[DTH]

Interesting article about Apple's online music service:


http://www.fortune.com/fortune/technology/articles/0,15114,447333-1,00.html


I realize buying music in this format is probably not of much interest to anyone looking at this forum. However it does seem that Apple is now the closest to getting it(selling music in this form) right. And like it or not this is most likely a good look at what the future of music consuming will become.

I still doubt people used to the anarchy provided by the various Napsters are going to embrace it wholeheartedly. But I bet it will be more successful than the other pay per view music services offered by the major labels.

[bob82274]

I wouldn't mind it so much if they offered WAVs for download as well cause when you think about it you are paying bout .99 per song when you buy a CD.  Plus there is no need for a subscription so this makes it even more accessable.  

That being said I am really liking the new iPods.  Don't have the cash for one but they delt with a lot of the issues I had with them before (not that they were bad).

[Carlman]

I'm surprised Amazon hasn't already done this.  It would take very little for them to convert to this kind of system.  Everything is in place technically.  They'd just need permission.  Leave it to Jobs to sell the idea to the music industry.

Interesting development.  Thanks for the article.

-Carl

[nathanm]

What a fantastic opportunity for the record labels to offer even LESS of a product to the consumer for the same amount of money!  Isn't this great, I can buy a computer file for a buck!  Woo!  Oh let me guess, I'm supposed to burn my own CD-R backups of these right?  Gotcha.  Do I get to print my own inlays too?  Fantastic.  I love this idea.  I bet you get awesome file names too like:

001248605DKrall_look_of_love-02.mp3
078934300NJones-ST-06.mp3
04560-Barber-Patricia_brush_snare_slamdance_-03.mp3

Where do I sign?

In theory it's a cool idea but here's what will probably happen:

*You'll only get major label releases

*No rare, out-of-print stuff

*You're still paying $17+ for one lousy album, which is the RIAA's whole problem in the first place.  Now I'm not even buying a physical product and you STILL wanna put us over the barrel for it?  No thanks.  

If you can upload the whole record straight from the mastering house to a FTP site in about 10 seconds,  bypassing the entire packaging and distribution chain I ain't paying you a buck a song thanks very much.  Sheesh!

To paraphrase Bill Hicks: "How far does the RIAA's d*** have to be up your a** before you realize you're being f*****?"

[Mathew_M]

I'll use it reservedly and probably only for impulse purchases.  The concept is really cool but I have reservations about not physically owning the music.  The restrictions are pretty limitless, as long as you just want to listen to the music.  Forget trying to add a song to a home movie in imovie.  I haven't tried it yet but supposedly the quality takes quite a dive when you convert the aac file to an mp3.

As an honost law abiding citizen I will still make most of my music purchases either online through Amazon or at a local shop.  Now if my local Borders would get their prices more in line with Best Buy I'd do all of my shopping there because of their large selection.