How the iTunes Store Lost its Groove
In what has been considered a picture perfect online music “monopoly” on the iPod, the iTunes store has long been the only way for iPod users to shop. Now, in one of the largest moves to DRM-free music, Amazon.com (AMZN) has just released their own fully-functional music store.
The next question is whether or not the music downloaded from the Amazon music store will be playable on those precious iPods that an overwhelming number of the population has. The answer, unfortunately for Apple (AAPL), is YES!
The iTunes Music Store has had little to compete with over the past years, and much of that is due to a lack of reasonable competition. Music download programs like Napster have offered little to the MP3 market. Most have had small libraries, poor pricing plans, and an inability to transfer music between all music devices.
The Amazon Store (Amazonmp3) is:
- All DRM-Free Music
- Priced at a very reasonable $0.89 per song (as opposed to iTunes’ $0.99 for DRM-Protected content and $1.29 for DRM-Free)
- Many popular classic bands and current ones too
- 256K Variable Bit Rate MP3 (playable on every music device)
- MP3 Download Program for Amazon Automaticaly places music in iTunes or Windows Media Player
- For Macs and Windows!
Amazon is basically selling what AllofMP3.com was selling to consumers, but legally and more (realistically) expensively. That price will probably erode over the next few years as competition and flexible pricing mature. All good for the consumers. We can only hope that videos and movies follow.
Source: 9to5Mac.com
Apple, you’ve got some serious competition coming your way. The music, platform, and ease-of-use is way to hard to overlook.
Disclosure: Long Apple Inc. (AAPL)
(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
Loading ...posted in Apple (AAPL), Amazon (AMZN), iTunes | 0 Comments
Subscribe By Email
