Apple has finally relented (as have the major music labels), thereby giving us DRM-free music on iTunes. There is also a new three-tier cost structure: 69¢, 99¢ and $1.29.
Macworld.com gives a rundown on what this means and what you need to know.
Read the article.
My infatuation with AmazonMP3 is now complete. Amazon now has DRM-free music from all four major music labels. So Amazon now has a more expansive DRM-free music selection than iTunes. Not only that, but the DRM-free songs are cheaper on Amazon than iTunes.
Now if only I could transfer my iTunes Gift Card credits to Amazon.
Read more: Sony BMG to offer DRM-free music through Amazon MP3.
Coming mid-November...
You have to give props to Microsoft if for nothing else but persistence. They are rolling out a 4-gigabyte model for $149, an 8GB model for $199 and a new 80GB Zune for $249. Plus, Microsoft now seems to understand that they are really battling for No. 2 in this market - Apple, with their iPods, is too far gone.
In addition, Microsoft plans on launching new software for music downloads, including DRM-free mp3s (and you know how I feel about that). We will have to wait and see what their DRM-free music catalog is like (iTunes DRM-free catalog is rather limited). Right now, Amazon (amazonmp3) is tops on my list due to price and catalog size. Which is pretty impressive as it is still in beta (not that means much nowadays).
Slowly but surely, my days of buying CDs is coming to an end. I currently buy CDs to maintain control of my music. With CDs, I can put my music on my iPod or Nano as well as my AT&T 8525 phone. Yeah, I am still holding out from getting an iPhone.
Granted, going the CD route does create somewhat of an inconvenience as I have to go out to a store to get it (at least if I want it right away - which I usually do). But you gotta do what you gotta do.
While iTunes does have a limited collection of DRM-free music, which I applauded, Apple charges extra for them. Not that an additional 30 cents would send me to the poor-house (probably cheaper than the cost of gas I have to use to get to the store), but it would add up after a while. Plus, as I mentioned, iTunes DRM-free collection is rather limited.
Well, along comes Amazon with DRM-free music, amazonmp3 (currently in beta). And what's more, the downloads are the same price (and sometimes cheaper) than iTunes DRM music. Plus, Amazon has a good range of music, especially from Universal and EMI. So instead of having to remember while I was out to pick up Kanye West's "Graduation," I was able to download it and add to my iTunes library and my phone in a few minutes. And, it was only $8.99 rather than $9.99 on iTunes. Can't beat that.
I recognize that I may be in the minority of those you straddle the fence between Apple and, well, everything else when it comes to music. But I refuse to be boxed in. While iTunes will undoubtedly remain the top dog for digital music given its control of the market and seamless integration with all things iPodish, it will be interesting to see how, or even if, Apple will address the competition from Amazon. Expanded DRM-free music collection with reduced prices would be a start, at least for me.
