Apple doesn't want to sell you content

[WelshBloke]

Somehow I don't think this thread would have existed if OP had had trouble with his Google or Amazon accounts...

Amazon are great. They post you a cd (for your uncompressed archive) and let you download the mp3 on your device or your PC or stream it.

You can also buy the stuff from your device or PC.

 

[openwheel]

Ecosystems are for wildlife.

this is the best line I've read on Anandtech lately. Excuse me but I have to copy it.

 

[bearxor]

If I bought music, I'd probably buy it from Amazon.

I just simply use streaming services, so I don't get hit by this stuff.

I'll never be one to call s44 a dumbass or an idiot though. He's pretty cool, in my book. I just think he's blowing this one a little out of proportion.

But if I were you, s44, I'd write in to the band and urge them to find another way to distribute their music for non iTunes users. Though I understand that Apple has made it ridiculously easy for indies to distribute music in iTunes and I'm not sure what the other two major players in digital really do to help promote underground acts.

 

[deathBOB]

Again, the issue isn't a problem with an online account. It is that a web option for iTunes doesn't exist.

Why is that an issue? Use iTunes. If you don't want to use iTunes, use a different service.

Amazon are great. They post you a cd (for your uncompressed archive) and let you download the mp3 on your device or your PC or stream it.

You can also buy the stuff from your device or PC.

I don't think you read what I wrote...

I think we need to change the name of this forum to reflect the content: Mobile Devices, Gadgets, and Random Apple Rants

 

[Eug]

I use iTunes, but the vast, vast majority of my music content isn't from the iTunes store. Works fine.

Most of my music is from CDs, converted to DRM-free MP3 or AAC.

Apple doesn't care though, because I am using Macs and iPhones to play that DRM-free music.

 

[Nec_V20]

I'm glad to say I've never experienced any of this because I would never buy content through Apple. I'd rather buy physical media and rip it.

Ecosystems are for wildlife.

I agree with you. Also marketdroid/salescritter garbagespeak like "Ecosystem" should not be allowed on tech forums.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Why is that an issue?

Because it is 2013 and having to install a bloated user-side application to purchase media is ridiculous.

No one needs to use iTunes, but honestly it would be better for Apple to have a web store. Anything to accidently suck people into their ecosystem (yes that evil word again).

 

[s44]

Ditch apple and buy android mobile.

Or you could have just gone to iTunes directly from your iPhone

Hahaha, none of you have ever read any of my other posts, have you?

Apple does not want to sell content because the profit margins are too low.

Still, you'd think that having near-monopoly levels of market share in this area would give them some sense of responsibility to make their product usable enough to lure someone from outside the wall in...

I'm glad to say I've never experienced any of this because I would never buy content through Apple. I'd rather buy physical media and rip it.

Most of my listening is classical and opera, which I won't buy in lossy format. (Never mind that half the sources are crappy mono -- I want all the bits there are...) But rock stuff I like buying through Play because Now will tell me when they -- and similar bands! -- are going to play in the city. Shut up and take my listening info, Google.

I'll never be one to call s44 a dumbass or an idiot though. He's pretty cool, in my book.

Thanks!

But if I were you, s44, I'd write in to the band and urge them to find another way to distribute their music for non iTunes users. Though I understand that Apple has made it ridiculously easy for indies to distribute music in iTunes and I'm not sure what the other two major players in digital really do to help promote underground acts.

Yeah, I probably will, and I suspect that something like the latter is the issue.

Or it could just be inertia.

 

[crashtestdummy]

Because it is 2013 and having to install a bloated user-side application to purchase media is ridiculous.

No one needs to use iTunes, but honestly it would be better for Apple to have a web store. Anything to accidently suck people into their ecosystem (yes that evil word again).

It makes sense from Apple's perspective because they're all about controlling user experience. For them, choice is actually a negative. They want to offer a single way for users to do things that works seamlessly. They only do things through iTunes because it would either be that you only work through iTunes, or you would only use a web site, and they feel that their software is better for users fully embedded in their ecosystem. The fact that iTunes is available to Windows is mostly there as an advertisement for how wonderful it might be to do all this on a Mac.

Apple's deal is thus: if you pay a bit more to do everything our way, we'll make it so you don't have to think about technology. There won't be choices or options, you'll just go with what we give you, and it will all work. If you're not doing it their way (i.e. buying their hardware), though, they don't have much interest in you.

 

[Eug]

Because it is 2013 and having to install a bloated user-side application to purchase media is ridiculous.

No one needs to use iTunes, but honestly it would be better for Apple to have a web store. Anything to accidently suck people into their ecosystem (yes that evil word again).

A lot of people actually really like using iTunes, believe it or not. Count me as one of them.

Well, for audio at least. I don't like it for video.

 

[Ns1]

Because it is 2013 and having to install a bloated user-side application to purchase media is ridiculous.

it's 2013, people still bitching about iTunes is ridiculous.

 

[Kaido]

Ecosystems are for wildlife.

Sigworthy

 

[Eug]

BTW, one of the things I hate the most about Android is the lack of a centralized media, app, and backup management interface.

 

[s44]

BTW, one of the things I hate the most about Android is the lack of a centralized media, app, and backup management interface.

What do those three things have to do with each other?

 

[Eug]

What do those three things have to do with each other?

They all have in common the media devices they will be used for...

...which is why they are included together in iTunes for iDevices.

I know a lot of geeks want to do things their own way, but a lot of people like me prefer to have this managed by apps like iTunes.

 

[poofyhairguy]

A lot of people actually really like using iTunes, believe it or not. Count me as one of them.

No I get that. The integration if you have things like Apple TVs is excellent.

I am coming more from the perspective that assuming the user has an iOS, OSX or Windows device to install iTunes on is assuming a lot. The next billion internet users won't have PCs.

The way Google does it, no matter which way you go (Windows, OSX, iOS, Android, etc.) you can still get hooked into their ecosystem (give me another word and I will use it).

I personally think if Apple had a web interface, we would see stupid statistics like "iTunes sells more songs to Android users then Google Play." Get people hooked however you can.

 

[poofyhairguy]

it's 2013, people still bitching about iTunes is ridiculous.

Agreed. It should have been turned into a HTML5 app a few years ago.

 

[poofyhairguy]

BTW, one of the things I hate the most about Android is the lack of a centralized media, app, and backup management interface.

Isn't that what the phone/tablet is?

Heck the only time my Android devices "require" a computer to do anything is when I root them the first day. From then on out they are autonomous devices.

I understand that is not for everyone.

 

[crashtestdummy]

No I get that. The integration if you have things like Apple TVs is excellent.

I am coming more from the perspective that assuming the user has an iOS, OSX or Windows device to install iTunes on is assuming a lot. The next billion internet users won't have PCs.

The way Google does it, no matter which way you go (Windows, OSX, iOS, Android, etc.) you can still get hooked into their ecosystem (give me another word and I will use it).

I personally think if Apple had a web interface, we would see stupid statistics like "iTunes sells more songs to Android users then Google Play." Get people hooked however you can.

To what end, though? 75% of their revenue is in devices. That's where they make their money. The content delivery is is only valuable insofar as it keeps users happy with the devices. If you use their services on another device, you're not doing much for them.

Google has a very different strategy. They make all their money off of advertising, so they don't care that much about the income from devices, but if you're using their services, they're able to get you advertising. If you use their stuff in any way, you're valuable. They're wary of setups that use their services while avoiding advertising, though, which is part of the reason they're scaling back things like ActiveSync.

 

[gorcorps]

I do believe that iTunes causes apple a decent amount of customers due to this type of stuff. I ditched the iPhone after a few years because of silly iTunes quirks.

And IMO, they aren't quirks that make it better for certain users. I strongly believe they could keep things simple and change these quirks.

 

[JAG87]

Yeah but not everyone has an iphone. Did you think about that? I for one refuse to install itunes on my computers. If a product ever had bloat, it's itunes.

If you don't have an iPhone then why bitch about iTunes? There are many other alternatives to get music.