iTunes Use Surges Past QuickTime, RealPlayer

QuatermassX writes "Forget increased sales of Mac computers, think media players. The iPod 'halo effect' shows its true power in recently compiled statistics from Nielsen/NetRatings and Apple. From the report on WebSiteOptimization.com: 'Podcasting is taking off and iPods are seemingly ubiquitous. Unique users of Apple's iTunes player should pass RealPlayer by mid-2006 with nearly 30 million users in the US alone. People are tuning in over twice as long with iTunes than with RealPlayer or Windows Media Player. As broadband penetration increases we are spending more time on our computers.'"

Comments

iTunes use surges past QuickTime?

[dennism]

Last I checked, QuickTime was a part of the iTunes installation under Windows. I think they meant to say Windows Media.

But, this has certainly done wonders for the adoption of QuickTime under Windows. It's the iTunes Trojan Horse -- get them hooked on a great music player and a great portable music player. As more installations of iTunes are done, more QuickTime installations as well. Suddenly, it becomes easier to convince the big websites (and small too) to put up QuickTime versions of the media. And to top it off, because of the increased usage of QuickTime, us Mac users get a better web experience as well.

Bravo Apple :)

Re:iTunes use surges past QuickTime?

[ioErr]

Apple will always look bad in my eyes as long as they seek to lock people in via proprietry formats that they strictly enforce to prevent competition.

QuickTime uses an open format.

Why do I need a separate media players just for *.mov files?

Because the maker of your main player has chosen not to support the QuickTime format.

Why can't I play *.mov files on my mobile

Ditto.

Re:iTunes use surges past QuickTime?

[spooje]

I understand you didn't ask for it, but without QuickTime you can't have iTunes. iTunes is just a pretty XML based interface for QT. All the music and videos are played via QT.

ObFreebies

[Rob T Firefly]

I tend to prefer a big heaping plate of Media Player Classic, with a side order of Real Alternative and Quicktime Alternative.

Re:So, when should podcasts ditch MP3s for AAC?

[Alioth]

I _only_ use AAC podcasts. The nice thing about the enhanced ones for iTunes is they can include hypertext links (so when listening to 75minutes, I don't have to work out how that strange band name is actually spelled - the link is right there) and artwork. The AAC podcasts also make it easier to precisely skip the bits I don't want to listen to (for example, I don't like all the genres of music that 75minutes plays, but I can just click on the next track to skip the stuff I don't like, instead of having to carefully fastforward and rewind).

Re:I have little sympathy for real player

[Xyde]

Sadly, I see some traits like this in iTunes. Recently, I had wanted to download JUST QUICKTIME. I was rudely surprised that I can't do that anymore. I HAVE TO download iTunes+quicktime-- whether I want iTunes or not. Screw that. It looks like iTunes has failed to learn the hard lessons of Real Player.

What?

Re:Who "uses" real player?

[hgavin]

the standalone Quicktime installer is hidden away on the site. I've never found a link to it on the Apple site.

http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/standalone .html. Just look for the link named "QuickTime Standalone Installer" on the main quicktime download page.