Google to rock out on iTunes?
By Ryan Block 
posted Aug 15th 2005 12:58PM
posted Aug 15th 2005 12:58PM
Ah, wonderful, the point of intersection where the two most rumored-about companies come together. As if Google
doesn't really have their fingers in enough pies with enough rumors already (it's only been nine posts since
our last), The Street has it that Apple's set to announce
an iTunes Music Store partnership with everyone's favorite search engine. What that means (or how they'll tie it all
in) is obviously very unclear, but isn't it fun to think of all these different couples pairing off and hooking up? It
is summertime, after all.
[Via TUAW]
Ah, instant lyrics, album art, band bio, tour dates...possibilities are endless :)!
Google doesn't need itunes for that...
No, it's not needed at all, but some seamless integration would be sweet....
Yea, I know, but I am talking about straight from iTunes. Click a button next to the song (or artist, similar to the Music Store) and it does a google search for relevant info. This can be customized to tell it to only search for lyric, tour dates etc.
So this is bad for Google to do isn't it? How does it benifit me? I have no problem finding music in itunes, why is it I need google to send me to itunes when I search for an artist?
Sure this will increase sales in itunes and Google will probably get a share of that, but really where is OUR benifit?
How many more of these types of deals can Google make before their search results are overly cluttered with ways to buy stuff?
"How does it benifit me?"
Not everything in the world is about you.
Look at what Google has done for searching Movie listings. It's very easy to find movie times, reviews, theaters, etc.
I'm sure they can make something cool happen so that you can search for lyrics and info from a few key sites.
-- Elias
This does raise one interesting possibility: Google could make the iTMS available through a web interface independent of the iTunes software, thus expanding its reach to currently unsupported systems (i.e. *nix). Now, how the FairPlay DRM will work is a different beast...
Can we throw in Nintendo's new controller somewhere in there? :v:
I have to agree with the point of how does it really benefit any of us? Other than it gives us an even larger array of ads.
As for movie lookup, hasn't there already been a rather large selection movies listing sites to do just that? Google did not invent movie listings on the web.
time to buy more Apple stock!!!
What if a *new* iTunes sub service ran through Google, ie, you could rent but not own through the universal search capabilities of Google (kinda like Rhapsody's 25-free streams per month)....
This would get Apple into sub services with the world's largest referral service (Google) also delivering an upgrade path to full ITunes purchases....
User gets universal jukebox in the sky tied to Google universal search in the sky...
Kinda sweet and could kill Rhapsody instantly by completely changing the scale of the music rental/subs game...
And this from a long-time Rhapsody user and fanatic...
#8...That would be interesting and would be a major shift in the way that Apple applys DRM to the files. Right now the DRM is applied by the iTunes software after the song is downloaded to the system...this would mean that the servers(ie apple) would have to apply the DRM before the file is transmitted. Not saying not possible, but would be a huge server load for Apple to have to handle...
#10..Googles Keywords make life so much easier. For example if you type in UPS and a tracking number you get a link to track a package on UPS..This is just one of the many features that google has made easy. Use google as a calculator? Google didn't invent the calc but they sure made it easier to use...The same goes for movie listings. This is just ment as a way to keep eyes at google longer and take the content that they are parsing and wrap it in Google keyword ads...
I personally think that some kind of search on google that would be like a new keyword ITMS: or something would be really cool...do i think non-technical people would use it? probably not...but it would be cool and couldgive a lot more informaiton then just itms.
#12 its highly believed that Apple will not be getting into the Subscription space until another device starts to gain market share the iPod starts to lose ground. Right now Apple has no reason to go a subscription path until they start to lose market share. Apple is already starting ot talk to the labels, as reported on macdailynews.com about a subscription posibility, but i don't think we will see it for a while. 1 year+
#12 its highly believed that Apple will not be getting into the Subscription space until another device starts to gain market share the iPod starts to lose ground. Right now Apple has no reason to go a subscription path until they start to lose market share. Apple is already starting ot talk to the labels, as reported on macdailynews.com about a subscription posibility, but i don't think we will see it for a while. 1 year+
i'm waiting for Google the next technology...
So add the rumor about Google becoming a wireless ISP and boom. A new broadcasting mechanism is born. Also remember that Al Gore is starting a cable network and is on Apple's board. video ipod and iphones coming out?
dunno - seems to easy to me - how come no one else is commenting on this?
If google hosts a web-based version of itunes, this will add a lot of value to itunes - totally OS independent. Also, considering how cheap storage is now, why not offer 10gb of storage for all the songs you purchase on itunes. hmmm.... All the music i buy at my fingerprints from any internet enable device anywhere. sounds good to me..
many analysts are also expecting iTMS sales to be a great piece of AAPL's revenue - especially after seeing the success in Japan. This could really provide a boost to sales. There is a small profit from iTunes sales. back to the google partnership, just making an iTunes link a top search result with every search for an artist on google would add a lot of sales.
The way I see it, if one did a search for a song in iTunes, it would be pretty nifty to have Tour Dates and Ticket prices appear too, possibly even info on where to buy a bands T-Shirt etc.
Addidtionally, If I search for a Band in Google, weather I'm looking for Tour Dates, Tickets or whatever, a link to buy their album from iTunes would be pretty sweet.
Me: "Computer, find me tickets to the next Lil' John concert"
iBook: "Okay! found you those tickets, and a T-Shirt at half price too, Yeah!"
Me: "What! already"
iBook: "Well I Googapple'd it didn't I."
would you really be caught in public with a Lil Jon t-shirt???
The real question is, "would I be caught at a Lil' Jon concert?" Probably not, but one of his songs was playing when I posted that and I guess those subliminal messages are starting to work their way through. Yeah! Okay.
This is actually an alliance that would make sense. Imagine Apple is coming with an iPod Video this fall. One of their arguments against the mobile video device is that nobody owned video content. Google does own video content with http://video.google.com/. However, to make the video content big they might want to have the connection with a video player (the new iPod).
On the otherhand, Apple has with the iPod and iTunes a strong music connection. To bundle the hardware and content with each other, the two companies can create a powerful connection of content and hardware devices. In the future, this might bring Google into the living room when the iHome is released.
Interesting, looking forward to see more of it.
I hate iPod, iTunes and everything iCrApple.
Please Google, don't make me hate you and run toward MSN...
And I hate your mom. Sucka.
iPods and iTunes are awesome, i dont know what the hell you're talking about Mario
Now all we need is Google and Apple to merge to be the ultimate competitor to Microsoft. This would create some real competition and potentially drive the market. Maybe now that Steve is selling a multi-button mouse, he might aso be open to this.
Somebody, please make it happen. Thanks in advance (even if I'm only dreaming). :)
Jacob Varghese
Wouldn't the proper comedic answer be.. "YEAHH!!!"
this would be the perfect merger...
FOR ME TO POOP ON!!!