iTunes Europe
Posted by: Phil Ward on 15 June 2004
All,
Looks like iTunes Europe has launched - although I can't get the UK account sign-up to work. "Song" price is 79p (less than I thought it'd be!)
Phil
Scrub that. It works now.
[This message was edited by Phil Ward on Tue 15 June 2004 at 12:37.]
Looks like iTunes Europe has launched - although I can't get the UK account sign-up to work. "Song" price is 79p (less than I thought it'd be!)
Phil
Scrub that. It works now.
[This message was edited by Phil Ward on Tue 15 June 2004 at 12:37.]
Posted on: 15 June 2004 by Martin Hull
Works for me too although I still get the warning message about not being able to buy music because I'm not in the USA. I guess there will be an iTunes 4.6.1 to sort that out.
I was expecting £0.99 so £0.79 is a nice surprise. Album price of £7.99 is good too.
Martin
[This message was edited by Martin Hull on Tue 15 June 2004 at 13:25.]
I was expecting £0.99 so £0.79 is a nice surprise. Album price of £7.99 is good too.
Martin
[This message was edited by Martin Hull on Tue 15 June 2004 at 13:25.]
Posted on: 15 June 2004 by Phil Ward
Martin,
Yeah I was expecting 99p and £9.99 too. Has to be the first time Apple's ever launched something cheaper than (cynically) expected.
I don't get the "US" warning now - and I'm on iTunes 4.6. Took me a while to notice that the store home page now has a location selection menu at the bottom - US, UK, France or Germany
Phil
Yeah I was expecting 99p and £9.99 too. Has to be the first time Apple's ever launched something cheaper than (cynically) expected.
I don't get the "US" warning now - and I'm on iTunes 4.6. Took me a while to notice that the store home page now has a location selection menu at the bottom - US, UK, France or Germany
Phil
Posted on: 15 June 2004 by Martin Hull
Phil,
I was set to USA at the bottom. Changed it now. The store is grinding to halt right now, I think everyone is trying to have a look at once. I remember the same thing happening with the US store but it settled down after a day or so.
It'll be interesting to see how on-line music fits in with CDs for me. I can see me downloading odd tracks but thats all.
Cheers,
Martin
I was set to USA at the bottom. Changed it now. The store is grinding to halt right now, I think everyone is trying to have a look at once. I remember the same thing happening with the US store but it settled down after a day or so.
It'll be interesting to see how on-line music fits in with CDs for me. I can see me downloading odd tracks but thats all.
Cheers,
Martin
Posted on: 15 June 2004 by Phil Ward
Martin
Was working rasonably quickly when I first got in - but then that was very soon after it opened (I was very sad, checking throughout the morning). The snag I had was complete indecision about what to buy - just couldn't handle the choice. So I didn't buy anything. I'll wait till it all calms down.
Phil
Was working rasonably quickly when I first got in - but then that was very soon after it opened (I was very sad, checking throughout the morning). The snag I had was complete indecision about what to buy - just couldn't handle the choice. So I didn't buy anything. I'll wait till it all calms down.
Phil
Posted on: 15 June 2004 by Paul Hutchings
Am I missing something or does 79p a song (notice it's approx 65p in france/germany) or £7.99 an album not seem like the bargain it's cracked up to be?
Posted on: 15 June 2004 by Mr.Tibbs
Imagine if you'd downloaded a ton of albums, then your hard drive went tits up?
I'll stick to the old fashioned shop bought hard copy for now.
Mr Tibbs
I'll stick to the old fashioned shop bought hard copy for now.
Mr Tibbs
Posted on: 15 June 2004 by Not For Me
How do I get these iTunes things on my LP12?
DS
OTD - Grungerman - Fackeln im Sturm
DS
OTD - Grungerman - Fackeln im Sturm
Posted on: 15 June 2004 by Martin Hull
quote:
How do I get these iTunes things on my LP12?
Ah that's a tricky one but I think you can get an adaptor made by Belkin. I'm not sure if it goes around the spindle or clips onto the needle though.
Cheers,
Martin
Posted on: 16 June 2004 by Bosh
Apparently Apple have been working closely with Linn on LP12 / MP3 capability and are due to release the Linn Kox in late summer
Posted on: 16 June 2004 by Michael Dale
Hi Fella's
30 seconds is not really long enough to get the feel of a track, so I found that a bit frustrating. Anyone know what bit rate are the tracks encoded at? I tried to find this information on the site, but the bottle of plonk which I discovered in the back of the fridge began to take effect.
Slightly off topic, but I like the new iTunes feature that gets rid of gaps between songs on LP's which are supposed to flow as one piece (classical and Zappa fans will like this feature!)
There is a review of the iPod Mini in HFN&RR this month. They reckon that the iPod has continued to improve over the years from model to model in every erea except sound quality, finding the early chunky 5GB model to have the best sound. Cue Nait-style Mk1 vs Mk2 iPod wars!
Mickey
30 seconds is not really long enough to get the feel of a track, so I found that a bit frustrating. Anyone know what bit rate are the tracks encoded at? I tried to find this information on the site, but the bottle of plonk which I discovered in the back of the fridge began to take effect.
Slightly off topic, but I like the new iTunes feature that gets rid of gaps between songs on LP's which are supposed to flow as one piece (classical and Zappa fans will like this feature!)
There is a review of the iPod Mini in HFN&RR this month. They reckon that the iPod has continued to improve over the years from model to model in every erea except sound quality, finding the early chunky 5GB model to have the best sound. Cue Nait-style Mk1 vs Mk2 iPod wars!
Mickey
Posted on: 16 June 2004 by matthewr
Posted on: 16 June 2004 by Phil Ward
Mickey,
It's 128k. Shame that it's not higher - I find 192 is where things start to sound better. But then, I'm most likely going to use the store for downloading interesting "new" stuff. If I like a track then I'm likely to buy the album the old fasioned way (I do like the talking book idea though).
Why am I not surprised that HFNRR liked the "old" one best!
Phil
It's 128k. Shame that it's not higher - I find 192 is where things start to sound better. But then, I'm most likely going to use the store for downloading interesting "new" stuff. If I like a track then I'm likely to buy the album the old fasioned way (I do like the talking book idea though).
Why am I not surprised that HFNRR liked the "old" one best!
Phil
Posted on: 16 June 2004 by Stephen Bennett
quote:
Originally posted by Phil Ward:
Mickey,
It's 128k. Shame that it's not higher -
Phil
It's OK for the iPod & phones, but I wouldn't want to listen on my main system.
Roll on iTunes 16 bit/44kHz Uncompressed.
Regards
Stephen
Posted on: 16 June 2004 by Phil Ward
Mathew,
Yeah, no UK indy (yet). Damn! Means Foo Foo, my last chance of pop stardom, is unlikely to make it
Phil
Yeah, no UK indy (yet). Damn! Means Foo Foo, my last chance of pop stardom, is unlikely to make it
Phil
Posted on: 16 June 2004 by greeny
Am I missing something here, or are they really expecting you to pay £7.99 for an album in 128K MP3 with no artwork when you could get the real think for £8.99 or less online anyway 
Posted on: 16 June 2004 by matthewr
It would cost about £8k to fill up your 40Gb iPod.
Matthew
Matthew
Posted on: 16 June 2004 by Martin Hull
[QUOTE]Originally posted by greeny:
Am I missing something here, or are they really expecting you to pay £7.99 for an album in 128K MP3 with no artwork when you could get the real think for £8.99 or less online anyway[/QUOTE
I think they expected to sell mainly individual tracks but have been surprised at how many people buy whole albums. IIRC Steve Jobs said in one of his Macworld show keynotes that over 40% of tracks were bought as albums in US store!
Martin
Am I missing something here, or are they really expecting you to pay £7.99 for an album in 128K MP3 with no artwork when you could get the real think for £8.99 or less online anyway
[/QUOTEI think they expected to sell mainly individual tracks but have been surprised at how many people buy whole albums. IIRC Steve Jobs said in one of his Macworld show keynotes that over 40% of tracks were bought as albums in US store!
Martin
Posted on: 16 June 2004 by Simon Perry
Am I missing something here, or are they really expecting you to pay £7.99 for an album in 128K MP3 with no artwork when you could get the real think for £8.99 or less online anyway [/QUOTE
I can explain it: Most music buyers are stupid. After all, somebody's gotta be buying CDs priced £16.99 in HMV. I notice that the heinous Alicia Keys is supporting the itunes roadshow -she also pitched up at various record industry sponsored copy protection conventions. Just don't fall for it all I say.
I can explain it: Most music buyers are stupid. After all, somebody's gotta be buying CDs priced £16.99 in HMV. I notice that the heinous Alicia Keys is supporting the itunes roadshow -she also pitched up at various record industry sponsored copy protection conventions. Just don't fall for it all I say.
Posted on: 16 June 2004 by matthewr
iTunes Music Store is an expensive way of buying from a poor selection of DRM infected MP3s. It also props up the record industry and should be avoided. The final irony is that Apple don't even make any money out of it as they have to give so much to the record companies.
A proper scheme that allows unlimited, DRM-free downloads and rewards the artists at inflation corrected 2001 levels (when they peaked) would cost ... <drum roll> ...
$6 USD a month
Matthew
A proper scheme that allows unlimited, DRM-free downloads and rewards the artists at inflation corrected 2001 levels (when they peaked) would cost ... <drum roll> ...
$6 USD a month
Matthew
Posted on: 16 June 2004 by garyi
Jesus christ Matthew, thats all a bit airy fairy, perhaps we could all wear togas and live in utopia.
Posted on: 16 June 2004 by Martin D
Mathew
I agree with you
I agree with you
Posted on: 16 June 2004 by matthewr
iGary -- Did you read the link? The $6 a month is a hard figure and is the result of several years work by a Harvard professor.
It's far from "airy fairy" and the only reason it doesn't happen is it requires the record companies to co-operate. Which they will do eventually once even they realise that times have actually changed.
Matthew
It's far from "airy fairy" and the only reason it doesn't happen is it requires the record companies to co-operate. Which they will do eventually once even they realise that times have actually changed.
Matthew
Posted on: 16 June 2004 by garyi
It seems to hinge on 'fair amount'
Now my understanding of record companies is that they will leach as much money out of something as they can, I refer you to the imminent revival of 'Steps'.
Surely this model depends on broadband users being happy with the selection of music they are paying for?
Its enough that the crap we have out now is wholey in the listeners choice if they purhcase or not, if the understanding of music is to be re-written it needs to assume that the basic human will remain the same. Look how many people bitch about the BEEB, (although I personally think their radio output is worth the money alone)
Now my understanding of record companies is that they will leach as much money out of something as they can, I refer you to the imminent revival of 'Steps'.
Surely this model depends on broadband users being happy with the selection of music they are paying for?
Its enough that the crap we have out now is wholey in the listeners choice if they purhcase or not, if the understanding of music is to be re-written it needs to assume that the basic human will remain the same. Look how many people bitch about the BEEB, (although I personally think their radio output is worth the money alone)
Posted on: 16 June 2004 by matthewr
Every single release will be avaiable -- basically it works like radio does now on the basis of a collective bargaining agreement between all the labels and the providers.
Matthew
Matthew
Posted on: 21 June 2004 by JeremyB
Matthew,
Good article. I believe Alcatel, the inventors of ADSL, managed to pull a similar thing off to get broadband to the right price point and get the telcos to see they could make some money. Now look-everyone is happy to pay $50 a month and the hardware is free.
Apple could have pulled something like this off if they had an established customer base in the record industry (as Alcatel did in the telecom industry). Who knows, maybe they still will.
Good article. I believe Alcatel, the inventors of ADSL, managed to pull a similar thing off to get broadband to the right price point and get the telcos to see they could make some money. Now look-everyone is happy to pay $50 a month and the hardware is free.
Apple could have pulled something like this off if they had an established customer base in the record industry (as Alcatel did in the telecom industry). Who knows, maybe they still will.