Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon - Gizmodo Comments

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

GizMac — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 18:35:29 EST

One thing that has not been brought up regarding iTunes is that you can't purchase music outside of your own country. There is a hell of a lot of music available on the UK iTunes store (and likely the German, French, etc...) that is simply not allowed to be purchased from the U.S. Perhaps Amazon.co.uk will allow us to purchase mp3's from the U.S., since they allow us to purchase anything else.

GizMac

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

Dearhaw — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:58:58 EST

@Oracle989:

"I tried the burn as MP3 to CD trick, only to find that Apple has stopped that a few versions before."

WITF are you talking about? It's OK not to use iTunes, and even hating on Apple. Just don't try spreading false information while you're at it, eh?

Dearhaw

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

someToast — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 13:34:44 EST

@theespacepope: "Why would anyone buy anything from iTunes?"

Because when it comes down to a choice between a DRM-free track from either service, some people prefer AAC.

someToast

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

ITsPennywise — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 13:07:04 EST

@pocketcowboy:
Amazon is just as convienent as iTunes. The amazon downloader downloads the music and automatically puts it into your iTunes library with Cover Art and all. And the savings add up. Most albums in Amazon are $1 to 2$ less then iTunes.

And the best part? They're the universal MP3 format and DRM free.

AmazonMP3 > iTunes anyday!

ITsPennywise

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

Oracle989 — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 10:14:02 EST

I used to use iTunes for my music purchases. Then, I got a phone that could do MP3, so I, being so naieve and ignorant, tried moving the iTunes .m4p or wahtever they are to the phone, and I tried the burn as MP3 to CD trick, only to find that Apple has stopped that a few versions before. Now I just buy the CD and rip it, sometimes from a store, alot from Amazon. That is, IMO, the best way to get music on your MP3 player. You get the files AND a disc of it already there, and I NEVER remember to back up stuf fliek that, so that works out pretty good. As long as Sony doesn't give me tons of rootkits.

Oracle989

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

chr71 — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 09:51:48 EST

I live in Chile. Neither Itunes Store nor Amazon allows me to buy AND pay for music. May I consider me morally entitled to use the torrents?

chr71

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

theespacepope — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 08:33:28 EST

Why would anyone buy anything from iTunes? I thought everyone on this sight was against DRM or any of its eveil brethren? If i buy music online I use amazon. It's fast and it automatically syncs with your WM/iTunes library.

theespacepope

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

DW — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 03:14:21 EST

Apple should offer variable pricing. It actually has it's benefits as long as it is used wisely. I think Amazon has done so. For example, Amazon's price of 89 cents for new DRM-free songs is a total steal. On the more expensive end, I found Fatboy Slim's "Song for Shelter" on Amazon for $1.95, but it wasn't available on iTunes at all unless you purchased the entire album (for $9).

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

xAppleFan — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 23:17:23 EST

Amazon to iTunes: All your MP3's are belong to us!

xAppleFan

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

VNSROCK — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 13:47:37 EST

Most songs on Amazon are .89. I usually go there first, but about 1/2 the time I have to go to iTunes because Amazon doesn't have the track. I use Amazon first not to save .10, but to get track DRM free.

We have too many computers in our household to have to deal with the 5 computer limit imposed by Apple's Fair Play DRM, especially since I have to to count each Mac running Windows via Parallels as two machines!

VNSROCK

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

ark_v2 — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 13:42:47 EST

OMFG, HELLZ YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!

ark_v2

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

donlphi — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 13:21:22 EST

@Noobs-R-Us: They won't do it until they absolutely need to. A lot of people get set in their ways. If you have ever attended MacWorld, the average age of attendees is late 40s early 50s. We all prefer less change, but that age level HATES change because they don't want to "learn" something again, they've already done it 4 times. It would literally require amazon to sit in at an Apple store and do a ONE to ONE bs session to guide them step by step with one of these guys to get them to change.

donlphi

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

Noobs-R-Us — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 12:16:42 EST

We're still waiting for the big announcement that iTunes will go ALL DRM free!

Noobs-R-Us

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

TallDudeFromBrazil — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 11:51:31 EST

@Bob Caswell:

Oh! So by GLOBAL they mean A SMALL HANDFULL OF COUNTRIES??

Yeah that makes sense.....

TallDudeFromBrazil

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

snej — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 11:45:23 EST

@dearhaw - Precisely. Warner, and IIRC some other other labels, are deliberately allowing Amazon, but not iTunes, to sell DRM-free tracks. This because they are pissed off at Apple for requiring consistent 99¢ pricing. (The labels want "flexible" pricing, meaning charging more for popular songs.)

Also, in many cases it may not be possible for Apple to change the terms it can sell the music on, until that label's contract with them comes up for renewal.

Finally, about offering music/movies in various countries - this has nothing to do with Apple dragging its feet (they'd love to sell stuff everywhere. The delays are due to the necessity of negotiating separate licensing deals, and navigating other red tape, in every individual country.

snej

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

Dearhaw — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 11:28:06 EST

What I don't understand is the inability, up to this time, for Apple to respond to Amazon by going all DRM themselves. Are some of the labels not letting Apple do that because of the cut they're getting (or not getting)? Does is mean Amazon is giving the labels a bigger cut than Apple is? Or, are some of the labels consciously trying to disperse the power by limiting Apple access?

Dearhaw

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

Bob — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 09:54:17 EST

If anyone's curious, it's likely the first countries to get this will be Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, France, China, and Japan. See here for details:

[www.techconsumer.com]

Bob

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

gizmodist — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 09:44:53 EST

Apple should get its act together: movies still aren't available overseas (don't even think about rentals) and only EMI and a bunch of independents have agreed to make their music available without DRM.

Hope SJ can work his magic and give the store a second youth :)

gizmodist

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

liquidsoapdispenser — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 09:41:37 EST

Hey Haroon, don't you read Gizmodo?

[gizmodo.com]

iTunes' pricing changed 3 months ago!

liquidsoapdispenser

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

SnowLeopard — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 09:26:22 EST

@takemetoyourtoaster:

$0.99 USD

SnowLeopard

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

mcg1969 — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 09:21:12 EST

I'm not sure this battle will be as "epic" as Gizmodo would like it to be. It's not like Apple makes a ton of money on the ITunes music purchases; to them it is basically a loss leader to sell iPods. And Amazon sells plenty of those, too. I predict the iPod will be the number one destination for Amazon tracks.

mcg1969

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

takemetoyourtoaster — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 09:15:26 EST

how much does a song in amazon cost

takemetoyourtoaster

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

mrxcel — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 09:01:44 EST

About time someone challenges Itunes, everytime i play DRM protected songs i get pissed. I think will benefit everyone, hopefully this starts a price war!

mrxcel

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

anyc — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 08:43:04 EST

Fix the post. That's not the pricing anymore for iTunes DRM-free tracks.

anyc

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

bratinella — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 08:42:14 EST

@Flanker: Ditto!. I'm still waiting for my country to be listed in iTunes as well.

bratinella

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

kebal — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 08:38:06 EST

I like the Amazon MP3 service a lot. I'll use it more if/when they ever release the promised Linux download client.

kebal

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

cayton — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 08:34:00 EST

I already prefer amazon over iTunes. I can find a greater selection of music (it seems), plus I don't have any problems with my Zune. My favorite feature, is that if it is cheaper, they give you links for buying used albums. It's fantastic.

The shortcoming is the stupid software 'required' for downloading an album. But then again, iTunes is required for their own downloads, so six of one, half a dozen of the other.

cayton

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

Joseph — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 08:32:55 EST

@Flanker: Where are you from?

Joseph

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

Joseph — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 08:30:09 EST

Shoot, might as well throw QTRAX in here too. Although QTRAX doesn't give you ownership of the song.

Joseph

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

felipemarques — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 08:28:18 EST

Hope it helps bring the iTunes store to my country. Not everyone in the world lives in the US...

felipemarques

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

thehackerdude — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 08:25:37 EST

@gizmodist: Yea, thats right. Someone needs to refrain this post.

thehackerdude

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

gizmodist — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 07:55:16 EST

If I'm not mistaken, DRM-free files cost $0.99 on iTunes, the $1.29 price wasn't kept very long

gizmodist

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

pocketcowboy — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 07:37:33 EST

for me convenience will be the overriding factor...amazon would have to be considerably cheaper for me to buy my tracks outside of itunes...and even then, wouldn't we be talking about a saving of a couple of bucks off an album?

pocketcowboy

Amazon MP3 Service Going Global; Epic iTunes Battle on the Horizon

strider_mt2k — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 07:37:31 EST

Choices are good.

While I'm still horribly dated in my "buy and rip" ways it's nice to see folks competing for my future business.

strider_mt2k