Not long ago, it was revealed that the major players in the music market were working on a single-file album format, by which they could sell you albums at an inflated price but with value added: cover art, videos, interviews, and so on. Of course, Apple was already on that, and now, with the major labels’ “CMX” format still off in the future, Apple has given them a black eye by introducing iTunes LPs.
These LPs will include all sorts of bonus features like custom album art and music videos, and will be accessed in a special full-screen menu. Sounds pretty hot, though I do want to note here that Zune has been packing bonus stuff for quite a while, and the Zune HD will have access to some of these kinds of features — more than the original Zune, anyhow.
Still, that’s no reason not to rejoice. I like the idea, but since I can’t stand iTunes, I’m a bit out of luck. Good news for you guys, though.
Interestingly, the discussion of a cloud version of iTunes reinforces my belief that albums will be sold as packaged applications in the future. These applications would be essentially like widgets that include the ability to download the songs to your music library while retaining the ability to play as an experience.
Formats that don’t work outside of specific OSes are DOA.
Great ptotential for other uses as well.
Great option. Thus iTunes LP provides music listeners with an expanded media experience similar to buying an LP record itself, also I think it is possible to create self iTunes LP content. It is really awesome.
How is that giving the labels a black eye? Was Apple able to take all this content and package it without the permission of those labels? I thought they owned all that content?
Seems like a step backwards. Bundling songs i don’t want with other crap i don’t need.
Exactly.
If I want to listen to the music, I’ll listen to the music. If I want to watch a video I’ll go to youtube. I don’t see many people getting attached to digital LP’s in the way they would cherish an actual record or poster at all.
That’s exactly my opinion, too, for what it’s worth.
This iTunes LP i thought was a provision for the Beatles content, but they did not announce that today.
Good update from Apple to push the envelope even further on its iTunes service. Yawn on the Zune.
FYI.
Zune has been packing bonus stuff for quite a while, and the Zune HD will have access to some of these kinds of features — more than the original Zune, anyhow.
Zune is way better software product than iTunes
I’ll have more info on the zune shortly. it’s true what Suresh says, though.
I, too dislike iTunes. It’s bloated desktop software. If they had a web version I’d possibly buy music, though when I listen to music I do so through Youtube or other sites.
Sort of hard to not read bias into something when only an hour or so after a new version of an application comes out you state that you Hate it. Now you may have been saying that you hate the current version and doubt that the new one is much better but come on?
Also, prior to these LP’s iTunes did also ship extra content with full album purchases as well. Zune may have had more but digital booklets, videos, and photos were all part of the extras that you might get from an album.
“Apple has given them a black eye by introducing iTunes LPs”
This makes no sense whatsoever. The labels owns the content and license it to Apple. Apple did not do this without complete cooperation of the labels.
Someone’s missing the point; the point is that offering LPs at this time, in a product as ubiquitous as iTunes/iPod, will prevent the record companies’ CMX format from gaining any traction. Shooting CMX down early removes one more hurdle in the relentless march to the world where content is relatively cheap and musicians make money via adjunct services such as touring and T-shirts.