Microsoft Targets iTunes Prices in New Zune Pass Commercial

[SpitzerCR]

It's another factor, but it's a MAJOR factor. People like Ferraris and most people easily could afford a Ferrari if they wanted to buy one but the cost is too much.

Some may say a vette is a better car, but if you WANT a ferrari who cares??

And i dont see ferrari going out of business... just like i dont see apple folding either.

I do understand its a huge factor but come companies simply stand out and achieve goals without slashing prices to make money...

 

[DMann]

Some may say a vette is a better car, but if you WANT a ferrari who cares??

And i dont see ferrari going out of business... just like i dont see apple folding either.

I do understand its a huge factor but come companies simply stand out and achieve goals without slashing prices to make money...

Yes, very well said.

Implementing innovation and achieving goals of producing well integrated, quality products = value as an entity.
Slashing prices to induce sales on already bargain bin grade products, scraping by, on low margin/high volume = value in the form of segregate components, which are not necessarily designed to optimally work together.

Value is not always garnered by merely settling for discount components.

 

[SACD02]

Any kind a online music is a rip off. The best way to enjoy music is CD and SACD. Part of music is the content itself, and the second part is listening to it in a highest fidelity
For other purposes, iPod will do fine as it has the best software and interface (Zune software isn't bad, but I prefer iTunes) but CD and SACD is the way to go for purchasing music

 

[armoguy94]

Any kind a online music is a rip off. The best way to enjoy music is CD and SACD. Part of music is the content itself, and the second part is listening to it in a highest fidelity
For other purposes, iPod will do fine as it has the best software and interface (Zune software isn't bad, but I prefer iTunes) but CD and SACD is the way to go for purchasing music

This man speaks the truth.

I hope in the future Apple implements lossless WAV or FLAC purchasing in the iTunes store as well as mp3.

Apple would gain so much profit if they highered the mp3 bitrate to 320 (or added a choice of 256 and 320), added WAV and FLAC downloading. Everyone would go there for a first resort with their cheap(ish?) pricing. I know I would at least. And if they allow FLAC downloading through the store that would mean adding native FLAC support to iTunes.

^ I doubt the above would happen, but it would pwn major butts.

 

[pwn247]

What an absurd commercial; the kids over a Microsoft obviously didn't do the math when they sent the script to Wes Moss (I've never even heard of him).

Apple tells us why we should choose product A over product B. Microsoft tells us that product B is cheaper than product A, but never actually compares the two. Apple's got the upper hand here.

The Zune will never come close to the iPod in market share, and iTunes will prevail as the best way to purchase music (I love iTunes). CDs, while they're still selling like hotcakes, are unfortunately becoming less popular and more expensive.

At this point I just wish Apple would go back to the everything-is-99-cents iTunes model. This new $1.29 deal is nonsense (although I believe the record companies forced that upon Apple).

 

[LagunaSol]

I hope in the future Apple implements lossless WAV or FLAC purchasing in the iTunes store as well as mp3.

Doubt it would happen, but if it did, it would be Apple Lossless, not WAV or FLAC.

Apple would gain so much profit if they highered the mp3 bitrate to 320 (or added a choice of 256 and 320)

The difference between 256 kbps and 320 kbps AAC is completely irrelevant to 99.9% of iTunes customers. The impact on profit would be negative - costs would rise while sales would stay the same.

I refused to buy at 128 kbps, but 256 kbps is acceptable to me. A bump to 320 would be insignificant.

And I would struggle to discern the difference between my Apple Lossless stuff and my 256 kbps AAC stuff, if I could do it at all.

 

[Sehnsucht]

And I would struggle to discern the difference between my Apple Lossless stuff and my 256 kbps AAC stuff, if I could do it at all.

I can, but it may be because I'm younger and have extremely sensitive hearing. Granted, the difference isn't phenomenal, but it is enough that I prefer Apple Lossless even over 256 Kbps AAC. A nice pair of Sennheisers really makes a difference too.

 

[SACD02]

Doubt it would happen, but if it did, it would be Apple Lossless, not WAV or FLAC.



The difference between 256 kbps and 320 kbps AAC is completely irrelevant to 99.9% of iTunes customers. The impact on profit would be negative - costs would rise while sales would stay the same.

I refused to buy at 128 kbps, but 256 kbps is acceptable to me. A bump to 320 would be insignificant.

And I would struggle to discern the difference between my Apple Lossless stuff and my 256 kbps AAC stuff, if I could do it at all.

The differences are there if you are listening on a good equipment (and no I dont mean $1000000 speakers) and what to look for. Nevertheless I do agree that the difference between 256kbps and 320kbps is rather small if done with good encoders

iTunes shouldn't introduce Apple Lossless because iTunes store is about instant gratification and getting your audio files fast
Those who care about their music and want a physical copy will buy the CD regardless

 

[cmfilms]

FOR SALE: One use financial analyst...

I wrote this dweeb a letter because I think he needed to hear some things.

Feel free to do the same: http://www.wesmoss.com/contact


Dear Wes,

This whole thing you're doing for Microsoft has completely destroyed your credibility with me. Good for you, you probably made a bundle and your delivery is great, but telling people that a subscription based service like ZunePass is a better deal then iTunes is disingenuous and downright crooked. You fail to mention that the music can't be burned to disc and if the person closes their account, they lose all their music. Also, I have never met anyone, ever that filled a whole mp3 player with downloaded music. It is possible to take CDs and legally rip them to your player. Or do you not think that's a smart financial move either?

You're a joke and the fact that your "financial advice" can be bought by the highest bidder makes that advice completely null and void. I hope it was a big paycheck, because the whispers I'm hearing when this commercial airs, is that you're a fraud and their financial future would be better served by a blind monkey with a dartboard.

 

[vansouza]

I wrote this dweeb a letter because I think he needed to hear some things.

Feel free to do the same: http://www.wesmoss.com/contact


Dear Wes,

This whole thing you're doing for Microsoft has completely destroyed your credibility with me. Good for you, you probably made a bundle and your delivery is great, but telling people that a subscription based service like ZunePass is a better deal then iTunes is disingenuous and downright crooked. You fail to mention that the music can't be burned to disc and if the person closes their account, they lose all their music. Also, I have never met anyone, ever that filled a whole mp3 player with downloaded music. It is possible to take CDs and legally rip them to your player. Or do you not think that's a smart financial move either?

You're a joke and the fact that your "financial advice" can be bought by the highest bidder makes that advice completely null and void. I hope it was a big paycheck, because the whispers I'm hearing when this commercial airs, is that you're a fraud and their financial future would be better served by a blind monkey with a dartboard.

God bless you I so agree with you.... but hostile much.

 

[QCassidy352]

This is dishonest on so many levels it's not even funny. Shame on MS.

 

[itsmenyc]

Cough... (troll) cough...

I'm not going to lie...I signed up for ZunePass a few months ago via Boot Camp on my Mac, and loved it. As much as I hate the idea of renting my music, the Zune software was EXCELLENT, and the ability to literally go through and just click "download" on entire albums and not worry about price is pretty awesome. I was able to discover so many new bands and songs that is really impossible to do using iTunes.

Zune is irrelevant to me unless they port a version over to OS X, but I don't see that happening, so it looks like this is irrelevant news story to Mac users. For Windows users, though, I can't strongly suggest enough at least trying out the 14-day trial. As much as I couldn't believe it, the Zune software is well-polished, has a very attractive UI, and offers a fantastic service.

If you're not going to lie, how long have you worked for Microsoft? LOL. The subscription model has been around forever and people are just not into it.