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Six Months Later: 'iTunes LP' Format Performance Remains Lackluster

Personally I buy albums 99% of the time.
I have a couple of these LPs, and numerous others with those digital booklet things, and interview videos and such. They're just annoying fluff that I usually delete.
I'm glad that cover art is going to be staying around for a long time yet - but that's about as much extra as you need.
Is there *anyone* who gets anything out of these things?
 
Price and quality

The price difference between Amazon and iTunes is significant. At the same time, the tracks I buy from Amazon are noticeably lower quality. AAC reproduces audio more faithfully at the same bit rate as MP3, so that makes sense. Some people doubt this but, while they may not be able to perceive the difference, and that difference becomes less perceptible as you raise the quality of the bit rates, AAC's superiority is a mathematical fact. Also see AAC in Wikipedia.
 
There's just too many restriction IMO. People wanna listen to their music everywhere (lots of players just can't play back AAC) and watch the extra DVD on the big TV and sound system, not a laptop.

It's totally overpriced too. I'm boycotting iTunes actually and offer my music on e-Junkie in highest quality MP3, full album art, liner notes and sometimes full lyrics, making of videos, tons of pictures etc.
 
FSMBP said:
I hate the $1.29 songs. So I just headed over to Amazon, got the same exact DRM-Free $1.29 songs for $0.99.

iTunes appeals to people who actually are so into a band that they would pay 30-40% more for an album. All those bonus videos can be found on YouTube and over 'cool' things aren't exciting. Plus, God forbid I would buy an iTunes LP and watch one of the videos on my flatscreen...the only way for that is using another Apple product to watch it.
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I buy from Amazon on principle. First, no taxes and second, its cheaper most of the time.
 
Well I've never come across an iTunes LP, and I don't think it's something I should be looking for, it should rather find me, just like everything else that's similar does on iTunes. I never really liked the idea, I mean the internet contains far more information about any band than you can imagine, just have a look at the band's website, it's already a cool experience and they all have one. The point of the CD and Record leaflets was to get extra info to fans, but it's no longer needed. If you want lyrics, artwork, videos, special stuff, just Google it and you have it on thousands of websites simultaneously. I can see why no one is really motivated to make iTunes LPs separately, there isn't really a demand for it.

I mean okay, it's more convenient to have all that in iTunes automatically in a neat interface, without having to go through websites that only offer ringtones and stuff. But it's fairly easy to get access to all of that info if you care.

But I don't think it's really a big deal if this LP thing doesn't work out, it's not like you have to pay for it...

Oh yeah and about AAC: I like to burn audio CDs for my car CD player, since I hate listening to the radio. My CD player allows for browsing the CD in subfolders, something iTunes doesn't burn. So I have to use another program to burn the CDs, therefore I have to go through the hassle of Right Click on song in iTunes > Show in Finder > Open File with some audio editor > Save it > Burn THAT onto the CD, for each song I buy, since the car CD player only reads MP3s. The best workaround is to download the songs again from LimeWire and they're in the MP3 format already. But it's a pain! I don't care that AAC is better quality, just like the Mini DisplayPort: It's not compatible with anything!
 
labels don't want to spend the $$. its that simple.

if it were easier, and less proprietary to apple. i am sure they would do it. ie do the digital album programming for all the online suppliers, ie including Amazon.
 
luckylou said:
The price difference between Amazon and iTunes is significant. At the same time, the tracks I buy from Amazon are noticeably lower quality. AAC reproduces audio more faithfully at the same bit rate as MP3, so that makes sense. Some people doubt this but, while they may not be able to perceive the difference, and that difference becomes less perceptible as you raise the quality of the bit rates, AAC's superiority is a mathematical fact. Also see AAC in Wikipedia.
Click to expand...

It seems if you're that concerned on quality, you wouldn't be downloading from iTunes or ACC.

The quality difference for me is little to non between the two; I guess people who are picky will pay for what they get.

And to whoever said "Why is it called LP"..it's because 'records' back in the day were known as 'LP's aka Long Plays; EPs, extended plays, were shorter durations. Those records all had high-res images (printed on the case) & liner notes; hence the name iTunes LP.
 
What 3 comic books would those be? I've never heard of comics being sold on iTunes? :confused:
 
*LTD* said:
Apple had to make this deal, apparently.
Click to expand...

Any sources to verify this statement? Without them, we'll just have to take that Apple tried something and failed. It wouldn't be the first time and it's no big deal, people and companies do that all the time. It's just adult life.


But "up to $60.000"?! Wow, for that money as an incentive, record labels could get something really nice. Which one is the nicest LP, by the way?
 
The record companies just don't get it....

CUSTOMERS ARE NOT WEARING THEIR 'I'M WITH STUPID' T-SHIRTS SITTING IN THEIR ROOM WITH THE SHAG RUG FLIPPING THRU THIER MUSIC WITH OVERSIZED HEADPHONES ON THIER NECK!!

Sorry but if they haven't taken notice, todays music buyer is someone often in motion and has much if not all of their collection on one if not several different iPods depending on their mood or activity and barely look at the screen much of the time.

You WANT to sell FULL ALBUMS it's really simple price them at the cost of 3 maybe 4 singles.. Yes $5.99 or $6.99. Perhaps then people would migrate back to buying full albums.

It's their own fault.. they all but FORCED the concept of buying single songs over albums on the online buyer. Looking back it took quite some time for FULL albums to even appear. iTunes was filled with numerous 'partial' albums and as a result people became conditioned to buy only the tracks they actually wanted (imagine that!). I go back some (yes at one time I did have a shag rug) and if it were tapes or records or CDs everyone USUALLY bought the whole album... Sure 45s existed and even 'CD Singles' but who wanted to carry around a truck load of CD singles... and on top of that many songs just weren't available in a single format.

Now if they want to fix it (and I'm not even sure of this would do it) but drop the price of full albums down to a much more reasonable price AND start including a bonus track (perhaps a live version of one of the album songs) that would only come with the album. Maybe something like that would do it... also if they want to put some effort in perhaps try selling 'gold albums' with the tracks at 320kbs (I think thats right) for those people who are willing to pay for a higher bit-rate. Maybe then they can start charging the prices they are currently selling at. (but they still need to sell low cost catalog albums at the same time)

But what do I know...
 
Gorillaz has an iTunes LP that just came out. I might be interested in that, but I think I'd rather have CD quality.

As it has been said before, the ability to easily create your own LPs would make this take off. I'm still hoping for the ability to turn my DVDs, menus and all, into LP files, (or just ISO support in iTunes). With the industry recently destroying Real's method of merely ripping and LOCKING a DVD to a single computer, I don't see much hope for this. It seems that ripping CDs is as far as the entertainment industry is willing to bend.
 
On paper I love the sound of iTunes LP. I love buying products and getting a wide multimedia experience (I try this myself with my games, I like to bundle the OST in high bitrate MP3 with artwork+meta data to just drop into itunes, artbooks, manuals), it just adds to the overall package nicely. But I've just not bothered with iTunes LP past the first few I tried.
I don't have an iPod Touch, are they compatible with them? Or the iPad? Full compatibility across the media board might help performance.
 
I really like the iTunes LP concept. For me, music isn't just background or filler. There are times when I sit down and focus directly on what I'm listening to. I like album art and other extras for these times. Am I in the minority? Probably, but that's okay. Even if it's a smaller market, it has its place.

The problem, though, is the selection is really small. There just isn't much I'm interested in.
 
I think iTunes LP are a good idea. It's the "next step" in digital downloads (same goes for iTunes Extras). The thing I feel is that Apple are this close to being the best in a lot of aspects and in all of their markets, but they hold back and censor and limit all of these cool features that are not at all difficult to take to market or, in most cases, improve.

Ams.
 
iTunes LP isn't that bad of a thing, but why anybody thought this would jazz people under the age of 50 is beyond me. I'm 32 and bought maybe a couple of actual LPs in my lifetime back when I was really young. I think it was because my parents knew 8-track sucked and I don't think audiocassette had taken off yet. Did I care about crap like liner notes and lyrics? Not really.

Now I do like those features, especially lyrics, but I'm not willing to pay the extra $5 or $7 or whatever for that. I bought Taylor Swift's "Fearless" LP and like all the extra videos. But this won't drive any sales.

iTunes shoppers like music tracks and low prices. Put more good songs on iTunes and more stuff will be sold.
 
not the tax thing again

Full of Win said:
I buy from Amazon on principle. First, no taxes and second, its cheaper most of the time.
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You are legally obligated to pay sales tax, whether the store collects it or not.

I think the fact that iTunes collects sales tax is a plus. Otherwise, you have to keep track of your purchases and pay the tax directly to the state or local government when you file your taxes.

If you don't do this, then you are evading taxes and might as well just pirate your music while you're at it. :)
 
I quite like the LP idea. I have two LP albums. The price isn't any higher and includes things that some fans might find interesting (i.e. videos, artwork, lyrics, animations, etc.). The songs themselves are fairly high bit-rate and do not have DRM. The LP concept, if pushed to more albums would have allowed iTunes to distinguish itself among the many online retailers.
 
I have gone off buying music on iTunes. You get crappy AAC files at 256kb/s, and albums cost between £7.99 and £8.99 here in the UK.

You can buy an uncompressed, with a booklet, physical CD for £5 on the high street. This includes top 20 chart albums.

I know which one I want to buy if I like the band.
 
jo0 said:
please tell me....what was the point of LP in the first place.
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heh, I never understood it either. When I buy a CD I trash everything but the CD. When I buy an iTunes album, I delete any booklets it comes with. I don't care about that stuff, I'll google it if I'm really that interested.
 
I don't care who it was who came up with iTunes LP; whoever it was—if they thought it would be popular right now, they were kidding themselves.

They should have waited until iPad becomes real popular. Then debut iTunes LP and make them able to be experienced on the iPad.
 
iTunes LP started in a great direction to bridge the gap between physical and digital media. Obviously something went wrong, or simply nobody cares anymore.
 
FSMBP said:
I hate the $1.29 songs. So I just headed over to Amazon, got the same exact DRM-Free $1.29 songs for $0.99
Click to expand...
There are a couple of flaws in your very short post.

#1 ) You make it sound like iTunes still has DRM. It doesn't. They are DRM-free, too.
#2 ) You are not getting the same exact song... it's the same song; HOWEVER: The file that you buy is not quite the quality as the iTunes version. To be clear 256 AAC is better quality than 256 MP3.

You do pay pay 30¢ less, if you're cherry picking. If I buy from iTunes, I buy the $9.99 and get all the songs at the same discounted price I always have.

99.99% of the time, I buy the CD from Amazon ("VERY GOOD" USED) for a song and rip at 320 AAC and have liner notes, lyrics and a very handy back-up should a catastrophe happen.
 
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