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April 5, 2007

rivals

As usual: Apple leads, Microsoft follows

Posted Apr. 5, ’07, 2:35 PM PT by Scott Silverman
Category | Apple » Rivals

CdsWhile it took Microsoft almost exactly five years to catch on to that whole portable music player trend, they seem to be moving a little faster these days. Not that much has changed, however: Apple still leads, and Microsoft still follows.

After announcing on Monday that the iTunes Store will soon be featuring DRM-free music, Apple changed the entire online music scene—other record companies may be soon to join, the iTS no longer works only with the iPod, and music quality (read: bitrate) is no longer a big concern to audiophiles wishing to buy music online. Eagerly wanting to follow the hot story of the week, Microsoft has now announced that it will be adding DRM-free tracks to the Zune Marketplace, although a date has not been set.

Typically it pains me to see Microsoft try to innovate, but this may be starting a great new trend. By opening up online music stores to all portable devices via DRM-free content, competition will increase amongst the major players. (It should be noted that Microsofts’ DRM-free music won’t be quite as open as Apple’s because it will most likely be in WMA format.) Increased competition can only be good for the consumer because it usually results in lower prices and greater innovation. And with the video iPod’s 1.5 year birthday in one week, some innovation from Apple would be widely welcomed.

[via Gizmodo]


4 Comments

Innovation is Coming said:

iPod innovation is coming, but they are not going to release it until after iPhone. Afterwhich we will see a touchscreen interface widescreen ipod ( essentially an iPhone with no browser or phone, and a bigger HD. Maybe no PDA functionality, but I hope they keep that part in)

I expect we will see the new widescreen video iPod before the holiday quarter, late September early October.

Apple would be IDIOTIC to release it before the iPhone has a chance to launch and get traction, otherwise they would canibalize their own sales, as there are people who will by the iphone just for the ipod functionality.

Just my thoughts.

April 5, 2007 3:35 PM
Snafu said:

"...It should be noted that Microsofts’ DRM-free music won’t be quite as open as Apple’s because it will most likely be in WMA format..."

I wonder what that means, as neither is AAC an open format but a Dolby Labs' licensed one. One could argue that, WMA is supported by all Mp3 players on Earth but the iPod, so is not a big deal

Plus isn't the main argument rather a revisionist one? Losing DRM is an EMI initiative, basically, and it was Apple the one denying many independent labels the possibility of selling non-DRM'd music through the iTMS.

April 5, 2007 7:44 PM
Nick said:

Yes, I'd not be surprised if Microsoft is stupid enough to offer the tracks in their own proprietary format instead of using the MPEG standards - either MP3 or AAC (i.e., MP4 audio).

The thing is, the public is getting wise to the games Microsoft has played with formats over the years, and is not going to want to lock its music up in a format belonging to Microsoft.

This whole business must be a thorn in Microsoft's side. Apple is more a hardware seller than a seller of software licenses. Apple needs more attractive content available for users of iPods more than it needs DRM, and Steve Jobs has tried to persuade the record labels that it's not needed for years - see this old Rolling Stone interview:

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5939600/steve_jobs_the_rolling_stone_interview/

Microsoft, by contrast, very much a seller of software licenses *wants* DRM and looks to tie customers up in its DRM, or failing that its formats. Their whole strategy revolves around this. However, people are now becoming wise to it:

http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~pgut001/pubs/vista_cost.html

I suspect this is one of the reasons why Vista is not exactly flying off the shelves.

April 6, 2007 2:39 AM
seanmcg said:

"I wonder what that means, as neither is AAC an open format but a Dolby Labs' licensed one. One could argue that, WMA is supported by all Mp3 players on Earth but the iPod, so is not a big deal

Plus isn't the main argument rather a revisionist one? Losing DRM is an EMI initiative, basically, and it was Apple the one denying many independent labels the possibility of selling non-DRM'd music through the iTMS."

Where have you been? AAC IS a standard approved by the MPEG group (redundant, I know) in 1997, the same body that set the MP3 standard.

And as I understand it, Apple was forced to use DRM by the labels. Apple has a lot of clout right now in online sales. They didn't have to accept EMI's offer to sell non-DRM music; an offer which came, by the way, after Steve Job's public call for removing DRM and after selling some non-DRM tracks on iTunes.

April 6, 2007 5:38 AM

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