Google music partnership could compete with Apple's iTunes [u]

[AppleInsider]

A new report suggests Google will continue to expand into Apple's business territories, with a new music service partnership between the search giant and two established music providers rumored to have an "imminent" launch.

Update: CNet has provided more information on what is for now known as the "One Box for music." It is said to be a partnership between Google, Lala and iLike. It will be a part of Google Search, and will allow users to quickly discover song previews, artist info, pictures, video and more.

While all four record companies are said to be a part of the new deal, Google itself would not be selling the music. That would allegedly go through links to sites like iLike and Lala. "One Box" is the phrase Google uses to describe its search fields for video, weather, stock information and more.

While the partnership allegedly does not include any sort of desktop client, such a search feature could potentially cut into iTunes sales, as Apple currently controls the lion's share of the digital music download market.

It was reported that Google's interest is attracting music fans looking for information about artists. Compensation for record labels, however, would likely come from the Lala and iLike services.

Earlier Wednesday, Michael Arrington at TechCrunch said that Google has secured content rights from major music labels over the past several weeks in anticipation of the launch of a coming service, which one source referred to as "Google Audio." Details at this point are scarce, but the new product is said to be planned for "at least" U.S. users.

"We're still gathering details, but our understanding is the service will be very different to the Google China music download service that they launched in 2008," the report said. "That service, which is only available in China, allows users to search for music and download it for free."

In August, Google CEO Eric Schmidt resigned from the Apple Board of Directors, where he served since 2006. The move was necessary, both Schmidt and Apple said, as Google continues to step into the core businesses of Apple with the Android mobile operating system, Chrome desktop OS, and more. If true, Google Audio would represent yet another example of the company taking on Apple, this time in the iTunes realm.

Earlier this month, Dr. Arthur Levinson resigned from the Google Board of Directors. The former CEO of Genentech remains on Apple's own board.

Both moves were in response to an ongoing investigation from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, which was looking into the board connections for anticompetitive concerns. The commission has said since both resignations that it is satisfied with the decisions.

Both Google and Apple have also been involved in a spat over the Google Voice application, which has not been accepted into the iPhone App Store. Though it has appeared to outsiders that tension between the two technology giants has been growing, Schmidt recently denied that assumption, stating "We love the iPhone."

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[teckstud]

Ouch! When does Apple remove all my Google Apps off my iPhone?

[caljomac]

Hahahah jobsy youre gonna get really annoyed replacing all of apples apps with googles :o

[monstrosity]

Eric was on the board a bit too long in my opinion.

I think Apple should enter the search engine business.

[bloodstains]

...and Apple is again the stepping stone.

When will you learn Jobsy?

[monstrosity]

Originally Posted by bloodstains

...and Apple is again the stepping stone.

When will you learn Jobsy?

Does reek of familiarity.

However thankfully their user interfaces are equally atrocious. Though saying that, UI alone did not stop MSFT 'dominating' in the past.

[xwiredtva]

Enough with Google. They have become the new Photocopier. To those at Apple: LOCK THE DOORS.

Another "Also-ran".

[Quadra 610]

to Launch Music Service to Compete Against iTunes

If I had a nickel for every time I heard that . . .

[rockaw]

Wasn't Walmart supposed to dethrone iTunes? Wait, I think it was Amazon. No -- Google, that's right. Thanks for clearing that up.

[stuffe]

Originally Posted by rockaw

Wasn't Walmart supposed to dethrone iTunes? Wait, I think it was Amazon. No -- Google, that's right. Thanks for clearing that up.

My favourite was the CocaCola music store Hell, even Sony couldn't run their own, and they own half the content!

[pmz]

Let me just say what a pathetic lack of ingenuity on the part of Microsoft and Google for all of 2008/2009/2010.

In a just world, Eric Schmidt would be under investigation for theft of intellectual property.

[monstrosity]

'Web's' dead anyway (he says controversially ) google need to diversify. Ha, I only say this because I have been using the traditional 'web' less and less since the iPhone.

It's all about the app's.

This has crossed my mind, web technologies are such a mess, why bother with html when you have interface builder and objective c?! (you dont need to give me reasons, i know)
If there was an Appleinsider app,I would rarely fire my browser up on my laptop.

Would Apple approve an Appleinsider app? They would probably say no out of spite!

[monstrosity]

Originally Posted by rockaw

Wasn't Walmart supposed to dethrone iTunes? Wait, I think it was Amazon. No -- Google, that's right. Thanks for clearing that up.

That was walmart, a cruddy food store, they never had a hope in competing, this is google, slightly more qualified.

If they release something like Spotify, itunes could be in trouble, I think it's a better model, all my friends have dumped iTunes in favor of Spotify, including myself, and it's growing at a ridiculous rate.

[hezekiahb]

Originally Posted by xwiredtva

Enough with Google. They have become the new Photocopier. To those at Apple: LOCK THE DOORS.

Another "Also-ran".

Apple did not invent the online music store, they just perfected the ideal of a music store that tightly integrated with a hardware device.

It makes a lot of sense for Google to launch their own store now that they have Android & sometime next year will have Chrome OS. If you look at the apps they've been developing overtime or companies they've been buying it is clear that for a long long time they've been building the base for a media rich OS that can compete directly with OS X. Apple probably isn't too concerned anymore than Lexus would be concerned about Chrysler entering the luxury car genre.

It's Microsoft who really should be shaking in their boots, they are behind the game on just about everything. They got so used to having a stranglehold on their market that they completely ignored the rapidly growing cloud computing movement that is also locking focus on 100% cross-platform functionality. All Microsoft knows how to do is proprietary, they just don't really get how to make money without forcing the masses into their formats. If Chrome OS is a hit, combined with Google Apps & who knows what else, Microsoft is screwed.

[buceta]

Right... Google music....

Just like the android was supposed to displace the iphone

Just like Google books was supposed to displace Barnes & Noble et al.

Just like Google Health was supposed to become the new standard in healthcare databases

Just like Google Chrome is supposed to replace Safari

etc.

Hey Google: go back to the search engine business

[bloodstains]

Originally Posted by hezekiahb

Apple did not invent the online music store, they just perfected the ideal of a music store that tightly integrated with a hardware device.

It makes a lot of sense for Google to launch their own store now that they have Android & sometime next year will have Chrome OS. If you look at the apps they've been developing overtime or companies they've been buying it is clear that for a long long time they've been building the base for a media rich OS that can compete directly with OS X. Apple probably isn't too concerned anymore than Lexus would be concerned about Chrysler entering the luxury car genre.

It's Microsoft who really should be shaking in their boots, they are behind the game on just about everything. They got so used to having a stranglehold on their market that they completely ignored the rapidly growing cloud computing movement that is also locking focus on 100% cross-platform functionality. All Microsoft knows how to do is proprietary, they just don't really get how to make money without forcing the masses into their formats. If Chrome OS is a hit, combined with Google Apps & who knows what else, Microsoft is screwed.

I take back what I said earlier. I think you've nailed it here.

[doyourownthing]

the developer tools indicator in chromium is an exact ripoff of the ipod usage indicator

http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/323...91021at113.jpg

keep stealing, google

[doyourownthing]

Originally Posted by buceta

Right... Google music....

Just like the android was supposed to displace the iphone

Just like Google books was supposed to displace Barnes & Noble et al.

Just like Google Health was supposed to become the new standard in healthcare databases

Just like Google Chrome is supposed to replace Safari

etc.

Hey Google: go back to the search engine business

they need to add themes to safari...like chromium has...

[monstrosity]

Originally Posted by doyourownthing

the developer tools indicator in chromium is an exact ripoff of the ipod usage indicator

http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/323...91021at113.jpg

keep stealing, google

wow that really is identical.

[digitalclips]

Originally Posted by monstrosity

Eric was on the board a bit too long in my opinion.

I think Apple should enter the search engine business.

LOL, good idea. Having said that Apple tend to be original with their concepts unlike some others ...

[digitalclips]

Originally Posted by monstrosity

That was walmart, a cruddy food store, they never had a hope in competing, this is google, slightly more qualified.

If they release something like Spotify, itunes could be in trouble, I think it's a better model, all my friends have dumped iTunes in favor of Spotify, including myself, and it's growing at a ridiculous rate.

Just curious, are you and your friends Mac or PC users? I ask as iTunes is used for some many things on a Mac I couldn't live without it.

[GMFlash]

Originally Posted by doyourownthing

the developer tools indicator in chromium is an exact ripoff of the ipod usage indicator

http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/323...91021at113.jpg

keep stealing, google

It's a part of Webkit. Safari has the same one too.

[Mac Voyer]

This is not a surprise or outrage. It simply reflects the reality that Apple defines the tech industry. Whatever Apple does or is rumored to do is what other companies see as essential.

Apple does an app store, smart phones are now defined by their developer platform and app store potential. Apple sells music. Everyone must try and sell music. Apple has a closed, vertical structure. MS makes Zune hardware with tight integration with software. Google rumored to be working on phone hardware. Apple tablet rumored and desired by fans. Everyone is now putting out tablet prototypes to show that they can do it to. MS has a multi-touch mouse in the works. They most likely saw an Apple patent and decided to announce some vapor ware so that they could be in the conversation.

Of course Google wants to sell music. Everyone does. Expect a Google branded MP3 player in the near future.

[stuffe]

Originally Posted by monstrosity

wow that really is identical.

Perhaps they just found which API calls were used to produce it, and used them...

[doyourownthing]

Originally Posted by GMFlash

It's a part of Webkit. Safari has the same one too.

really? ok

[obs1970]

What all these companies miss, as they attack Apple is that Apple is the only company that knows how to effectively control both hardware and software.

MS is trying with Zune and its breed, but so far is way off mark. Google is more of a threat to Microsoft than to Apple.

[buceta]

Originally Posted by Mac Voyer

This is not a surprise or outrage. It simply reflects the reality that Apple defines the tech industry. Whatever Apple does or is rumored to do is what other companies see as essential.

Apple does an app store, smart phones are now defined by their developer platform and app store potential. Apple sells music. Everyone must try and sell music. Apple has a closed, vertical structure. MS makes Zune hardware with tight integration with software. Google rumored to be working on phone hardware. Apple tablet rumored and desired by fans. Everyone is now putting out tablet prototypes to show that they can do it to. MS has a multi-touch mouse in the works. They most likely saw an Apple patent and decided to announce some vapor ware so that they could be in the conversation.

Of course Google wants to sell music. Everyone does. Expect a Google branded MP3 player in the near future.

Correct. But I would add that all the copycats come up with crapola. All the iphone clones are basura. Dell tried release an aluminum-bodied laptop. The humiliation list really is miles long. We all know all the tablet imitators are going to release garbage. This we KNOW even without ever seeing the Apple tablet. This in and of itself is pretty remarkable.

[monstrosity]

Originally Posted by digitalclips

Just curious, are you and your friends Mac or PC users? I ask as iTunes is used for some many things on a Mac I couldn't live without it.

Mostly mac, but a mixture of both. Everyone still has iTunes for various reasons (mine for developing) , but listening to music for the vast majority of people I know is through Spotify, this happened pretty much overnight.

Why pay for music when you can get it 'free' and with a cleaner user interface! The choice was a simple one for everyone to make.

[paxman]

Originally Posted by obs1970

What all these companies miss, as they attack Apple is that Apple is the only company that knows how to effectively control both hardware and software.

MS is trying with Zune and its breed, but so far is way off mark. Google is more of a threat to Microsoft than to Apple.

The big difference is that Google's Audio tracks will (?) be turn up in regular google searches whereas track or artist in Itunes don't. Who knows how Google's advertising business model will blend with Audio. In the end it will be good or consumers even though we don't want to see Apple challenged, right?

[Tulkas]

Google doing a music service...so what? Why is everyone screaming that they are copying Apple?

1. Apple was not the first company with an online music store...just the most successful
2. From the article itself: "Unknown is whether the new service would provide purchase and download of content, like iTunes, or another format, like streaming."
3. Google is in the search business, so a service for searching for music sort of makes sense. It is one of the most commonly searched topics.

[monstrosity]

Originally Posted by stuffe

Perhaps they just found which API calls were used to produce it, and used them...

Ah right , fair enough, thought it must be something like that.

[LanPhantom]

Don't underestimate the compeition, however weak they appear. M$ has some VERY deep pockets and Google has some VERY deep talent. They are both viable in challenging Apple in this industry.

I do think Apple will stay in front and continue to swipe market share from the PC market but they will have to stay on the tip of the sword if they want to charge such a premium for their computers. People are only going to pay 1000+ and 2000+ dollars for a product they can't get anywhere else. Something unique. I think Apple has been and can continue to do this.

Microsoft Stores = Massive $$ flop.
Zune + Market Place = Could be good, but currently flop
Windows 7 = They'll sell tons of copies on new hardware, but retail flop.

--LanPhantom

[Quadra 610]

Originally Posted by LanPhantom

Don't underestimate the compeition, however weak they appear. M$ has some VERY deep pockets and Google has some VERY deep talent. They are both viable in challenging Apple in this industry.

I do think Apple will stay in front and continue to swipe market share from the PC market but they will have to stay on the tip of the sword if they want to charge such a premium for their computers. People are only going to pay 1000+ and 2000+ dollars for a product they can't get anywhere else. Something unique. I think Apple has been and can continue to do this.

Microsoft Stores = Massive $$ flop.
Zune + Market Place = Could be good, but currently flop
Windows 7 = They'll sell tons of copies on new hardware, but retail flop.

--LanPhantom

Good points.

Here's something to add to that perspective.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...102003573.html

Apple's updated $999 MacBook, $1,199-and-up iMac and $599 Mac Mini models may look sharp, and some add such thoughtful features as a wireless mouse that includes the "multi-touch" technology first seen on the iPhone. But Windows-based computers can cost half as much -- even before you factor in Apple's inflated charges for memory and storage upgrades. Since there's a recession going on and we're all smart capitalists, buyers will undoubtedly switch to more affordable alternatives. Clearly, Apple is doomed.

Except it's not.

In its quarterly earnings announcement Monday, the Cupertino, Calif., company blew away Wall Street's expectations, shipping more Macs in a quarter than ever before -- 3.05 million -- for a $1.67 billion profit. The New York Times noted that "Macintosh sales have now grown faster than the rest of the PC market in 19 of the last 20 quarters." TechCrunch marveled at the firm's $34 billion cash reserves -- more than the entire market value of Dell or Yahoo.

These results suggest that Apple has been able to accomplish something that a functioning market should make nearly impossible -- rake in consistently higher profit margins for a product that could be replaced by cheaper alternatives from other suppliers.

If anything, that trade-off has only become easier in the last year. The same switch to Web-based applications that has freed Mac users from having to worry about finding a Mac equivalent to some Windows program can also free Windows users from putting up with the hassle of software installs and uninstalls, one of uglier aspects of life in Microsoft's operating systems.

My own computer-shopping advice points out this difference in cost before getting into the comparative advantages of Macs and PCs. When co-workers with tight budgets have asked me directly what laptop to buy, I've told them to go ahead and get a PC (after which I've counseled them on how to uninstall the bundled trialware junk on the average Windows machine).

And yet a year and a half ago, an NPD Group analyst calculated that Apple's sales amounted to one quarter of every dollar spent on computers in the United States.

How can Apple keep printing money as if it were silicon wafers?

It's unwise, not to mention insulting, to explain away Apple's success by calling its customers "fanboys" or describing them as members of a cult. (Though it may be tempting to trot out that theory when observing the Twitter chatter about a new Apple product or the reflexive coverage this company can draw in the traditional media -- things that never happen with PC manufacturers.)

The best explanation for it may be seen sitting in traffic right now: Apple has made a business out of selling a premium product, just like BMW, Cadillac or Lexus.

Analysts and critics can insist that Apple has to ship a netbook to stay competitive, and Mac shoppers can wish that the company would turn its considerable talent for design to that category of computer. But Apple doesn't have to do that any more than Cadillac owes the world an $18,000 subcompact.

As grotesque and incomprehensible as Apple's existence may seem to people content with an affordable PC, the company seems to have taken up residence at a spot in the market that other vendors seem unable to barge into.

Manufacturers of Windows-based PCs can craft higher-end models -- Hewlett-Packard's Voodoo line of desktops and laptops have offered as much style as many Macs. But they can't do much to differentiate the software on those deluxe models -- whether it's Windows Vista or the new Windows 7, shipping Thursday -- from what they ship on the $400 boxes lining mass-market retailers' shelves. Apple won't license Mac OS X to them, and most won't ship the free, open-source Linux operating system on anything bigger than a netbook.

This could be a self-reinforcing trend: As PC builders keep having their profit margins squeezed, they have fewer resources to devote to high-end consumer products, while Apple's focus on the most profitable end of the market leaves it with ever more money to dump into product design. Or buying small islands.

[hezekiahb]

Originally Posted by LanPhantom

Don't underestimate the compeition, however weak they appear. M$ has some VERY deep pockets and Google has some VERY deep talent. They are both viable in challenging Apple in this industry.

I do think Apple will stay in front and continue to swipe market share from the PC market but they will have to stay on the tip of the sword if they want to charge such a premium for their computers. People are only going to pay 1000+ and 2000+ dollars for a product they can't get anywhere else. Something unique. I think Apple has been and can continue to do this.

Microsoft Stores = Massive $$ flop.
Zune + Market Place = Could be good, but currently flop
Windows 7 = They'll sell tons of copies on new hardware, but retail flop.

--LanPhantom

I got nothing personal against Microsoft, just the leadership there. They seriously need a change in regime, Ballmer's mentality is still heavily entrenched in the, "hook them on a proprietary solution and then lie about the competition so much people start believing it." Before you know it you're hooked on Microsoft with no hope of getting off. Microsoft is finally starting to make a few inroads to cross-platform but it's all forced & they are doing it begrudgingly. You can't cast a vision you don't believe in, that's Ballmer's issue right now.

[sheff]

Um... this will only find music and stream it (something I can do now by just going to youtube myself. iTunes actually lets you buy music, you know to own it and have it on your comp/touch. No threat to iTunes, but yea I can see a new map app coming to my touch soon.

[LE Studios]

Originally Posted by monstrosity

That was walmart, a cruddy food store, they never had a hope in competing, this is google, slightly more qualified.

If they release something like Spotify, itunes could be in trouble, I think it's a better model, all my friends have dumped iTunes in favor of Spotify, including myself, and it's growing at a ridiculous rate.

OK Google will have kiss all a**** of the four music labels. Apple had a difficult time dealing with them. What is gonna be different with Google other than another format of audio that we not ready to migrate to? I'm going to LMAO if Zune is better than Google Audio which it may be the case.

Google is getting weak they see Apple dominance now wants to challenge them. This is will be their epic fail. You literally have to pry 100 Million plus iTunes customers of their iPhones and iPod Touches to Google? I don't think so. Apple don't have nothing to worry about the only way it be successful if everything is free then how can it be profitable? So if any of you love Eric Schmidt that much than all of you need to line up to kiss his a**.

[LE Studios]

Originally Posted by doyourownthing

they need to add themes to safari...like chromium has...

You know what? I got a better idea what Google can do is make a better games console than the Xbox 360 and PS3! Call it Google Box, where it can have its Chrome, OS, audio, movies and games!

[sheff]

Originally Posted by LE Studios

You know what? I got a better idea what Google can do is make a better games console than the Xbox 360 and PS3! Call it Google Box, where it can have its Chrome, OS, audio, movies and games!

Google Gee was the name you were looking for.

[stuffe]

Originally Posted by LE Studios

You know what? I got a better idea what Google can do is make a better games console than the Xbox 360 and PS3! Call it Google Box, where it can have its Chrome, OS, audio, movies and games!

That's another argument, but someone needs to get a grip and smack sony/MS together to stop the format war which is damaging game output.

[star-fish]

Originally Posted by monstrosity

Eric was on the board a bit too long in my opinion.

I think Apple should enter the search engine business.

Yeah, because Safari was so successful in the web browser business. The last thing the world needs is another unused ask.com

Originally Posted by monstrosity

'Web's' dead anyway (he says controversially ) google need to diversify. Ha, I only say this because I have been using the traditional 'web' less and less since the iPhone.

It's all about the app's.

This has crossed my mind, web technologies are such a mess, why bother with html when you have interface builder and objective c?! (you dont need to give me reasons, i know)
If there was an Appleinsider app,I would rarely fire my browser up on my laptop.

Would Apple approve an Appleinsider app? They would probably say no out of spite!

Your whole post is ridiculous in so many ways...possibly a new world record.

Originally Posted by buceta

Just like Google Chrome is supposed to replace Safari

etc.

Hey Google: go back to the search engine business

What are you talking about? Chrome is already outranking Safari despite being, what, a decade younger?

Comparatively, Google as a company has a far better track record overall than Apple. Apple nearly went under. Google has control over the best of the world's marketing. It could remove apple.com from search rankings and lose them millions if it felt like it (ie made up a feasible excuse). Google has incredible power. Apple has a tiny share of an unstable market.