Wal-Mart Online Music Store -- WMA, $0.88 for every song

[Sava]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

I am a moral relativist. I don't believe in copyright laws.

That's nice, but your government does.

the government can suck my balls

[Agathon]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

This looks to be promising, because it's cheaper and less restrictive than the other services I have seen so far.

Indeed... WMA is used my most MP3 players, unless Apple's system.

The iTMS has one function - sell ipods - that's why it's ipods only. I don't think there is really any money in downloads for their own sake. But I could be wrong.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Agathon
The iTMS has one function - sell ipods - that's why it's ipods only. I don't think there is really any money in downloads for their own sake. But I could be wrong.

Part of the reason the iTMS doesn't make much money is AAC is very expensive to license.

WMA is much cheaper.

Plus, given Walmart's existing deals with record labels, I'm sure they get access to the songs for less as well.

[Asher]

The growing consensus is Apple is screwing itself from a potentially lucrative monopoly by locking the iPod and iTunes together.

On a related note: http://news.com.com/2100-1025_3-5177...l?tag=nefd_pop

Real's Glaser exhorts Apple to open iPod
Last modified: March 23, 2004, 10:47 AM PST
By Michael Kanellos
Staff Writer, CNET News.com

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser has a message for Apple Computer chief Steve Jobs: Open iPod or shrivel.

Glaser, the feisty founder of the Internet entertainment network, said during a panel discussion Tuesday at PC Forum here that Apple is creating problems for itself by using a file format that forces consumers to buy music from Apple's own iTunes site. (CNET Networks, publisher of News.com, last week acquired EDventures, which sponsors PC Forum.)

Because Apple's iPod music player does not support other proprietary music formats and does not license its own format to rivals, Real's Rhapsody and other song sites are blocked from easily reaching iPod users.

"Apple's (market) share will go down if they continue to do this. The only way to presently put songs on an iPod is to (buy) them from iTunes," Glaser said, referring to downloads purchased from online music stores. In addition to iTunes songs, the iPod can play files encoded in the MP3 format, including tracks ripped from CDs.

Hewlett-Packard, which has partnered with Apple on digital music, is in a position to persuade the company to change its practice, he said.

"There is a good opportunity to say to Steve, 'You've done a good job of promoting this thing, but now one of two bad things will happen,'" Glaser said. "One, Apple's market share will go down to its historical single-digit levels, or two, it will slow down the development of this market."

Glaser predicted that customers will say, "I bought an iPod and can only shop at one store. What is this? The Soviet Union?"

Shane Robison, chief technology officer of HP, shared the panel with Glaser and said diplomatically that discussions on many issues are always ongoing.

Apple could not be reached for comment.

Glaser also applauded actions taken by European regulators to limit Microsoft's ability to bundle technology into Windows. Real has been directly affected by the practice, because it makes a competing media player.

"I think it is a step in the right direction. It is not transcendent," he said. "The specific solutions have not been announced yet, but the outcome suggests that the European regulators did the right thing for the right reasons."

Glaser further said that the European Commission's ruling is not likely to exert massive political pressures because most of the companies directly affected by the decision--Sun Microsystems, RealNetworks and Apple, among others--are based in the United States. The commission, however, has said it entered the investigation on behalf of European citizens.

Microsoft, meanwhile, struck a deal with Major League Baseball to offer live audio and video on its networks. MLB used to have a partnership with RealNetworks.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Sava
YES!

Buy from Wal-Mart... support torture and child labor in CHINA!

I think you've finally found a way to trap UR... on one hand, he could speak against Walmart, that avowedly capitalist corporation, but on the other hand, he'd be saying something negative about China.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Sava
the government can suck my balls

Not with the anti-sodomy legislation the Bush admin is preparing

[Agathon]

Originally posted by Asher
The growing consensus is Apple is screwing itself from a potentially lucrative monopoly by locking the iPod and iTunes together.

The growing consensus of people going out of business.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Agathon
The growing consensus of people going out of business.

I meant from analysts. Of course Real is going out of business.

Interestingly, their business model of recent years is very similar to Apple's today with the iPod and iTunes.

Real's been offering "premium" content online for years, locking it only to their player. They used to have a monopoly on such things, like MLB live broadcasts.

Going out of business indeed. Maybe Apple should heed his warnings.

[Agathon]

Apple will stay as they are as long as it pays. At the moment it is paying off handsomely.

If it doesn't work...

....itunes has a WMA file icon in its resources.

[Asher]

Doesn't it frustrate you as an end-user when the company who makes the products you use artificially and intentionally restricts you from shopping at other online stores?

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised this doesn't upset most of you.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by asleepathewheel
wait, doesn't buying it as a download cut out the poor chinese slaves that are making the cds you no longer need to purchase?

Slaves making CD's? Are you a denizen of Nedaverse?

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Asher
Doesn't it frustrate you as an end-user when the company who makes the products you use artificially and intentionally restricts you from shopping at other online stores?

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised this doesn't upset most of you.

Supporter of a monopoly speaks about other companies locking customers in.

The irony

[Asher]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
Supporter of a monopoly speaks about other companies locking customers in.

The irony

How is Microsoft locking customers in?

I realize Microsoft is a "monopoly", but they still offer consumers choice, unlike Apple.

Microsoft doesn't control the hardware you buy, nor do they have any qualms with licensing WMA to anyone who asks, including Apple.

[Dis]

Walmart still censors music

pretty much all the music I listen to is offensive. I wouldn't be able to buy anything.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Dissident
Walmart still censors music

pretty much all the music I listen to is offensive. I wouldn't be able to buy anything.

The songs I've listened to haven't been censored.

Few examples:

http://musicclips.liquiddigitalmedia.com/asf1/1/6/4/1/0000651461.asf

http://musicclips.liquiddigitalmedia...0000517109.asf (the censored version is "Waif Me" instead of "Rape Me")

http://musicclips.liquiddigitalmedia.com/asf1/4/5/5/4/0000814554.asf

They do offer the censored versions as well.