Amazon: 6 million DRM-free songs on T-Mobile G1
By Thomas Ricker 
posted Sep 23rd 2008 8:40AM
posted Sep 23rd 2008 8:40AM
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Whoops, looks like this one made it out a little too early!
Nice one dudes. For people that don't mind paying $1 per song.
I wonder if Amazon will also provide unlimited subscription or advetising supported music streaming. That type of Android application would be cool, considering phones have so crappy storage and HSDPA should be more then enough to stream CD quality music.
Amazon has special deals on albums for as low as $.99, and they're usually $7.99-$9.99 without discount. Every friday they have a selection of $5 albums. I am an emusic guy but I like the Amazon mp3 store quite a bit.
Honestly... as long as limewire and other free programs are out there... i don't think anyone is going to pay for songs. I mean yeah its cheaper than the ave price of $1 a song. Ppl like FREE>>> more than any price.
0 :~ )
How hard is it for companies to hold out news until the announcement time?
Good news, I've always preferred Amazon as a source of MP3s. Although, I was hoping for an over the air subscription model of sorts.
That this and itunes on the iphone both require WiFi to download makes me think that providers simply don't want people using their data plans for downloading music in decent quality.
Also, I don't know of any phones/mobile platforms that actually make it easy to listen to existing internet radio streams, either using Edge/3G OR wireless. Buncha crap.
UK please?
@sti3: You can grab TCMP for Windows Mobile and listen to internet streams to your heart's content, even the higher-bitrate ones. I've had no problem streaming to my EvDO phone. Can't say I've ever tried it on a GSM 3G one though.
As for streaming music to Android? Here's one of the App finalists, with a video walk-through. At 4:40ish they show the Internet Radio interface. Also, it is just a nice looking player.
http://www.digginmobile.com/
Awesome this will put my stereo bluetooth headphones to good uses.....
oops no the G1 doesn't support them!
Yeah like 7 people in the whole world use bluetooth headphones.
Music via stereo bluetooth sucks. It isn't lossless (so your compressing already compressed music a second time), it drains the battery, and just plain doesn't work well with any phone I have tried it with.
That is why it isn't on that phone.
Well count me as 1/7. Bluetooth headphones are infinitely more convenient than the wired kind, I have no idea why people put up with them.
They suck cuz they run out of battery before the phone and then you have to lug them around for the rest of the day...this is coming from using the Motorola S9s for almost 2 months before giving up.
@Nomi
Those motorolas must have sucked. I've got the Sony DR-BT22's and the battery lasts for over a week of regular use. I have to charge my player every single day, but I only charge my headphones once per week.
This actually would be a deal breaker for me. I use my bluetooth headphones constantly- it's nice when in the gym where
a) I don't have to have wires hanging off me to the device (I hate the arm band things)
b) I can skip a track from the right headphone, and
c) answer a phone call easily, while on a machine!
My phone is my mp3 player, and if you're an active person they're totally worth the value. I just bought a 19 dollar pair and i'm telling you they're deceivingly cheap. they work flawlessly, sound just fine and oh....
...they came with an adaptor for a 3.5mm jack incase the phone's no stereo-bluetooth equipped....
...does the G1 have a 3.5mm jack?
Exciting Stuff!
I wonder what else Google will pull out of the bag!
no
Ooooo...competition! I like....
On french site : http://www.mobile-android.fr/?p=176
... but only in the USA, right?
for the rest of us how about 7digital.com ..
I wonder if they'll allow music downloads over 3G or EDGE.
Someone will have to offer me a CD in addition to the mp3s for me to get excited about digital downloads.
No, only over WiFi. RTFA.
You kidding, right? Do you work for a record label by any chance? You do know that music can be recorded onto CD these days if you need a backup strategy right?
I want the CD because I want the higher quality audio data. It's worth it to me to pay extra for the CD than for the mp3 download. i'll pay 50% more for the CD (and I do). I've purchased one track from iTunes when the store opened, and "gifted" a couple albums to iTunes store users, and I've purchased one mp3 album from Amazon for $1. But that's all. An album in mp3 format is worth about $3 to $5 to me. I wouldn't accept a proprietary lossless file format either, either Apple's or MS's. I'm not trying to convert anyone, but I've held back from digital music downloads for this long, not just because of DRM, but also because of proprietary file formats. I don't want the CD to be displaced, it guarantees Fair Play use just by being around.
Google +HTC + amazon 1
Apple + Apple +apple 0
Definitely. Hopefully Apple will answer this with changes to iTunes.
When there's competition, the consumer wins!
I love my iPod Touch, but I really hope that T-Mobile and Amazon have huge success with this, because I am not at all a fan of buying music from the iTS due to the prevalence of DRM. Yeah, there are some DRM-free offerings, but there still seems to be a vast majority of DRM'd music. My primary source for DRM-free downloads is actually emusic. I want T-Mobile and Amazon to have success with this venture and put pressure on Apple, not so much to rid itself of DRM music entirely, though obviously that would be good, but actually to force them to open up the AppStore and stop making decisions about what can and can't be offered there. They need to let everything in, including things such as the Amazon music store. I want to be able to not only browse, but download tracks from emusic and the Amazon music store right on the iPod Touch. Perhaps ventures like this one will start to turn the tide and force Apple's hand lest their iPhone be seen as a platform that offers less instead of more.
I agree with most of what you said. I like iTMS for how convenient it is, but the iTunes Plus (no-DRM, high-bitrate) selection is weak, so I usually buy from Amazon if I can't get it on iTunes plus. I suspect it's the labels, though, not Apple, who are keeping the DRM-free stuff from iTunes, so as to make Amazon a viable competitor to Apple. I WISH Apple would allow an Amazon MP3 downloader for iPhone, but that will never happen ("duplicates existing functionality", ie, competes with Apple).
steveJ,
are you out of your mind?
asking apple to allow amazon to sell music via itunes is like best buy going "hey circuit city want to open up a kiosk in our store and sell things cheaper than us?"
Really how hard is it to download an mp3 from amazon, and then load it on your ipod.. People need to realize that itunes store isn't the only way to get music for their device.
Dude, why don't you just buy stuff off iTunes, then remove the DRM using doubleTwist?
That software rocks!
I agree with SteveJ. I don't think Apple will create any system around anything other than iTunes, and I don't have any problem with that, because the system works for a lot of people. But I do want more competition in the market. I'd like to see an Android app from CDBaby and others as well.
@Bob
My iPod is not apples store. This is entirly the point.
The reason that iTMS songs still have DRM on them is not going to change because Amazon puts preassure on Apple. Apple would be offering all the songs DRM free RIGHT NOW if the labels let them. Instead, fearing the strength of Apple, the labels aren't letting them do so in order to let Amazon's store build as competition. The fact that there is DRM on songs is 100% because of the labels. Steve Jobs has stated openly he hates DRM on music and would sell DRM free music if he were allowed to.
The newest, most popular tracks at ten cents less than iTunes? DRM-free? Double the audio quality of iTunes?
My head just exploded!
Now, how easy will it be to turn those songs into ringtones?
do people still care about ring tones?
if you are under 15 years old.
if the hardware is their im sure stereo BT can be added later on by developers.. So simmer down and let the product come out. And CONGRATS to Amazon for giving the people a great option from the start on such a popular device. Apple is NOT the only show in town.
this is looking NICE. I hope the G1 can be unlocked for a relativly good price. I just shelled out $200 to Verizon so I could get an iPhone 3G, tired of waiting for Android. I do NOT want to go through that again.
Looks like a handheld GPS unit....Loser!!!
LOL Apple has nothing to worry about!
don't think the apples doesn't have to worry. Google's app store is going to have more apps for it in less time than apple has. In addition, apple has to "check out" all apps before they are loaded on your little iphone or ipod. My girlfriend has an ipod and since she loaded a couple of appz, it has been giving her problems and not playing all of her song.
Google has made a true opens source phone. So much so that many of the companies out there building phones are clamering around google right now to get a Android based phone out on the market.
Also, their phones are tied to one design. Within 3 years, Android will probably pass Apple in the OS arena. Now that they've added Amazon, you can surely bet that Apple understands the threat from this OS.
Besides, you don't even have a landscape qwerty and you locked to an OS that is truly not open source.
So don't be butt hurt that.
HAHA! More nonsensical blather from an Apple hater. "My girlfriend loaded apps and now her iPhone doesn't work". Dude, do you think anyone believes that claptrap?! Short answer: NO. The REASON that Apple "checks out" apps is precisely BECAUSE they don't want apps to "break" the iPhone. I have tons of apps on my iPhone and none of them have "broken it". I doubt you even have a girlfriend, let alone one with an iPhone.
Again, we have knuckleheads that are just *craving* that "iPhone killer". When it is *because* of the iPhone that we even HAVE something cool like Android. Do you think if it weren't for the iPhone that Google would be working so, so hard to make Android? Take a look at the first Android device from T-Mobile. It's a lump of junk. The browser is clunky, the hardware is all plastic and feels cheap, the buttons are stupidly laid out, there is no no multitouch functionality, and so once again you have a failed "iPhone killer". THAT is what happens when you have no control over your software *and* hardware. The iPhone is so loved and so popular because it just WORKS and works beautifully.
Keep dreaming that some company is going to "overtake" Apple. I have heard that garbage about mp3 players for YEARS now, and guess what? NONE have done it. The iPod still reigns supreme, and it continues to innovate while all other play catch up, or pretend that having a good FM tuner makes their junk better (another short answer: It doesn't). I heard over and over how Vista was going to be the "OS X killer". HAHA! Yeah, riiiiiiiight. It's "killer" alright, kills anyone using it with frustration.
Apple has guidelines for the "human interface" for a *reason*, so you don't end up with the spotty, lousy collection of software that plagues other platforms. Mac stuff just works, and works elegantly.
So Amazon has come out with their new "iTunes killer", well I heard the same about Rhapsody, and on and on. Anything that gets rid of DRM is great, but it isn't Apple that is pushing DRM, it's the record labels. You watch though, if this Amazon thing takes hold, how long do you think it will be before Apple is pressuring labels to drop all DRM? Another short answer: very soon.
Keep dreaming about an "(whatever Apple product) killer", meanwhile Apple keeps producing elegant, awesome, beautiful and superior products that just work, work well, and are a joy to use. Perhaps while you're dreaming about that, you might consider just giving up your sour grapes and buying a device that is excellent, that is, anything made by Apple.
WIN.
HEY! I have an idea!!! Why doesn't someone rip this app for the iPhone/iTouch, & submit it to the app store? Oh wait - Apple doesn't like competing software which "doubles up on pre-existing apps." DANG! Well, at least it could find a nice home in Installer, right?
This is such a freaking tease. I'm a T-mobile customer, really looking forward to this phone.
Amazon MP3 is my music store of choice.
AND THE PHONE IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH MY HEADPHONES. ARGH!
If you're talking about 1/8" headphones, I just got two adapters from Hong Kong for $4 shipped. Yeah they took two weeks to get to me but still, BARGAIN!
Pah, give me an eMusic app any day. I pay $25/month for 100 DRM-free downloads.
That would be great--do they have one for iphone though?
Are you guys lame or wut. Nobody but brainwashed engadget readers really care about DRM, the majority of users dont even know what it is and what it does. Android is nothing and never will be.....they have one..yes ONE freaking phone out, and out comes the fanboyz and wannabees with 1-0 google / amazon apple-apple 0 i mean, are you serious ladies. Apple couldent care less about it. Just because it is google you are all coming in your small boy panties, but lets get real here. All their freaking apps are in Beta, and there UELA´s are out of this world. You have great objections towards Apple´s DRM (which is none of apple´s fault), but you dont mind about Google getting all of your personal information etc. Get a grip ladies.
"You have great objections towards Apple´s DRM (which is none of apple´s fault)"
LOL! Ass.
Take your Johnny Apple-Seed Mentality somewhere else. We're tired of fruit based trolls on this blog.
You should care about Apple's DRM if you own any non-Apple devices. Try streaming those DRM'd music files to anything other than an AppleTV. Try putting them on a cell phone other than the iPhone. If Amazon can offer the same music as iTunes, at lower prices, without DRM, then you're damn right I'm going to blame Apple for it.
You're pretty gullible if you think Apple can't do anything about it. That DRM is in place by their choice, to lock people in to their iTunes ecosystem of devices with no way out.
So you think that because the Music Industry hates Apple, they allow other stores to sell music DRM free but Apple isn't allowed too? Because that is what you are saying when it isn't Apples fault that they don't have (a large selection) of DRM free content. Android has one phone ok... there will be more guaranteed, Apple has how many..... O yeah ONE phone too. You can't honestly say that iTunes Store is better than Amazons because they have more DRM therefore Amazon and WinMo would be better than Apple + iTunes.
Mike the majority of posters have basically complained about DRM how can you say most don't know what it is? Anyone who has bought music post the year 2000 has had to fight with DRM.
I haven't been that excited about Android, but adding a serious content-provider like Amazon to the equation makes it a lot more interesting...
This is disappointing that OTA downloads aren't supported. I don't get why this is so hard to do! Nevertheless, I'm happy for more competition and as an iPhone user, I hope this pushes Apple to make their offering even better as well.
Seriously, what's it with US providers that they are so terrified of
data downloads?
First no bluetooth tethering on the iPhone, now no music downloads on
the G1 over 3G.
Here in Austria providers are pushing datacards like mad, even
3G-WiFi routers as a DSL replacement for homes (because data
contracts are pretty much the only way to grow when everybody already
has a phone contract). I think the cheapest contract right now is
16€/Month for 15GB data (3Data fair), or 9€ for 3GB. "3" also
offers unlimited mobile TV-over-HSDPA with every contract, surely
using a lot of bandwidth.
So, whats the problem in the US? The only thing I could find from
AT&T is 60$ (+tax, I suppose) for 5Gb, hidden deep down on the
website.
The phone companies in Canada and US suck. Some of them even charge for incoming calls. Crazy
the best thing about this is that apple HAS to respond with something that can compete with this.
No. They really don't.
No 3G downloads means that Apple can sit back and watch T-mobile suck on a cock (and I mean male chicken here).
Apple will respond, if this succeeds. There is a great deal of room for failure. Regulation of the content that runs on a phone is absolutely necessary as a means of quality control over the phones hardware, the network it runs on, and a host of other reasons (not the least of which is litigation from PT owners). Then you got the laundry list of bad, ineffective apps (does anybody remember that big reason Atari fell?)
Then there is the problem with multiple platforms. Google Docs wouldn't even run on more than firefox and the older version of IE when it first came out. It ran badly in safari, even worse in Opera, and about the same in Mozilla, and that doesn't even count the other browsers out there like Shiva. Now, I'm suppose to believe that they are going to get this to work on multiple hardware devices (not even simple front end software). I'll believe it when I see it. It would be surprising if this thing isn't buggy as hell when it first comes out, as in worse than iPhone 2.0 update.
This launch will of course be biased in the positive direction, considering the negative bias there is online against apple presently (that for some odd reason started with the iPhone 2.0 update for some reason, hmm), it's only natural. Hopefully this competition is worthy, and not falsely appreciated.
Weird, Ive never had a "regulated" smartphone and its worked very nicely with whatever I've done to it.
Also, when the f**k is Amazon getting their international sh*t together?
what kinda storage is the phone going to have?
put this on the n95 now
I run squeezecenter at home. It lets me browse and download any song I own from my N95 and N78 from anywhere, anytime. That means on 3G, not this crippled garbage. The N95 has symtorrent and symella available also just to let you know. You could also use ORB or Twonkymedia server. You have options. Not this crippleware.
No downloads on 3G. Talk about negating the purpose.
Yeah, the #1 music retailer in the US is shaking in their boots over this.
:rolleyes:
Yeah...because no company ever rises to beat (or at least change) the market leader.
If enough people find out about Amazon's better model, they'll move over to it.
Amazon has done very, very well to get in the music space. Love their business model so far - they just need more labels to hop on board. The trick is coaxing the big labels that sans-DRM is good for them too. A lot of the execs at top companies remain exceedingly ignorant of the needed change in music sales offerings for the digital age.
Since the MP3 store is also a web application, I wonder if you'll be able to purchase tracks using Androids browser in addition to the standalone app? This would allow you to download tracks while connected via 3G and not wifi (Take that, RIAA!!)
Is there anything Google can't do?
All of you guys who complain about Apple's DRM need to remember that if it were up to Apple, none of the music content of the iTunes music store would be DRM'ed. Steve Jobs has already said so in his Open Letter published months ago. The issue has always been the music companies. First they didn't want to do electronic downloads at all since it would screw up their business model with CDs. When that was untenable, they tried onerous DRM schemes with a few manufacturers before Apple finally convinced most of them to try a less restrictive approach. That worked extremely well and it spawned a whole new way for people to buy most, if not all, of their music.
But for the music companies, it worked too well in one respect. It made Apple the dominate player by far in this new market, mirroring the success they had with selling iPods. All of a sudden they had put more power into one vendor's hands then they had ever done before. For some perspective, before the iTunes Store the music industry used to always gripe about Wal-Mart, which had 20% of the CD marketplace and demanded tough terms for both the music industry and the artists (in the artist's case, often creative restrictions). Now the iTunes store had 70+% of all legal downloads and the marketplace was shifting fast to downloads versus CDs.
So the music industry has been trying to create a suitable rival for iTunes for some time. Most of them have failed miserably due to poor software interfaces, lack of titles and artists or no iPod integration (and Apple was not about to help on that front). Only Amazon's store has gotten any traction due to the fact that the record industry chose to let them go completely DRM free in order to attract business away from Apple. Amazon also made it easier for iPod owners to integrate Amazon purchases into their iTunes library.
So all of you that complain about Apple's DRM, I say to you that your anger is misplaced. Blame the recording industry. One thing for sure is that the recording industry can't do what they are doing with Amazon forever, meaning allowing them to do DRM free while Apple must do DRM on the majority of their library. The recording industry started this as "an experiment", but they cannot continue this long term without raising the ire of the Federal Trade Commission for treating customers differently in the marketplace. Apple is being patient about this right now, but their patience will run thin soon if the recording industry doesn't change their sales policies.
Thank go that Apple offers DRM-Free songs to be transferred to their devics!
Here's a question. How do you get the Amazon tracks off the G1 without desktop sync?
I seriously think this device is targeting me. I use Google, I use Amazon MP3, and I'm still on T-Mobile.
Amazon: 6 million DRM-free songs on T-Mobile G1
And no headphone jack!
I'm jus trying to sign up....but I herd its the best