News, info, and opinion by Mac users, for Mac users.

February 6, 2007

music

Will iPod make the CD obsolete?

Posted Feb. 6, ’07, 3:06 PM PT by Scott Silverman
Category | Music

CD StackWith the recent deal struck between Apple Inc. and Apple Corps a whole new world of possibilities has been opened. According to Wired writer Leander Kahney, a rather over-looked part of the deal was that the new contract clears the way for Apple to sell music in a physical format. Are you thinking what I am?

If you’re thinking iPods preloaded with music, then you certainly are. I can see it now: shelves full of multicolored shuffles preloaded with a couple different new albums for $99. A yellow-submarine iPod preloaded with The Beatles’ entire discography. Five free, randomly selected songs with the purchase of every iPod. OK, so maybe my imagination’s running away a little bit.

Still the possibility is cool to think about. But I wonder how Apple would handle DRM? Would iTunes prompt you to copy and link the songs to an iTunes account the first time you synced with your computer? Sounds like that’d work to me. I think the CD has got some competition…

[via MacNN]


5 Comments

Clair said:

If it is something I really want and want to keep for a long while, I'll buy a CD. I convert the tracks into whatever format I want. I think the physical piece of this picture will be around for a while.

February 6, 2007 4:35 PM
Chris said:

Didn't the U2 iPod come with U2's entire discography?

February 6, 2007 8:52 PM
Scott Silverman Author Profile Page said:

Indeed it did, but it was only a voucher for download via the iTunes Music Store. There was no physical music, so to speak.

February 6, 2007 9:34 PM
rubaiyat said:

I'll go for the higher RIPed versions I do for myself. For true hi-fidelity, such as good vocals or classical pieces, I use FLAC or Apple Lossless.

At 128kbs I think the iTunes store tracks are too Lo-Fi.

Apple won't offer anything better, so it won't ever get my custom.

February 6, 2007 11:04 PM
Adam said:

I used to buy about a cd a week from when I was 14 to 19.

As you can imagine, I had a hell of a garage sale to get rid of most of them.

Now I buy everything off itunes (they even have a better selection than most stores...save for ameoba).

So I've already said good buy the cd, and I can't wait to say goodbye to the dvd.

February 7, 2007 10:24 AM

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