Amazon's DRM-free MP3 store goes international with quiet UK opening
By Darren Murph 
posted Dec 3rd 2008 9:21AM
posted Dec 3rd 2008 9:21AM
[Via Pocket-lint]
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I wonder if we'll be getting an update on our G1s so we can use this?
T-Mobile have said on their forums that they're planning an update in December/January, but didn't say what would be in it, as far as I know.
Thanks for the info! I hope it includes the messenger clients that are missing but referenced in the contacts!
Ha!
the entire iPod family is in that lineup!!!
'i' agree
The point being, iTunes can sync to iPods and iPods only, Amazon...just works
"Amazon...just works"... Well, if you don't mind a bit of hassle. I'm quite open to the idea of another store, especially a cheaper one, but I just won't use it unless it at least approaches the convenience of the iTunes store. I'm a lazy guy...
And here we have the core itunes consumer: someone who is willing to pay more for an inferior product solely because of laziness.
@ Hawkman
Actually, the things that I have purchased through Amazon have gone directly into my iTunes "Purchased" playlist and it's added to a separate folder, but depending on how you have ur iTunes organized, it can be moved automatically to the "correct iTunes location"...hence...just works
Amazon mp3s are DRM free so they work just fine with the iPod family of players... why wouldst they be included in the image seeing that they hold such a large market share?
£3 an album, I approve.
I know, thats crazy cheap! for the convenience and the guaranteed quality, it might convert me from using rapidshare for music.
And because of the search facility you can find the same song for different prices so you can always find the ultra cheap version on a compilation album.
I'm wondering... will I be able to download music from other European countries? In the European Union (UK is in it) there's a free market policy so anything sold in any country in the EU should be allowed to be bought from any EU country. If not... I hope the EU commission puts their hands on it sooner than after.
Hmmm... :-/
"Important Message
We're sorry. We could not process your order because of geographical restrictions on the product which you were attempting to purchase. Please refer to the terms of use for this product to determine the geographical restrictions. We apologize for the inconvenience."
I hope the EU gets their hands on this fast.
256kbps? No way. Most CDs costs only a couple of quid more with free delivery.
So a couple of quid more, times lets say 50 albuns, that is a lot of a 'couple of quid' more.
Plus I wouldn't get a CD delivered within a few minutes, would I?
It's better than most iTunes songs though, which is a start.
Well I do agree that it offers much better value than iTunes. Still, if they offer lossless for even a higher price I may consider but right now I'll hold onto CDs just for the ability to rip at any format/bitrate I want. Remember, NIN is selling Ghosts I-IV as a digital release for only US$5 and you can get them in either 320kbps MP3, FLAC and ALAC.
I'm been seeing 320kps from them.
Last CD I bought was the new Beck. Probably the last one I ever buy. While I was waiting 3 days for delivery I could have downloaded it in 30 seconds. When I got it I ripped it. Then it goes in a pile someplace never to be seen again. Why do I want the CD again??
Amazon MP3 is wonderful... if anything it's too easy. in minutes I could spend 50$ without thinking much of it (and I do)
"Why do I want the CD again??"
If MP3 is ever surpassed? When you decide you want to go lossless? There are plenty of reasons why CDs may proof useful.
That's great! When are they opening the store in Canada?
As soon as you can figure out how to connect via a proxy that's in the U.S. IP range.
I suspect you need a UK credit card too
£3 an album - publicity stunt or are they going to all be this price?
I doubt they will but I do like the flexible pricing - just wish I could get over the materialistic why I prefer to have the physical album!
Rich
what does it cost them...
everyones used to the Itunes standard 79p because apple said
how much can we get away with paying artists?
how much will it cost us in servers and power?
how much profit do we want?
And thats called standardization.
So when is it coming to Canada? There are no drm free stores here, and I can't find any music taht works on my Zune.
Puretracks.ca has a lot of DRM-free stuff that works on my Zune. It doesn't have everything, but it's heading that way...
I've been keeping an eye out for "iTunes Plus" DRM-Free songs. They're completely Zune compatible, and when placed in the appropriate Zune-monitored folder, are automatically added. Too bad most of iTunes music ISN'T DRM-Free..
Simple solution.
Zune Marketplace needs to come to Canada. Now.
Amazon MP3 Store > iTunes
256 is really good quality (though 320 would be nice) and if you only want a song or 2 from an album it's perfect. :)
7digital>Amazon MP3>iTunes
7 digital has 320kbps default. They also tend to have better album prices and have worked in the US, UK and other countries for months now.
That's spooky - I was just thinking they announced it was going to be this year and nothing had materialised, and here it is.
Better late than never!
All I can say is to post this up
http://xkcd.com/488/
hehe, someone should save xkcd fans a lot of time and effort and write some code to automatically select an appropriate comic for the article.
It's actually pretty easy, I just searched DRM xkcd
Here is a link to a script that lets you shop on itunes and buy on Amazon.
http://www.advantageousmp3.com/
Haha thats so good!
Use iTunes to find it, but get it off Amazon, genius!
the killers rule! i bought that album from amazon mp3 for 4 fricken dollars!
so lets see
iTunes:
-128kbps AAC
-$11.99
-DRM
Amazon
-256kbps MP3
$3.99
-No DRM
did i make the right choice?
Good work, Amazon!
Amazon is a role model the music industry should take notice of....HELLO RIAA are you listening
I LIKESORZ!!!!!!!!
YES Finally!
I am officially off iTunes for music now.
If only amazon could open an appstore...and intergrate into my iPod Touch.
Ah pipe dreams
I'll give you three guesses who's stopping them from doing it...
I see a lot of criticism being directed at iTunes but I hope most of you realise that you're playing right into the RIAA's plans.
Saying iTunes sucks because of DRM is true but not exactly fair as it is the labels that aren't allowing Apple to go DRM-free so as to push more consumers towards alternative music stores (like Amazon) and reduce Apple's market share and bargaining power. Apple has used their bargaining strength to force a flat rate of US$0.99 per song with no tiered pricing and to prohibit complete album only sales - so I'd say they've used their leverage for the good of consumers.
7 Digital is much better the music comes in up to 320kbps and also flac for some titles and it's truly and international store unlike both Amazon stores that have geographical restrictions,i find not being able to buy downloads from them strange when i can still buy the cds and get them shipped out.
I just went through 5 albums I bought from Amazon in the last couple days. Some released last week some released in the 80's.
ALL of them are 320kps.
and I can play them on anything I choose, thank you very much.
Yet..Canada is STILL fucking screwed when it comes to buying digital music.
Opening it up to Canada would be a WHOLE LOT EASIER, considering we are on the SAME FUCKING CONTINENT.
Seriously, what is Amazon's hang up with selling DRM-Free music to people in Canada? Are we not a "big enough" market with 30 million people here?
I'm in Canada and I was told (second hand mind you) that we don't have these things or little of them (Zune Marketplace, Amazon mp3, PSN Movies, and so on) because apparently, distribution contracts for music and movies are negotiated on a title by title basis up in here in Canada.
Apple apparently has enough clout to get things going with iTunes but it took some time, but the rest takes forever. I guess Amazon and Microsoft prefer not to open up their stores until they have negotiated enough contracts to make it worthwhile.
Yet, everyday I search the interwebs hoping to see "Amazon mp3 available in Canada" or "Zune Marketplace in Canada". And everyday I'm disapointed and bitter to find nothing.
AmazonMP3.com is an awesome music site and has pretty much weened me off of the iTunes Store completely. Not only because of the DRM, but because of the variable pricing. Yes, that's right. The variable pricing is awesome because I'm able to get a song for 89 cents up to $1.90 (for songs that are longer in time - i.e. 15 minutes). The songs that are more expensive aren't available on iTunes at all unless you purchase the entire album. On top of that, yesterday I just purchased the entire new album by The Killers for $4 on Amazon MP3 - whereas iTunes only sells the version with a music video and forces you to pay $12.
Another site that's been treating me well is Lala.com, since it lest you listen to the entire song once - instead of just 30 second samples. Plus their variable pricing is sometime better than AmazonMP3. Heck, I can get songs from Lala for as low as 79 cents! Who says variable pricing doesn't work for the consumer?!
My point being, I left iTunes not because I hate it, but because they've stopped innovating on the side of the consumer - at least when it comes to music. Even taking a comparison with Zune's diverse music store options makes iTunes pale. iTunes has great exclusives, but they're no longer has the ability to hold the title as "Best Music Store" just because they're the biggest.