Google To Compete With iTunes

[WillParkinson]

Google To Compete With iTunes

Google is set to launch a music service expected to compete with industry pioneer iTunes.

Google is in talks with music labels on plans for a download store and a digital song locker that would allow its mobile users to play songs wherever they are as it steps up its rivalry with Apple, according to people familiar with the matter. Google’s Andy Rubin, the brains behind Google’s Android mobile operating system, has been leading conversations with the labels about what a new Google music service would look like, according to these sources. Rubin, Google’s vice president of engineering, hopes to have the service up and running by Christmas, two of these people said.

Earlier this year Apple bough the popular cloud-based music company LaLa and promptly shut it down, leading many to speculate that the next version of iTunes would be cloud-based. That was not the case.

http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2010/09/google-to-compete-with-itunes.html

[hlthe2b]

1. Apple can't be so closed any more...

They have to take Iphone to Verizon AND Sprint asap, or google/android is going to clean their clock. Then get that LaLa based iTunes up as soon thereafter.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

2. I hope you are correct, but the Apple faithful will forcefully disagree

[hlthe2b]

4. Care to translate?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

7. Fixed

[hlthe2b]

11. ahh... lol

thanks

[Occulus]

44. Leo Laporte is already saying that the newest Android OS phones are slightly better

than the iPhone 4. He also predicts that we're going to see a repeat of what happened to Apple in the early 90s: lots of new innovation right off the bat that makes the almost-completely-closed Apple product new and shiny, but much, much better and more open alternatives to the unjustifiably-expensive Apple products when Apple's innovations become the standard for the industry (see: GUI, mouse, windowed OS).

Lest anyone question his opinion on the subject, he has a larger audience for his Mac podcasts than the official Mac magazine has subscribers. And he's awesome into the bargain.

Apple is making the exact same mistake with the iPhone that they did with the early Mac good-OS-on-a-toy-computer, and I predict it will bite them in the ass in the exact same way. At least they're not leaving gamers behind this time....

[Drale]

47. agreed but

the Iphone should be on multiple cariers the reason everyone has such "problems" is because if you put 1 million iphones on one network and then expect it to work perfectly your nuts its like trying to run the internet on 30 lap tops off a home wifi network. and no one is ever going to compete with itunes because apple has built a great interface if you use a ipod or iphone (which i do and many many other do as well)

[HEyHEY]

3. Over here in China we get google music for free

Anything old is readily available and clean. It's a good service.

[Matariki]

5. Yay. I think.

Although pretty soon Google will own everything in the universe. But other than that, as an android user, I say yay. Hope they add movies and video to that.

[Radical Activist]

6. I downloaded iTunes after getting a free music card.

Then I realized I couldn't transfer the music to my MP3 player or burn it to a CD. I deleted iTunes and turn down every "free" download offer. I don't want that program taking over my music. I hope google doesn't make the same mistakes.

[NYCGirl]

9. Did you miss the "Save as MP3" option?

Under "Advanced" pull-down menu.

Also, if you make a playlist of all the songs you want on a CD, you can burn them, whether you bought them from iTunes or not.

[Radical Activist]

17. When I went to the download site

I didn't see any option for saving as an MP3. There was no "advanced" menu at the website. It may have been part of the promotion to encourage people to use iTunes.
Does it let me burn a CD with songs I've downloaded on iTunes plus songs I've downloaded with other programs? I don't need a program that makes simple things difficult and tries to force me to play all of my music in that program in an attempt to protect a company's profit margin.

[NYCGirl]

21. What website are you talking about? I'm talking about the

actual program, iTunes. Yes, you can burn songs from anywhere. Also, you can save anything as an MP3 and load them onto any player.

[Radical Activist]

23. A site I visited over two years ago after getting a free download card at Lollapalooza.

Look, I'm not interested in customer service. The program was cumbersome, makes simple things more complicated, tries to make me import all of my music into it, and offers no benefits beyond windows media player. I'm not going to pay for an overpriced iPod instead of an MP3 player so there's no benefit to using iTunes.

[Occulus]

45. I certainly missed it. Are we talking about the same iTunes?

There is no such animal at that location in iTunes 9.2.0.61 as of five minutes ago. Were you talking about iTunes 10?



Note that I will not upgrade to iTunes 10, nor will I upgrade my iPod to OS 4, because it's jailbroken and I don't want a brick, and iTunes upgrades have historically not gone well for some PC users. And BTW, the PC version of iTunes really blows. I don't understand why Apple has so much trouble coding a stable and responsive flagship application for anything other than the Mac.

[NYCGirl]

55. Here's the same menu when something other than an

MP3 is highlighted:

[hlthe2b]

13. Not true.... while I have only recently decided to try itunes...

that was something I thought to be true as well. It is not.

[Radical Activist]

19. Was that always true of older versions?

If they're allowing it now then it's unnecessarily difficult. I see no benefit to the program compared to the inconveniences.

[NYCGirl]

22. Yes. Always true. NT

[hlthe2b]

24. Actually, not hard at all...

I seem to remember very very early on that this was brought up as a disadvantage to the ipod... Whether true or not (and perhaps it was nearly 10 years ago, now-- don't know) it isn't now. I have tons of CDs and have been putting off for years finding a way to catalogue and make my music more accessible--more than just downloading a few dozen CD's and mp3s to my cell and laptop.

Now that free-standing music stores are going the way of the dodo, I finally decided it was time to start filling out my favorites with selected songs, rather than buying the entire cd. I am planning to archive them in a lossless format on a 2 TB hard drive AND in a more compact format for use on my cell and other devices.

But if you are still in doubt, I'd be happy to take those Itunes gift cards off your hands. :evilgrin:

[Occulus]

46. Could you tell us exactly where in iTunes the "save as/to .mp3" option resides?

I just looked at all the pulldowns in iTunes- I added a screenie above for the "advanced" menu- with an audio file selected (including the right-click context menu for the file in question) and there was no "save as/to .mp3" option shown anywhere.

[hlthe2b]

49. ...

The process to convert the media files to MP3 format depends on the fact whether the files are DRM protected or not.

Converting Non-Protected Files

You can use iTunes to convert the media files to MP3 format. To do so, you need to -

* Launch iTunes – You can launch it from the Start Menu Programs
* Select ‘Edit > Preferences > Advanced > Importing'.
* Change the 'Import Using' to 'MP3 Encoder'.
* Save the settings.
* Go to the library and right-click on a music track and choose the option which reads 'Convert Selection to MP3'. If the track is not protected then you'll be able to convert it to MP3 format. However, if the track is a protected one then iTunes will pop-up a window telling you that the protected track cannot be converted to other formats.

Converting Protected Files

* Burn the track(s) to a compact disc and make sure that you burn an audio CD and not a data CD.
* Use the iTunes to access the audio CD and add the media files to the library.
* Right click the media file and select 'Convert Selection to MP3'.
* If you've a large number of media files to be converted to MP3 format then you may even use a CD Emulator to simulate a real CD burner to avoid the multiple CD-R discs.


more: http://www.tech-faq.com/convert-itunes-to-mp3.html

[Occulus]

50. That *works*, but it has almost the scent of a hack.

I know it's official, and built into the program, but it's in no way easy or intuitive, two things I thought Apple was famous for. Five steps to convert plus the possibility that it will stop you on the very last step instead of a "Convert..." option on a pulldown menu or, better yet, a toolbar button or even a hotkey, is very cumbersome and unnecessary and 1994.

I had to LOL at the fact that converting protected files is so easy, though. "Right click the media file and select 'Convert Selection to MP3'".... which is what Apple won't let me do for recordings within iTunes :rofl:

[hlthe2b]

51. Perhaps you should have actually directed your question to

the person who made the "drop down menu" comment, which was not me but can be found in post#9. I'm the one who said I am new to the process, having never been an Itunes adopter until trying it recently, but that I knew that converting to mp3s can be done.

However, I decided to try and answer your question any way, rather than embarrass you. .......:shrug:

[NYCGirl]

57. Like this?

[NYCGirl]

54. Right here:

Of course, if you're highlighting something that's already MP3, it'll say "Save as AAC"

[Hosnon]

8. The big advantage to this is that it will be cloud-based.

That will be great: one library, accessible anywhere from any device.

[Xithras]

10. Cloud based music will kill the MP3 player.

Think about it for a moment. At your computer in the office? Your entire music library is there for you to listen to. At home? It's there too, streamable via most modern Blu-Ray players. Out and about? Stream your library to your phone while you're on the go.

No maintaining multiple copies. No syncing. No client software that constantly needs patching and upgrading. As long as you've got an internet connection, you have access to all of your music.

People have been kicking this idea around for a decade, and I've always loved the idea. I was pissed when LaLa was killed off, and hope that Google will be more forward thinking than Apple on the technology.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

12. Doubtful, there will always be a market for lightweight portable players

How do I get to the cloud jogging, flying, in a coffee shop, on the Metro etc. The disc based players may be another matter.

[Hosnon]

15. Your cell phone. nt.

[trotsky]

28. Because every spot on earth can get a strong signal, of course. n/t

[Hosnon]

30. Because you go to every spot on Earth, particularly those without signal.

And want to listen to your music.

Coverage is presently a limitation for cloud-based music but that will slowly become less of a problem. Moreover, cell phones already store music so there's nothing stopping you from downloading your favorite music from the cloud to the phone in anticipation of, say, a hiking trip.

[trotsky]

34. Congratulations on always having a great signal on your phone.

Lucky you!

[Hosnon]

35. Didn't say that I do. But ubiquitous cell phone coverage is not necessary for this to be better. nt.

[Statistical]

52. I think you are missing the point.

Look at the Kindle it is cloud based. Every book you ever buy is available from any kindle you own. It doesn't look or act like a cellphone but it has 3G connectivity.

As connectivity grows (long term over next year, decade, century) the idea of maintaining discrete copies of the same data via unconnected local storage will seem .... well quaint.

Doesn't mean a local copy (maybe a partial copy) can't be cached however it won't be required for most users.

[trotsky]

53. Oh I understand the point just fine.

We just aren't there yet. That's my point.

[Statistical]

58. Agreed. We aren't there *yet*.

It will come though.

[hlthe2b]

16. In cities that have developed widespread wimax....

you could use your cell phone or just about any other wi-fi enabled device. If your favorites are all "bookmarked" it would be an easy thing...

[Xithras]

41. Certainly, but they'll rapidly become the technological equivalent of the 8-Track

Playlist caching can resolve many short term interruptions in connectivity, but it's certainly true that some new limitations will be introduced. I'm pretty sure that having the ability to access any song ever written, instantly, no matter where you are at, will outweight the occasional service interruption for most users. Especially if Google or other providers can partner with the mobile telecom providers to start offering unlimited device access. Imagine being able to spend $10 a month for an MP3 service that will work across 98% of the country and have the ability to play any song you can think of.

Personally, I already play streaming music through my phone on a near daily basis (Pandora). I use it jogging, riding, and driving around town in my car. Because the client does prefetching, service interruptions are VERY uncommon.

[Hosnon]

14. Exactly. The cloud will allow the cell phone and the mp3 player to finally merge. nt.

[NoNothing]

25. Not "will," it already has

Rhapsody on Android is a thing of wonder. Instant access to almost any music, anywhere, for a flat monthly fee.

[Hosnon]

29. Yes, a cell phone *can* function as an mp3 player already.

But the merger isn't complete. Mp3 players will always be around but I predict they will be specialty gadgets in the very near future.

[NoNothing]

32. Right, well, the dedicated mp3 players that exist won't be eliminated overnight

But the functionality you describe already exists and is already mainstream.

[Hosnon]

37. I know - I use my Hero as an mp3 player. But I would love to have access to my entire

music library through it as well.

[superduperfarleft]

38. Or you can use the audiogalaxy app.

It's sorting feature sucks currently, but I have access to all of my music stored on my harddrive as long as I have cell service. And it's free (minus any data charges you may incur).

[n2doc]

18. You must only spend time in a city

Lots of places where WiFi and cell reception is absent. And frankly, I don't want to spend $$$ every month to keep connected to such a service (cell phone fees, internet fees, etc). And I want full quality sound, not highly compressed mp3's.

"no syncing" ? I guess waiting for your song to download over a slow connection is preferable for you.

[Hosnon]

20. The lack of service is just a temporary problem, in my opinion.

And songs wouldn't have to be downloaded from the cloud. They would be played from the cloud. It will free up memory and storage on cell phones.

[jberryhill]

31. How often do you travel internationally?

Or on airplanes at all?

[Hosnon]

36. Once every few years. And I use my cell phone as an mp3 player when I do.

And when at a hotel or any place with an internet connection, I will be able to log into Google Music and have access to my entire library.

[jberryhill]

43. MMMMmmm.... Try it in a national park in Kenya

Outside of the hotel, roaming data rates abroad are absolutely stifling.

And while there are some existing airlines which have WiFi on select flights, I just got back from a trip on a "WiFi enabled" flight, and the data rate is just plain awful.

[Hosnon]

59. Just download from the cloud the songs you want before you trek out into the Kenyan park.

Why is this hard to understand?

A. Regular mp3 player: (1) Device must hold ALL songs or (2) Must return to place of storage to swap songs.

B. Cell phone with cloud: (1) Coverage: Full access to all songs without storing them on device or (2) No coverage: see "A"

How is B not better than A?

[dkf]

26. Except you become dependent on your service provider

And start sweating their tiering plans.

Nope I don't trust these cell/broadband providers.

[hlthe2b]

27. I'd always archive my own as a backup...

but how many people have their entire music collection (let alone video and photos) downloaded to their cell or other device? This would just allow ready access to swap out or add to the collection.

[dkf]

39. My point is if you buy small capacity devices anticipating you will be able to stream them

You may find yourself with a useless device should accessing your data start getting expensive.

I'd rather pay for capacity and not be subject to access.

[hlthe2b]

40. Yes.. agree... 'best to hedge your bet...

The "cloud type access" is a convenience, but certainly not necessary and best not to become a dependence.

[Occulus]

48. Cloud-based computing of any sort is a bad idea.

No, let me restate that: depending on it is a terrible idea for all sorts of reasons. Four reasons I can think of off the top of my head:

1) The cloud goes down for some reason.
2) Your account in the cloud gets hacked.
3) The admins of the cloud decide you've somehow violated the TOS and lock your account (perhaps because your account got hacked!).
4) Someone in your home exceeds your ISP's download limit for the month.

"As long as you've got an internet connection, you have access to all of your music. "

And when your connection to your ISP, the entire internet, or the cloud goes down, you don't. As I said, it's a terrible idea with far too many points of potential failure for my comfort.

[Statistical]

56. The cloud goes down? LOL.

The EC2 (Amazon elastic compute cloud) has NEVER (as in never not single millisecond ever) gone down. Not rarely goes down, or has very high uptime it is the holy grail of computing 100.000000000000000000000000000000000000000% uptime.

It consists of thousands of discrete servers across hundreds of data centers around the entire world. Data, processing, and connectivity are also massively redundant. Your data/app/program isn't on a single server, or even a dozen servers but redundantly stored across the cloud. You don't login to server127a.vs.us you simply login to the cloud and the cloud redistributes your data/cpu/memory needs based on dynamic load.

If the cloud goes down it likely means a full scale global nuclear exchange and you will have much higher worries.

I needed some serious horse power for analytical work. The company priced out a quad socket, 16 core cpu, 64GB of RAM, 2TB RAID of SAS. With equipment, service contract, OS, and database it was just north of $18,000. That doesn't include the soft costs like additional IT support, electricity, maintenance, etc.

Instead the company purchased roughly 12000 hours of compute time (1.2Ghz EC2 virtual server). Rather than taking roughly a month (plus setup & testing time) it took only 4 days because we were able to "rent" the equivalent of 80 cpus and process the data in parallel. Total cost about $600.

Cloud Computing will revolutionize data processing. It is literally the 4th era of computing
mainframes -> server-client -> peer networks -> cloud

[jsamuel]

33. Isn't that anti-competitive?

"Earlier this year Apple bought the popular cloud-based music company LaLa and promptly shut it down"

Is it illegal to buy your competition and then just shut them down? Sounds like a good way to maintain a monopoly to me.

[Xithras]

42. It's only illegal if it's a monopoly.

iTunes has plenty of competitors, so the regulators aren't paying a lot of attention.