Apple Introduces iTunes Music Store, iTunes 4, new iPod

Steve Jobs took to the stage at Moscone Center today for a special Apple Event, and introduced Apple's new music service, "iTunes Music Store," which will allow users to download music in the AAC format for $.99 per song, and is built-in to iTunes 4. The service offers 200,000 tracks and counting, with unlimited CD burning for personal use. iTunes 4 also adds playlist sharing, and the new iPod add new features, including a new design, a dock, and USB 2.0. The iTunes Music Service files are 128 kbps AAC (reportedly better than 128 kbps MP3), with free previews, cover art, and "reliable downloads." You can browse the music store in iTunes, similarly to browsing your own Library, and preview them directly in iTunes. "One-click shopping" allows you to purchase the song and download it, adding it to your Library, in one click.

The store also offers exclusive music, music videos, and other multimedia, all in the main iTunes window. iTunes 4 will be available now (along with QuickTime 6.2), and the music store will be available today. It is Mac-only now, but will be available for Windows by the end of the year.

As a compromise to help prevent piracy, you must change your playlist every 10 CD burns, and you may share the music with only three other Macs (you may modify the list of computers that the music may be shared with at any time). There was no word on the technology used to handle this DRM.

The iTunes playlist sharing allows sharing of playlists, and the streaming of music from one machine to the other, though copying is not supported ("that would be verboten," Jobs added).

The new iPods will be $299 (10GB), $399 (15GB), and $499 (30GB). The dock holds the iPod upright, and has a line-out. The FireWire port is now on the bottom of the unit, and the buttons have been moved up higher, just below the screen, in a row. The improved screen features a backlight. The new units will be in Apple stores on Friday.

Comments

Greetings again, shit for brains!

[I Am The Owl]

How many times are you going to post the same thing in this article?

Re:I see you were born with millions of dollars.

[HanzoSan]

No, I wouldn't take it. Just like I don't buy lottery tickets. I earn my wealth in the best ways I can. Maybe you should try it. Not like this makes any sense what so ever anyway. This is like arguing that apples are better than peaches because Zebras have spots.

Yes because you are stupid. What kinda person wants to earn their wealth when someone is willing to give it to them? What do you get out of this "earning" feeling that makes you do this? its illogical and you know it. Sure I have to earn everything, but I do not enjoy it, if I could have everything for free i'd take it.

You have no right to complain about music. You don't have money to buy it, so shut up. If you had money to buy it, and didn't, then you could have an opinion. It's not even like you are too young to vote and complaining about an election. You are like a bum, complaining that someone driving a Benz owes you something. Nothing that you say makes sense. You are crying like a little bitch with a skinned knee because you are too proud to get a job. Congratulations on your degree, now why don't you try doing something with your life that means something?



Wrong, I'm not complaining that someone driving a nice car owes me something, I'm saying I'm going to survive period, and I dont have to play by the rules to do it, because the rules dont really matter more than survival, survival matters, the rules? Who gives a fuck about the rules as long as I eat 3 meals a day. You are so obssessed with the rules that you'd turn down a million dollars because you want to earn every dollar. Sorry but thats stupid.


Average person is poor. Uhm, you do realize that poor is a subjective word meaning you make less money than the average person. No fucking wonder you don't have a job, you're illiterate.


No I mean the average person is poor, meaning if you look at the majority of these 6 billion people on the planet, they cannot afford music either. In fact the majority of people in the USA cannot afford music, at least not at the current price, CD sales arent rising because the economy has been falling, not because suddenly people found Kazaa.

Oh, good for you. Get a fucking job and stop bitching. Shit. You are not entitled to a movie, or a few CDs a month. You are entitled to not fucking bitch about your life because you make your life. Not me, not anybody. You! Yes, that's right. It's all your fault. Nobody elses. Don't blame the economy, because I moved to a town I don't know anybody in right in the worst part of it. I moved to a town that had record unemployment rates. I also was only unemployed for less than 3 months after my previous job. So, it's your fault. Take some accountability and responsibility in your life.


Why because its against the rules? Fuck the rules, if someone offers me something for free, well I'm going to take it, Ill take free food, free movies, free music, and whatever else anyone wants to offer me, simply because its given to me, stupid people like you dont celebrate holidays like xmas because you dont believe in sharing, you wont accept gifts because you didnt earn your gift, whatever stupid. Stop telling me to get a job, unless you are going to hire me, telling me what I already know does me no good, next you will tell starving people in Africa they need to eat 3 meals a day. Right its my fault, because to you, the world is not connected, theres no global economy, so I'm assuming you having money is your fault? No its not your fault, your fault is having the skills required to make money, getting the job however is you being lucky, you find a job, you do not earn a job. Accountability and Responsibility only works in a world thats fair, if everyone who worked hard were successful, we wouldnt have people like Bill Gates around who make all the money but do none of the work. Learn about society, its not a meritocracy.

Funny, I can name off about a dozen places aroun dhere that are a