BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com BloggingStocks http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/media/feedlogo.gif BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Amazon (AMZN) launches beta of MP3 music store; Apple (AAPL) cringes]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/09/25/amazon-amzn-launches-beta-of-mp3-music-store-apple-aapl-cri/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/09/25/amazon-amzn-launches-beta-of-mp3-music-store-apple-aapl-cri/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/09/25/amazon-amzn-launches-beta-of-mp3-music-store-apple-aapl-cri/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In the latest slap to Apple, Inc.'s (NASDAQ: AAPL) iTunes and iPod platform, Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) has released a "beta" (as in, being tested) version of its 'Amazon MP3' digital music store as of today, accessible through www.amazonmp3.com. While Apple continues to be the largest seller of digital music files on the planet, its recently launch of the 'iTunes Plus' selection was hailed as a larger experiment in the music industry's transition from the CD to the file download. The experiment? Apple removed digital rights management (DRM) copy protection from these iTunes Plus files, making them susceptible to file trading among friends and all over the Internet.

The music industry knows that DRM-free music file downloads are the future, and are relenting from paranoia about internet users everywhere stealing music slowly but surely. In Amazon's case, its new MP3 store features over two million songs from 180,000 artists represented by over 20,000 music labels. And what do you know -- that entire music catalog is being offered in DRM-free MP3 format, making all two million songs virtually universal to every music player from the iPod to in-dash CD players in most new cars. And, without protection, buyers are free to copy and share the files -- without any protection -- to their heart's content. That's the potential mushroom cloud-size problem the music industry execs go to bed with each night.

Continue reading Amazon (AMZN) launches beta of MP3 music store; Apple (AAPL) cringes

Amazon (AMZN) launches beta of MP3 music store; Apple (AAPL) cringes originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 25 Sep 2007 12:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AACAAPLAmazon MP3Amazon.comAmazonMp3AMZNApple, Inc.Apple,Inc.digital musicDigitalMusicDRMDRM-freeinthenewsMP3MP3 downloadsMP3 storeMp3DownloadsMp3StoremsftTue, 25 Sep 2007 12:25:00 EST<![CDATA[iTunes' unprotected downloads: Is Apple (AAPL) goading competition?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/08/29/will-apple-aapl-invite-new-competition-with-non-protected-musi/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/08/29/will-apple-aapl-invite-new-competition-with-non-protected-musi/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/08/29/will-apple-aapl-invite-new-competition-with-non-protected-musi/#commentsFiled under: ,

Now that digital music leader Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is selling non-protected digital songs from its iTunes Plus music store, is the iPod maker extraordinaire setting itself up to have more competition in the digital audio player (DAP) marketplace?

After all, the whole customer-friendly integration between the company's iPod and its iTunes music store is what kept customers coming back for more (and more). The iPod was the coolest DAP on the market (and still is from market share figures alone), and songs downloaded from iTunes could only be played on the iPod, just as Apple designed and intended, tech hacks aside.

But now that non-protected digital music files (in AAC format) can be downloaded from the iTunes music store at a more hefty $1.29 each, is Apple going to see its iPod market share slip since customers can now use any AAC-compatible DAP to listen to music from the iTunes Plus selection?

Remember that the still-protected iTunes music selections far outweigh the iTunes Plus non-protected music selections. I'm quite sure Apple will reign in the iTunes Plus selection to gauge customer response for at least a little while.

Continue reading iTunes' unprotected downloads: Is Apple (AAPL) goading competition?

iTunes' unprotected downloads: Is Apple (AAPL) goading competition? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 29 Aug 2007 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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