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Post by wierdostomps on Dec 3, 2008 14:20:00 GMT
I notice that Amazon UK have now started a download service. Prices are, as expected, much more variable than iTunes, but start at 59p for a single or £3 for an album. They have also made an MP3 download tool available, which claims (I haven't tried it) to install your downloads into your iTunes library automatically. The files are all DRM free - and encoded at 256kbps. A totally subjective and non-scientific test suggests that they have a rather restricted selection at present. The search term "Cinematic Orchestra" produces only one song, whereas iTunes has over 150. "Pink Floyd" produces all the expected results in both and "The Beatles" fails to produce any genuine results in either service. I am also amused to see that as of the time of writing, the best selling album artist is Janis Ian - now that takes me back! And Crosby, Still and Nash are at No7. Now all I need is for my hair to grow back
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recon
New Member
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Post by recon on Dec 7, 2008 22:49:52 GMT
I've used amazon's mp3 store now - and their downloader app works a treat. The three tracks I downloaded were actually encoded at 256kb VBR with LAME3.98
So if my music choices are not available in iTunes+ then I now have 3 more decent places to try for DRM free music. (Amazon, play.com and 7digital). 7dig and play seem to have more at 320kb, but the amazon downloader app is a nice feature. Let's be honest, online purchasing has always been about shopping around so now we have real choices
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Post by Forum Cat on Dec 8, 2008 9:59:17 GMT
Let's be honest, online purchasing has always been about shopping around so now we have real choices Not for me it hasn't. I find the first place that has the track that I want and get it from there. In fact I have only ever used iTunes because I could not be bothered to set up an account with someone else. For me buying music (from iTunes) is not about saving money it is all about convenience. I buy so few tracks anyway as to make the point academic as I much prefer to order the CD from Amazon. Cat
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Post by HeatherKay on Dec 8, 2008 10:07:46 GMT
By default I have an iTunes Store account, but I don't use it on the principle that I prefer owning the CDs. I do have an Amazon account, and a gave the downloads a cursory glance when it was announced.
There were one or two items in there I might have been tempted by, but I am still going to get the CDs. I just like the shiny things, but I will keep an eye on the Amazon thing anyway.
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Post by wierdostomps on Dec 8, 2008 14:25:49 GMT
I wonder if it's a male/ female thing? My wife wants to own CDs, I just want to own music. OtOH, I do still keep all my old vinyl & am still buying new. I reckon you can hear the difference.
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recon
New Member
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Post by recon on Dec 8, 2008 16:52:28 GMT
iTunes DRM'd tracks have been an annoyance for me. Up until the availability of DRM free, I just stuck to buying the CD as the iTunes fairplay system only plays fair with apple kit (I like to stream my music and video content to other devices around the house, like my PS3 and/or XBOX360) and I couldn't be bothered to mess about burning and re-ripping music tracks to further reduce the rather low 128kb quality. iTunes is convenient and a nice store system but they do need to thrash it out with the 3 remaining major labels to sort out their differences and agree to have all the content DRM free.
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Post by Forum Cat on Dec 8, 2008 17:38:36 GMT
iTunes DRM'd tracks have been an annoyance for me. Up until the availability of DRM free, I just stuck to buying the CD as the iTunes fairplay system only plays fair with apple kit (I like to stream my music and video content to other devices around the house, like my PS3 and/or XBOX360) and I couldn't be bothered to mess about burning and re-ripping music tracks to further reduce the rather low 128kb quality. iTunes is convenient and a nice store system but they do need to thrash it out with the 3 remaining major labels to sort out their differences and agree to have all the content DRM free. I agree, Mrs Cat will buy a track or two from Apple and as we are an all Apple house then I don't expect it will be a problem. However to many it will be. I wonder if it is legal for the music companies to disadvantage Apple in this way?
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Post by (W)illiam Tildesley on Dec 17, 2008 22:25:33 GMT
iTunes will never (ever) be defeated by Amazon unless they (amazon) do two things:
1. Promote the mp3 store 2. Make music browsing/searching bearable (the normal amazon interface just doesn't work).
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Alex Coplan
Senior Member
The future of mac...
Posts: 387
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Post by Alex Coplan on Dec 30, 2008 22:06:02 GMT
iTunes will never (ever) be defeated by Amazon unless they (amazon) do two things: 1. Promote the mp3 store 2. Make music browsing/searching bearable (the normal amazon interface just doesn't work). I agree, iTunes has a brillinat interface, although does tend to be a little slow
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Post by BeoWolf on Jan 1, 2009 21:56:55 GMT
I'll throw my two pence into this interesting discussion as well. I agree with everything that's been said. iTunes wins on ease, but the lack of DRM on Amazon is a big big plus. I've got an iPhone (personal) and a sony ericsson (work) mobile. DRM presents no problem for the iPhone of course, but it's a pain when I copy over songs to the sony. So I'm now using predominantly Amazon for music. Haven't downloaded much though so can't comment on size of their repositories.
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Alex Coplan
Senior Member
The future of mac...
Posts: 387
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Post by Alex Coplan on Jan 4, 2009 18:04:08 GMT
Quick way to get rid of DRM, burn and rip again
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Post by BeoWolf on Jan 4, 2009 19:14:34 GMT
That's miles too slow for impatient soles like me!
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Post by Forum Cat on Jan 4, 2009 23:12:27 GMT
So I'm now using predominantly Amazon for music. Haven't downloaded much though so can't comment on size of their repositories. Do I understand correctly that you download MOST of your music? I have downloaded the odd track but it seems much cheaper to buy a CD and then rip it. You get whatever bit rate you like and no DRM to worry about. You also have a hard copy to use round the house or in the CD/DVD player. The hard copy acts as a backup too. I only download the stuff that I can't get on CD. Cat
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Alex Coplan
Senior Member
The future of mac...
Posts: 387
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Post by Alex Coplan on Jan 5, 2009 0:14:37 GMT
So I'm now using predominantly Amazon for music. Haven't downloaded much though so can't comment on size of their repositories. Do I understand correctly that you download MOST of your music? I have downloaded the odd track but it seems much cheaper to buy a CD and then rip it. You get whatever bit rate you like and no DRM to worry about. You also have a hard copy to use round the house or in the CD/DVD player. The hard copy acts as a backup too I agree totally I only download the stuff I can't get on CD
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Post by BeoWolf on Jan 5, 2009 12:45:32 GMT
Fair points, but for me a) the children break all dvds and cds within a week, tops and b) all cds played in the car are usually the wife's...
I've ripped all my old cd's, so now I only download, and keep my music all on ipod/iphone/computer and then it's mine, all MINE!
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