Apple Music Store Coming to Europe & iTunes in China 219
frankie writes "As reported everywhere, Apple is holding a press conference in London on Tuesday June 15. The entirely un-subtle official sound bite is "the biggest story in music is about to get even bigger", not what we've come to expect from Lord Steve." Or read through the Reuters report. In other news, it appears that Apple has struck a deal with China's second larger computer manufacturer to preinstall iTunes.
More news! (Score:5, Interesting)
In related news, Microsoft's appeal to the EU [slashdot.org] has been leaked to the press. It seems to consist of an attack against Apple. "Hey, if Apple can preload their iTunes "media player", why can't we? We should be able to do it too!", said an anonymous source close to the Microsoft legal team. Many legal experts seem to think Microsoft 5-year old kid "If he can do it, I can do it to" antics will fail miserably.
About bloody time! (Score:4, Interesting)
I've been using iTunes for Windows since release, and although I can't actually buy from the iTMS, I've found it an excellent tool for finding music I like - being able to listen to the samples directly from iTunes is a godsend. Personally, I don't see the problem with the DRM Apple use - sure, it's restrictive, but it's not as bad as some - and I can certainly see myself buying from the store upon opening.
All we need now is for Pepsi to offer free songs too...
Canada, too! (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:double standards? (Score:5, Interesting)
World’s Best Digital Music Experience (Score:1, Interesting)
Concerningthe Apple press release">: [apple.com]
Why does Apple insist on calling iTunes/Pod the "World's Best Digital Music Experience"?
It's true--they're becoming too Microsoft-ish if they title the article that based on the idea that the iPod is the #1 music player in the world (1st par).
Even if that's the case, I should hope it's not the best digital music experience. Frankly, unless they've got a huge frickin' mixing board running separate tracks for all instruments rolled into a single player, then all it is is the best portable player. The Best digital music experience...? That costs thousands of dollars in the form of recording/playback equipment and big fucking speakers.
iTunes or AllOfMP3? (Score:0, Interesting)
Though AllOfMP3.com is a legally questionable operation, so are the tactics of the RIAA's, whom iTMS users are supporting with every cent they give to the store.
By choosing AllOfMP3.com over Apple's store, you can do the following:
-NOT supporting the RIAA, or a company that chooses to work with, and fund them.
-NOT support the use of the iTMS' proprietary DRM which not only limits what media player you want to play your music on (Most people prefer listening to their music on Winamp intead of being forced to use iTunes to listen to music they paid for), but what digital audio portable you want to use to listen to your music as well.
-have the CHOICE of what format you want your music encoded in, instead of beign stuck with vanilla 128 AACs with Apple's proprietary and limiting DRM.
-pay cheaper than you would for your music, with the added bonus of having more CHOICE with your music formats, and nto send a cent to support the RIAA or a company that supports/funds how they do business.
Re:Its gonna come crashing down (Score:5, Interesting)
oh yeah, there aren't any.
please tell me the ISBN numbers of any CDs which apple computer manufactures for sale.
oh yeah, there aren't any.
apple computer is not behaving as a music label. they are behaving as a website which acts as a 3rd party for music sales.
From your link: That contract stipulated Apple Computer could use the logo for computers, data processing and telecommunications, while the Beatles could retain it for music, according to documents filed by the pop group's lawyers at the High Court.
Apple Computer is providing a massive data processing environment (iTunes Music Store) and allows people to purchase music from -other- labels through this telecommunications link.
Besides the fact that an incredibly common fruit, the apple, being trademarked is absurd in the first place.
Not Canada Yet (Score:3, Interesting)
I still don't understand why they don't have iTMS in Canada yet.
Re:More news! (Score:1, Interesting)
It looks like the same basic thing is happening, but with iTunes instead. To however many millions of Chinese people who buy these computers, iTunes will become synonymous with "buying|playing digital music". And, since the number one online music store software will be pre-installed on their computers, they won't bother seeking alternatives, effectively allowing iTunes to monopolize (if you will) the online music market in China (at least). So... I'm not really sure why all the anti-monopoly folks on Slashdot aren't bitching and complaining about this move. Well, if Slashdot wasn't a highly hypocritical community, that is...
Too little, too late? (Score:4, Interesting)
Best of all, the encoding is almost always selectable -- you can choose MP3 (including the LAME alt-preset settings), WMA, OGG, MP4, and a couple of others I've forgotten. You can even get the tracks lossless if you want.
I can't remember getting this excited about an Internet site since the first time I streamed European radio via RealPlayer in 1997. Understand: I've been an AVLA-licensed DJ for 13 years. I rarely spend my own money on music; I get it all from the record companies (whose licensing terms, for DJs at least, are a lot better in Canada than they are in the States -- we can burn multiple copies for performance, are licensed to play directly from MP3, etc.), in exchange for a nominal fee. But last night I spent about US$17 and downloaded about 220 songs. About half of that was replacing CDs I've previously owned but that are now damaged or lost. Another 20% was probably old favorites from the 80s that I remember fondly but am not willing to spend a lot of money on (Sly Fox or Paul Hardcastle for example).
Don't want to give your credit card to the Russians? Fine -- they take PayPal. I paid $10 for 1GB of download, and when it was obvious I was going to blow past that amount, I added another $10. Simple and painless.
iTUnes and all the comparable services (PureTracks, etc.) use DRM-encumbered formats. These are unencumbered MP3s that work great on my 15GB Archos Jukebox Recorder.
In short, allofmp3 is pretty much exactly what I've been wanting in a download service. They claim it's legal in Russia (see the site and some discussion forums), and it's legal for me to download here in Canada (heck, my wife will be burning half the music to CDs that we've paid the CRIA licensing fees for -- most of our CDs are used for backups and/or digital photos), so for as long as they're around they've got my business.
Re:More news! (Score:1, Interesting)
And neither does this situation. What's the difference between Windows + Media Player (what we have now) and Windows + iTunes (which is what this bundle will create)? You're just substituting one media player for another. The net effect is the same: whichever one is bundled with Windows will end up dominating. If Microsoft isn't allowed to use its OS monopoly, then Apple shouldn't either.
Re:World's Best Digital Music Experience (Score:1, Interesting)
Re: double standards? (Score:3, Interesting)
The other point that I think needs to be made is that we're talking about bundling software. If, ?somehow?, linux manages to bundle some software with a required portion of the OS (kernel wont load without mozilla, lets say) then most definitely there will be an outcry. I would expect riots, defections to *BSD, and lonely men all over the globe having nothing to do on the weekends.
I also expect that this is why such a bundling wont happen. It's bad karma to anger your entire user base.
Re:More news! (Score:2, Interesting)
New iPod (Score:3, Interesting)
We still have no sight of the iPod Mini and when Jobs announces a new iPod (which the rumour sites seem to think will happen - anyone got any further information?) then it'll be another six months before we can get our grubby mits on them.
Personally, I'm going to see what the new iPod will be like before deciding whether or not to wait ...
I am of course assuming they are going to announce one that is, however the last update was October 16th 2003, which was a fair while back now - especially in light of all the other entrants to the HD MP3 player market who are all vying for top spot.
Re:China will be an interesting experiment (Score:1, Interesting)
I'd be seriously surprised if they are. From my relatives in China I gather that the overwhelmingly prevailing attitude is that you must be crazy to pay for something that you can copy easily. This applies for everything:, music, books, movies, software,...
Re:China will be an interesting experiment (Score:3, Interesting)
Re: double standards? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:will we get a linux version of ITunes? (Score:2, Interesting)