Mandricard, I'm right there with you hoping for an update, but aren't you getting tired of being iPod-less? I know I would be... Personally, I'm just really confused about WTF's going on right now. Weeks without iPods in the channels...
Is the board intentionally trying to get Apple to miss revenue estimates to lower prices so they can get a sweet deal on the stock themselves before the 970 comes out or what???
Seriously, as a shareholder, I'm a little concerned about this Q's numbers. The 17" hasn't shipped, neither has the 1.42 PM, and now weeks without some sort of iPod revenue lift... Not good. Come on, Steve, I've got an engagement ring I need to fund with my stocks!!!!
Executives of major record firms believe a speedy, simple online music service for Mac users will be a hit.
By Jon Healey, Times Staff Writer
Top executives at the major record companies have finally found an online music service that makes them excited about the digital future ? but it's only for Macs.
The new service was developed by Apple Computer Inc., sources said Monday, and offers users of Macintoshes and iPod portable music players many of the same capabilities that already are available from services previously endorsed by the labels. But the Apple offering won over music executives because it makes buying and downloading music as simple and non-technical as buying a book from Amazon.com.
"This is exactly what the music industry has been waiting for," said one person familiar with the negotiations between the Cupertino, Calif., computer maker and the labels. "It's hip. It's quick. It's easy. If people on the Internet are actually interested in buying music, not just stealing it, this is the answer."
That ease of use has music executives optimistic that the Apple service will be an effective antidote to surging piracy on the Internet, sources said.
Other legitimate music services have cumbersome technology and pricing plans ? motivated in part by the labels' demands for security ? that make them much harder to use than unauthorized online services, such as the Kazaa file-sharing system.
Although no licensing deals have been announced, sources close to the situation say at least four of the five major record companies have committed their music to the Apple service. It could be launched next month.
As promising as the new service is, however, there is a big limitation. Apple's products account for just a sliver of the total computer market ? less than 3% of the computers sold worldwide are Macs. The vast majority of the potential audience for downloadable music services uses machines that run Microsoft Corp.'s Windows software.
An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment on the service Monday, as did representatives from the five major record corporations ? Sony Corp.'s Sony Music Entertainment, Vivendi Universal's Universal Music Group, AOL Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Music Group, Bertelsmann's BMG division and EMI Group.
The new service is so important to Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs that he personally demonstrated it to top executives at all five companies, sources said. More than a dozen music executives have visited Apple since last summer and came away enthusiastic.
The executives also like the massive marketing plan designed by Jobs to educate consumers about the service.
The plan contrasts sharply with Apple's previous marketing campaign for Macs, which rankled many music executives who felt it promoted piracy. Apple's advertisements were emblazoned with the mantra "rip, mix, burn," referring to the computers' ability to copy songs and record them onto CDs.
Although the iPod has been hailed by many critics as the best portable music player on the market, Mac users have been overlooked by most of the label-backed online music services, including Pressplay, MusicNet and Listen.com Inc.'s Rhapsody.
As a result, Mac users may find it easier to make unauthorized, free copies of songs through an online file-sharing service like LimeWire than to buy a copy through a label-sanctioned service. Apple hopes to change that situation with its new service, which is expected to be included in an updated edition of the iLife package of digital music, photo and movie software.
Sources said Apple will make the songs available for sale through a new version of iTunes, its software for managing music files on Macs. Users will be able to buy and download songs with a single click and transfer them automatically to any iPod they've registered with Apple.
Rather than make the songs available in the popular MP3 format, Apple plans to use a higher fidelity technology known as Advanced Audio Codec.
That approach allows the songs to be protected by electronic locks that prevent them from being played on more than one computer. Still, sources say, Apple wants to enable buyers to burn songs onto CDs. That feature would effectively remove the locks.
That's been a sticking point for executives at Sony, sources said. The other four major record companies, however, appear ready to license their music to the new service.
No details were available on the price of the service, although one source said it would be competitive with other services in the market. Pressplay, for example, charges just under $10 a month for unlimited downloads, plus about $1 for each song that can be burned to CD or transferred to a portable device.<hr></blockquote>
Soooo....I'm thinking that Apple is holding off on releasing iPods until this service is in place. Why? New version of iTunes for Mac and Windows users released the same time as new iPods. I can't believe that the major labels would jump on board without support for the 'other' 97% of computer users....
And the article is intriguing... Why would this be holding up new iPods though? Surely Apple would not alienate its existing iPod owners by not allowing them this functionality. Is there something that would prevent existing iPods from playing AAC files if there was a firmware update? Perhaps the new ones have this capability, and Sony's stubbornness is holding them up.
A dollar a song !? Buying a CD would be about the same amount! And anyone that thinks that this will survive in a Kazaa/Limewire saturated world is wrong. On the other hand, I could download every song that I ever wanted for 10 bucks in a month. I think I can tell which sevice people will gravitate towards...
I think there are a lot of people like myself who would like to download LEGAL music. I have been looking for a way to do that on the mac for a while. Sounds like a great idea to me.
Like everyone here, I'm pretty sure it's Tuesday.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Well I don't know about Tuesday but I'm 100% it'll be released on a day that ends in Y. <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[oyvey]" /> <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" />
Obviously this story (leak? intentional leak?) is putting pressure both on Apple and on Sony to come up with this service sooner rather than later. The question is, how far along is it, and how soon can the service be deployed?
Given the multiple reports (accuracy still in doubt) of scads of iPods "waiting in warehouses," one could only assume that it is imminent.
Combine this with the fact that Mac iPods are STILL by and large unavailable (or in severely limited supply) in the retail channel (except at AppleStores), and the iPod special deal, it would seem that the release would be mid-March.
One then turns to the calendar: the deal expires on the 15th. The first Tuesday after that is the 18th, which is the day after St. Patricks day (I envision a crowd of iPod enthusiasts, heads pounding, milling around aimlessly looking for solace with a new purchase).
The other possibilities are the 11th, or 25th. Neither of those days has much to suggest itself--- except the fact that Ingram Micro said that it expected a new shipment of iPods on the 21st; and/or the pressure on Apple to unveil the new service might be mounting over the next week to push them to an 11th release date. This seems unlikely however, as they will need to probably call a press conference (event), and one can not do that at the drop of a hat.
So, all this leaves me back, unfortunately, where I started this thread after my catastrophe: without an iPod, and without concrete prospects of a new one in the immediate future. I have waited too damn long now to just go buy the 10gb version and get it over with.
Oh well. I will keep hoping, and cruising the web for news.
Perhaps I should just camp out near the warehouse.
<strong>Perhaps I should just camp out near the warehouse. </strong><hr></blockquote>
Mandricard: According to Mac OS Rumors' <a href="http://www.macosrumors.com/"; target="_blank">first post in a month</a>, you won't have to camp for very long. Considering the unpredictable weather right now, however, I would stay in your appartment for at least 12.5 more days until the evening before March 18. Meader has the following to say:
[quote][The] long-awaited music download service from Apple... will be integrated directly into iTunes, ... and should be premiering in a matter of weeks along with the forthcoming iPod update in a particularly music-focused Apple event that we now foresee coming in a matter of 2-3 weeks. (Emphasis added.)<hr></blockquote>
Every bit of fuel for our hope-machine counts, even if it comes from the red-haired rumor devil himself.
Comments
<strong>My prediction: 3/4= New iPods.
HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE
<strong>
HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE</strong><hr></blockquote>
Mandricard, I'm right there with you hoping for an update, but aren't you getting tired of being iPod-less? I know I would be... Personally, I'm just really confused about WTF's going on right now. Weeks without iPods in the channels...
Is the board intentionally trying to get Apple to miss revenue estimates to lower prices so they can get a sweet deal on the stock themselves before the 970 comes out or what???
Seriously, as a shareholder, I'm a little concerned about this Q's numbers. The 17" hasn't shipped, neither has the 1.42 PM, and now weeks without some sort of iPod revenue lift... Not good. Come on, Steve, I've got an engagement ring I need to fund with my stocks!!!!
<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
[quote]Labels Think Apple Has Perfect Pitch
Executives of major record firms believe a speedy, simple online music service for Mac users will be a hit.
By Jon Healey, Times Staff Writer
Top executives at the major record companies have finally found an online music service that makes them excited about the digital future ? but it's only for Macs.
The new service was developed by Apple Computer Inc., sources said Monday, and offers users of Macintoshes and iPod portable music players many of the same capabilities that already are available from services previously endorsed by the labels. But the Apple offering won over music executives because it makes buying and downloading music as simple and non-technical as buying a book from Amazon.com.
"This is exactly what the music industry has been waiting for," said one person familiar with the negotiations between the Cupertino, Calif., computer maker and the labels. "It's hip. It's quick. It's easy. If people on the Internet are actually interested in buying music, not just stealing it, this is the answer."
That ease of use has music executives optimistic that the Apple service will be an effective antidote to surging piracy on the Internet, sources said.
Other legitimate music services have cumbersome technology and pricing plans ? motivated in part by the labels' demands for security ? that make them much harder to use than unauthorized online services, such as the Kazaa file-sharing system.
Although no licensing deals have been announced, sources close to the situation say at least four of the five major record companies have committed their music to the Apple service. It could be launched next month.
As promising as the new service is, however, there is a big limitation. Apple's products account for just a sliver of the total computer market ? less than 3% of the computers sold worldwide are Macs. The vast majority of the potential audience for downloadable music services uses machines that run Microsoft Corp.'s Windows software.
An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment on the service Monday, as did representatives from the five major record corporations ? Sony Corp.'s Sony Music Entertainment, Vivendi Universal's Universal Music Group, AOL Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Music Group, Bertelsmann's BMG division and EMI Group.
The new service is so important to Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs that he personally demonstrated it to top executives at all five companies, sources said. More than a dozen music executives have visited Apple since last summer and came away enthusiastic.
The executives also like the massive marketing plan designed by Jobs to educate consumers about the service.
The plan contrasts sharply with Apple's previous marketing campaign for Macs, which rankled many music executives who felt it promoted piracy. Apple's advertisements were emblazoned with the mantra "rip, mix, burn," referring to the computers' ability to copy songs and record them onto CDs.
Although the iPod has been hailed by many critics as the best portable music player on the market, Mac users have been overlooked by most of the label-backed online music services, including Pressplay, MusicNet and Listen.com Inc.'s Rhapsody.
As a result, Mac users may find it easier to make unauthorized, free copies of songs through an online file-sharing service like LimeWire than to buy a copy through a label-sanctioned service. Apple hopes to change that situation with its new service, which is expected to be included in an updated edition of the iLife package of digital music, photo and movie software.
Sources said Apple will make the songs available for sale through a new version of iTunes, its software for managing music files on Macs. Users will be able to buy and download songs with a single click and transfer them automatically to any iPod they've registered with Apple.
Rather than make the songs available in the popular MP3 format, Apple plans to use a higher fidelity technology known as Advanced Audio Codec.
That approach allows the songs to be protected by electronic locks that prevent them from being played on more than one computer. Still, sources say, Apple wants to enable buyers to burn songs onto CDs. That feature would effectively remove the locks.
That's been a sticking point for executives at Sony, sources said. The other four major record companies, however, appear ready to license their music to the new service.
No details were available on the price of the service, although one source said it would be competitive with other services in the market. Pressplay, for example, charges just under $10 a month for unlimited downloads, plus about $1 for each song that can be burned to CD or transferred to a portable device.<hr></blockquote>
Soooo....I'm thinking that Apple is holding off on releasing iPods until this service is in place. Why? New version of iTunes for Mac and Windows users released the same time as new iPods. I can't believe that the major labels would jump on board without support for the 'other' 97% of computer users....
[ 03-04-2003: Message edited by: 709 ]</p>
<a href="http://forums.appleinsider.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=8&t=000655"; target="_blank">http://forums.appleinsider.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=8&t=000655</a>;
And the article is intriguing... Why would this be holding up new iPods though? Surely Apple would not alienate its existing iPod owners by not allowing them this functionality. Is there something that would prevent existing iPods from playing AAC files if there was a firmware update? Perhaps the new ones have this capability, and Sony's stubbornness is holding them up.
Oh well, time will tell.
Mandricard
AppleOutsider
[ 03-04-2003: Message edited by: Mandricard ]</p>
[ 03-04-2003: Message edited by: os10geek ]</p>
[/end rant]
<strong>I just want to buy a new iPod!! When are they coming???
</strong><hr></blockquote>
Like everyone here, I'm pretty sure it's Tuesday.
<strong>
Like everyone here, I'm pretty sure it's Tuesday.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Well I don't know about Tuesday but I'm 100% it'll be released on a day that ends in Y. <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[oyvey]" /> <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" />
D
Given the multiple reports (accuracy still in doubt) of scads of iPods "waiting in warehouses," one could only assume that it is imminent.
Combine this with the fact that Mac iPods are STILL by and large unavailable (or in severely limited supply) in the retail channel (except at AppleStores), and the iPod special deal, it would seem that the release would be mid-March.
One then turns to the calendar: the deal expires on the 15th. The first Tuesday after that is the 18th, which is the day after St. Patricks day (I envision a crowd of iPod enthusiasts, heads pounding, milling around aimlessly looking for solace with a new purchase).
The other possibilities are the 11th, or 25th. Neither of those days has much to suggest itself--- except the fact that Ingram Micro said that it expected a new shipment of iPods on the 21st; and/or the pressure on Apple to unveil the new service might be mounting over the next week to push them to an 11th release date. This seems unlikely however, as they will need to probably call a press conference (event), and one can not do that at the drop of a hat.
So, all this leaves me back, unfortunately, where I started this thread after my catastrophe: without an iPod, and without concrete prospects of a new one in the immediate future. I have waited too damn long now to just go buy the 10gb version and get it over with.
Oh well. I will keep hoping, and cruising the web for news.
Perhaps I should just camp out near the warehouse.
Mandricard
AppleOutsider
<strong>Perhaps I should just camp out near the warehouse.
Mandricard: According to Mac OS Rumors' <a href="http://www.macosrumors.com/"; target="_blank">first post in a month</a>, you won't have to camp for very long. Considering the unpredictable weather right now, however, I would stay in your appartment for at least 12.5 more days until the evening before March 18. Meader has the following to say:
[quote][The] long-awaited music download service from Apple... will be integrated directly into iTunes, ... and should be premiering in a matter of weeks along with the forthcoming iPod update in a particularly music-focused Apple event that we now foresee coming in a matter of 2-3 weeks. (Emphasis added.)<hr></blockquote>
Every bit of fuel for our hope-machine counts, even if it comes from the red-haired rumor devil himself.
Escher
The advertisement reads: "Now shipping. Dual 1.42GHz PowerMac G4"
Where, oh where, are those iPods? I'm beginning to think we ought to call them shyPods...
*wrings hands, wrings hands*