Walmart Music Store - Beta Testing

[tychay]

Originally posted by Gymnut
I wonder if they'll do something lame and only carry the "clean" versions of tracks/albums.

Yes. They call it "edited". Also, some tracks are removed. No surprise. It's part of their "family-friendly" rationalization.

Like it or not (I don't) Wal*Mart has revolutionized the retail industry.* However, their online store hasn't been very successful. I remember they once made a big hoopla about selling airplane tickets online. Where is that now?

* And will continue to do so. Right until the point that most of the employees get replaced with computerized RFID systems. For better or for worse.

 

[tychay]

Re: WM9 should be an option

Originally posted by Wendy_Rebecca
Precisely. Apple needs to give people a choice and offer WM9 format. Their adherence to a closed model will, in the long run, hurt them greatly.

We like options. Right, Stevie? Right? Steeevieee.....????

No. Apple needs to give people a choice and open up FairPlay (the DRM they use with AAC). Don't expect Wal*Mart to carry these files though (the DRM is not restrictive enough for them).

The closed model is Windows Media 9, not AAC (Dolby). As nearly any study will show, WM is a crappy compression standard (it wasn't made for 128-bit encoding and does poorly against even MP3, it's really only a decent format for 64-bit). Add to that the proprietary nature controlled by a single company (instead of a consortium like AAC) with a history of using monopoly levers.

Take care,

terry

 

[coolsoldier]

Re: AAC

Originally posted by nmc
i wish people would get there heads out of their ass and realise that AAC is NOT a "closed" Apple format. the AAC encoding method is part of the MPEG-4 standards...thats standards folks, as in industry, not very closed that one. it's either that or MP3, a more widely available standard, because it's been adopted by many.

This issue has been beaten into the ground so many times -- it doesn't matter if the file format on iTunes is technically open if only Apple's software and hardware can decrypt it. The openness of the file format is not really an issue at all, the issue is the openness of the encryption. And since both encryption formats are closed, it comes down to the fact that Microsoft is more willing to license their proprietary encryption scheme than Apple is willing to license their proprietary encryption scheme.

 

[kidA]

apple needs to support the windows media 9 codec, not offer it. they need to stick with AAC.

wma format is not that bad either. it's not the best, but it's not bad.

you'll never see a music store use OGG because of its completely open nature.

anyone who thinks "oooh, 11 cents cheaper, big freaking deal" doesn't understand. think about it for about 2 seconds. you're looking this through you mac biased-tinted glasses. most people aren't. you think there's a big difference between AAC and WMA, and most people don't even know what that means. 11 cents doesn't seem like a lot until you realize that it's a more than 10% price difference. we're not talking about 11 cents on a $20 item here. were talking 11 cents on an item that costs less than a dollar. if you had the choice to pay $88 to buy 100 songs or $99 for the same 100 songs, and you didn't know the difference between AAC and WMA (and frankly, unless you listen really really closely, which most don't, the audible differences are completely negligible at 128 Mbps), you'd choose to save $11 every time.

 

[esternullo]

Walmart, always low prices, always s***y pay for its employees...

besides, WMA format, need i say more...

 

[nmc]

Re: Re: AAC

Originally posted by coolsoldier
And since both encryption formats are closed, it comes down to the fact that Microsoft is more willing to license their proprietary encryption scheme than Apple is willing to license their proprietary encryption scheme.

Personally, that's fine and dandy with me. Apple have always sold "the whole package" experience and for me, that fits like a glove.

Maybe Apple will license the technology (or the commision will), who knows, but I really couldn't care. If it ain't broke don't fix it or try to patch the **** out of it.

I'm on both sides of the fence on a daily basis, running a Win network during the day and I already have a long track record of using the technology in both studio and creative environments...the choice is not in dispute - when i switch the gear on, it boots, it works, it keeps working, it sleeps and does it all again the next session without so much as a twinge. If they choose to stick with a seemingly "proprietary" format, I'll happily wait until the rights/agreements with labels are ironed out and the store opens in the UK. No Wal-Mart type pap for me, I trust what I know and know what I trust.

 

[Phaedrus]

Sucks

Lawrence Lessig posted a lawyer's analysis of Wal Mart's license agreement. The draconian nature of this license should throw plenty of cold water on "88 cent" hype.

Lessig Blog