LilacRose v1.0: iTunes

iTunes

I've just started using iTunes, recently. (In fact, when I get a little free time, I find myself more interested in browsing the iTunes store than blogging -- so you can partially blame my lack of blogging on iTunes.) iTunes has just sold 100 million songs.

The P2P services seem to be in decline. The free P2P clients are packed with spyware and adware -- and people are getting more aware of the danger that poses. Also, my understanding is that the RIAA is jamming the P2P services with bad copies of popular songs. I think the success of iTunes bears out my contention that if you give people a good legal alternative that allows them to purchase songs in an electronic format, they will be willing to pay.

BTW, the above linked article has one statement that I know is false:

Tracks cost 99 cents each and can only be played on Apple's popular iPod and iPod mini digital music players.

The bolded part is simply not true. I don't even own an iPod...yet. I play my purchased songs on both my iBook and my Windows PC. You can authorize up to five computers (not including iPods) to play your songs.

Update: Reuters has corrected the error in their story.

Posted by Susan B. at 8:21 PM to Business & Technology

Comments

Jennifer

We just downloaded Itunes too! Real Player has been acting up lately ...

Posted on July 13, 2004 at 12:38 PM

Uptown Girl

I didn't know I could play them on any other than an iPod. I'm going to have to check it out now. Thanks for the info :)

Posted on July 13, 2004 at 1:23 PM

Adam

You can also burn them to CD and pop them in your CD-players, too.

Posted on July 13, 2004 at 5:04 PM

susan b.

Jennifer,

iTunes is much nicer than RealPlayer. I never liked RealPlayer or Windows Media Player. I have been a devout Winamp user for years, but iTunes is mighty nice.

Uptown Girl,

I think iTunes just became available for Windows a few months ago. What I do is I purchase and download the songs through my Mac iBook. I have my Windows PC authorized to play my purchased songs. To copy the songs over, I just link up to the Mac with the PC, copy the song file over and add it to my library in iTunes on the Windows PC.

Adam,

That's what I want to try next. I've haven't even used the CD burner on my iBook yet. I've burned lots of CDs on my Windows PC, but not using iTunes.

Posted on July 13, 2004 at 8:55 PM

suzi

I got iTunes when it was first released for Windows. To me it's great and I have downloaded quite a lot of songs there. It's easy to use and has a nicer interface than the new Napster which I tried and then uninstalled. I don't use Real Player bacause it tries to take over your computer.

iTunes makes it easy to rip songs from CD's too and you can rip them in MP3 format, then create playlists and burn a CD of your favorites in whatever order you want.

Posted on July 18, 2004 at 7:43 PM

susan b.

Hi Suzi,

I took a look at the new Napster recently, wondering how it compared with iTunes. I didn't even bother with downloading it. For one thing, I don't like services that have a subscription system. I also didn't like that you couldn't play the songs anymore if you quit subscribing.

Yep...iTunes is awesome and has them all beat! :-)

I can't wait to try out the CD burning part -- I still need to do that.

Posted on July 18, 2004 at 8:09 PM