've added to your library. FINE. But, iTunes "music sharing" feature is a great way for a limited amount of listeners to "share" music without "redistributing" it.
The record industry needs to BACK OFF of their DRM stance, and let Apple free its customers to use their music however they like. The NEXT stop should then be the movie industry, and allowing people to "RIP" their DVDs freely and jukebox them.
~ CB
I completely agree. I buy a lot of music and I only buy full albums. I stopped shopping at iTunes about six months ago.
If you're still buying music from the iTunes store it's because you either haven't tried/discovered Amazon yet, or you're a complete Apple fanboy and you want to pay MORE for a LESSER product just to give Apple the business (they are sitting on over 25 BILLION in cash, FYI).
I agree the interface of the iTunes store is slicker, but with the Amazon MP3 downloader, they are both very very easy to use.
Besides the higher quality and zero DRM (honestly do you need more reasons to switch?) Amazon has great specials every week. For instance, the top 50 albums of the year for 5 bucks apiece. Every Friday they have new deals.
My recommendation: if you love the iTunes store so much use it to search for and discover new music, but when it comes time to make the purchase click over to Amazon and buy it there. There's a good chance you'll save a few bucks AND get a better product.
PLUS: The reviews at Amazon are much more comprehensive and reliable.
/end rant.
Either way, I don't care about that. The reason I don't want DRM is not so I can share it illegally. The reason I don't want DRM is that I still want my music to work 20 years from now when Amazon and Apple are out of business. I can still listen to CDs I purchased in 1985. I should be able to listen to my music purchased today in 2028.
Its purely an education issues. Most users don't see the ramification of buying DRM music as they are happy with Ipods and Ipod docks. Try to play your music on a Sonos/whole house system and opinions would change. I refuse to buy DRM music but most of my friends who are only mildly into music don't know the difference.
i remember when apple sold its 100 millioneth song. just a couple years ago
point is dont count out amazon because of its measly 130 mill songs a year as anything can happen
point is dont count out amazon because of its measly 130 mill songs a year as anything can happen
The amazon store has just opened in the UK, and I have still bought from iTunes. Its convenient.
I do see Apple ditching DRM soon, it's the natural progression, people will stick to iTunes. When they do, a lot of others will fade away.
I do see Apple ditching DRM soon, it's the natural progression, people will stick to iTunes. When they do, a lot of others will fade away.
I don't buy downloadable music from either store. I either buy CDs or lossless files from the artist's website (ie. Nine Inch Nails) or buy the CD on the Amazon Marketplace for $4-$12 shipped. No quality issues, no DRM, no recording industry bull.
I am exclusively Amazon
I buy exclusively from Amazon. I no longer buy from the iTunes store.
The primary reason is the DRM. Secondary reasons:
* The iTunes interface is terrible. It is way too cluttered, and too difficult to see large numbers of results. The Amazon store lets me use browser tabs, and easily see results.
* Apple is too much of a control freak. This has become very apparent in the way they handle the iPhone app store, but has also been apparent in how they run the music store.
* I like to see some competition. So all else equal (which it's not, see above), I'll buy from the underdog.
I buy exclusively from Amazon. I no longer buy from the iTunes store.
The primary reason is the DRM. Secondary reasons:
* The iTunes interface is terrible. It is way too cluttered, and too difficult to see large numbers of results. The Amazon store lets me use browser tabs, and easily see results.
* Apple is too much of a control freak. This has become very apparent in the way they handle the iPhone app store, but has also been apparent in how they run the music store.
* I like to see some competition. So all else equal (which it's not, see above), I'll buy from the underdog.
Good and Bad
Good: Amazon DRM free tracks are nice, as is the iTunes integration.
Bad: The Amazon interface needs a major overhaul--it's not a pleasure to explore; more like type exactly what you want and hope they have it. Because of the Amazon interface, I find myself still buying from iTunes.
Ugly: Why isn't it antitrust that the record companies require different resellers to play by different rules? Doesn't seem fair.
Good: Amazon DRM free tracks are nice, as is the iTunes integration.
Bad: The Amazon interface needs a major overhaul--it's not a pleasure to explore; more like type exactly what you want and hope they have it. Because of the Amazon interface, I find myself still buying from iTunes.
Ugly: Why isn't it antitrust that the record companies require different resellers to play by different rules? Doesn't seem fair.
i've bought a couple of tracks of Amazon, it's not that hard, although it doesn't look like it's going to give Apple any competition. Apple has the leverage no matter what other company the music industry chooses to favor.
I'll second that...
Amazon has some great deals on whole albums that beat iTunes pricing often enough for me to bite. They (Amazon) seem to lack a fluid way of finding albums and artist that I seek out actively.
iTunes definitely changed the industry. But I also think it is a good thing that Steve-o has some competition every once in awhile. For my dollar, Amazon is the closest thing iTunes has to competition.
Amazon has some great deals on whole albums that beat iTunes pricing often enough for me to bite. They (Amazon) seem to lack a fluid way of finding albums and artist that I seek out actively.
iTunes definitely changed the industry. But I also think it is a good thing that Steve-o has some competition every once in awhile. For my dollar, Amazon is the closest thing iTunes has to competition.
well, glad that itunes is still doing well. i do hope that amazon puts more pressure on itunes so we'll get DRM free everything on itunes
I've never once used my browser to find music on Amazon. I default to Apple all the time (rarely i do go to Bleem), its just easier to get around and find what I want. DRM or not, I'm still going to buy from Apple.
If Amazon made an app which was more elegant than the browser I'm using I might give it a go.
If Amazon made an app which was more elegant than the browser I'm using I might give it a go.
That doesn't make sense. I never pay more than 99 cents for a song, and often pay less for certain songs with Amazon. If anything, you're spending MORE in iTunes.
I refuse to buy off iTunes now because I typically work alone in a lab setting at my school while editing photographs. I like to stream my laptop to one of the lab's bigger towers with loud speakers, but none of my iTunes DRM tracks will play this way unless I authorize any computer I happen to pick to be my loud jukebox. Now THAT is a hassle.
You think Amazon would have prices that low if there wasn't competition from iTunes?
The only problem with this report is that it doesn't seem to mention that the music from Amazon is not available to people who don't have a national Amazon site (ie me an Australian cannot purchase mp3s from any Amazon site) yet has access to iTunes. I contacted Amazon (US site) many months ago about the possibility of opening up their store to overseas people and they said they were looking into providing services abroad, but gave no guarantee it would work.
However, given the choice, there is more music I would purchase from Amazon than iTunes at the moment.
Plus, I never really believe statistics anyway:
Homer: Aw, people can come up with statistics to prove anything, Kent. 14 percent of all people know that.
However, given the choice, there is more music I would purchase from Amazon than iTunes at the moment.
Plus, I never really believe statistics anyway:
Homer: Aw, people can come up with statistics to prove anything, Kent. 14 percent of all people know that.
Not a rurpsie
I don't really think this is surprising.
Especially with the current economy, more and more people are buying non-iPod MP3 players. All the Sansas are more popular than one would expect, and I'm not even talking about the plethora of generics that you can find in any walmart and target. Plus more and more cars support MP3.
Hence, when I buy music, I only buy MP3s from Amazon. Not only do they have great deals (e.g., the new Killers for 4$ on day of release), but it's DRM free high quality MP3.
My iTunes bought stuff, on the other hand, I can't get on my Sansa or my car.
I don't really think this is surprising.
Especially with the current economy, more and more people are buying non-iPod MP3 players. All the Sansas are more popular than one would expect, and I'm not even talking about the plethora of generics that you can find in any walmart and target. Plus more and more cars support MP3.
Hence, when I buy music, I only buy MP3s from Amazon. Not only do they have great deals (e.g., the new Killers for 4$ on day of release), but it's DRM free high quality MP3.
My iTunes bought stuff, on the other hand, I can't get on my Sansa or my car.
I find I've been going to Amazon by default. I can listen to track samples one after the other without having to click on each one. I can find not only cheap prices for digital downloads but also used CDs. And the album reviews are actually useful.
I haven't bought from iTunes since 2006.
I haven't bought from iTunes since 2006.