“Despite its dwindling market share – now barely more than 2 percent, as first reported here… Apple Computer continues to amaze with exciting new machines, software and now, an online music service that offers the best of the free file sharing services with none of the problems,” writes Paul Thurrott for WinInformant.com, a site catering to Windows users in his article entitled, “Apple Unveils Revolutionary Online Music Service.”
Thurrott continues, “In use, the iTunes Music Store is pure simplicity. It integrates directly into the iTunes application, providing a nice Web-like user interface to artists, songs, and albums. I was able to download albums and individual songs via a 2003 iMac and transfer them to an iBook and iPod using the new software. Users can also use iTunes to share music libraries with other Macs in the same house: So you might play an audio stream from your home office iMac, for example, using a wirelessly-connected iBook in the bedroom. This system also works flawlessly, and automatically. And like Windows Media Player 9 Series on Windows, iTunes now offers automatic album art downloading, though there is no way to automatically append album art to a pre-existing music collection.”
“Given the Mac’s tiny market share, the iTunes Music Store can only do so much to push digital music sales, so Apple CEO Steve Jobs has promised Windows compatibility by the end of 2003. Currently, Apple’s iPods work with both the Mac and Windows, using software from MusicMatch to provide compatibility with Microsoft’s systems. Whether Apple will continue its relationship with MusicMatch or provide a Windows version of iTunes is unclear: Despite reports to the contrary this week, Apple executives had previously said no Windows iTunes version was in the cards. But regardless of how the company implements the interface, getting the iTunes Music Store in front of Windows users should probably be more of a priority for the company, given the relative sizes of the Mac and Windows audiences,” Thurrott concludes.
Full article here.
Damn, Thurrott’s article oozes jealousy. Poor baby. Didums feel left out yesterday?
Shows what little people know! – Thurrott is a Mac user too, just like I am, I run a Windows site too – but I know 100% that I prefer my new Mac over it and iTunes 4 with the Music store is superb there is no doubt about that, I just wish more people would buy Apple.
I just want to say that this (MacDailyNews, not Winblowsinfo) is an excellent site! I have bookmarked MacDailynews for daily visits – starting today.
You can’t argue with his point though. What good is a music store that can only be accessed by 2% of the population? I love my mac, but this music store is too good to allow it to die for lack of market share. $10 for a full album or just $1 each for only the songs you want is a great idea that I hope catches on and pleases both the industry and its consumers.
Unfortunately, there are people out there who diss macs as obsolete but don’t provide any evidence or facts to back it up. Here’s such a “computer expert”
http://www.oudaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/04/29/3eade619e30fc
Okay, let’s lose this false idea that the “2% market share” statistic recently released reflects reality.
1) with the music service starting in US, only US numbers are useful. The 2% figure was worldwide.
2) “Market share” says nothing about total number of users. The percentage number of Mac users in the total pool is far above 2%. I have heard the the “installed user base” is upwards towards 20% (I admit that this is unsubstantiated. Anyone know an accurate figure?).
3) I say Apple should make Windows users wait about as long as we wait for popular games and software to port. And even then there should be drawbacks. Remember, Apple wants a balance between revenue from this service and incentive for people to switch.
4) Personally, I think this isn’t going to be a huge hit until Apple is able to lower song prices. $.99 is too high. Perhaps by the time Apple ports it, the Big 5 record companies will see that people are actually using the service, so Apple can institute a scaled pricing system.
Still, it’s nice to see a Windows user admitting the superiority of the Mac experience.
A music store that can only be accessed by 2% of the population is a pretty darned good way for the music execs to try something out without being burned by it. If it does well (in their eyes), they can allow it to be expanded to Windows. If not, they can pull the plug. Hoping for the former.
1/4%,1/2%,1%,2%,5%, who cares! I can use it! That my friends is all that matters. While PC users drool on new games out for PC, I’m rocking in the USA. If your good, maybe Jobs will throw you a bone.
What I find amazing in this article is that the writer considers it a mystery why Windows Media Audio 9 hasn’t caught on with consumers. He says “… Windows Media Audio (WMA) 9, a format that, for some reason, music fans and consumers greeted with skepticism and distrust.”
Is it that unclear why we would be skeptical and distrusting of a format from Microsoft that comes with a large grain of DRM embedded in each file? As far as I know, the primary consumer-accessible manner of creating WMA9 results in files that will only work on the computer they were created on, and no other. Also, WMP9 seems to have quite a few other problems. Apparently some MP3s won’t play at all unless the ID3 tags are removed – see http://www.nwlink.com/~zachd/pss/pss.html for that and many, many other bugs.
I Hope A Windows Version Comes Out Soon!!!!!!!!!!
When Apple gets rich selling music to the Wintel crowd, they can plow the money back into R&D, Marketing, and software development for those of us using the Mac. Give the huddled masses a taste of what Micro$oft could make if they really tried. The experience might make the XP crowd give Apple a look the next time they buy a computer.
About 5% of ALL computers SOLD these days, are Macs.
About 25% of ALL computers USED these days, are Macs.
Doubt me. Then prove me wrong.
Yeah, thought so.
Of course, I’m NOT talking about the WinPCs that ARE being used to ONLY run games.
Hey, man. It’s called GameCube, check into it!
……. ……. …….. ……… …….. ……..
i) Jealous folks, back of the line. NO CUTS!
ii) Mac or psuedo Mac, you’re call.
iii) MDN, good site.
iv) Don’t have a Mac. Tough.
v) Ignorant rabble. Go on, and get sold a WinPC.
vi) When iTunes4 for Windoze gets released, release iTunes5 for Mac.
vii) IF, MusicShop does well, THEN add more features – like Win format.
viii) Gamers that buy a WinPC, it’s called GameCube check into it!
ix) WMA-v9 = DRM = Prohibition. What happened to Prohibition?
x) MP3s = open = true standards = moolah = everybody get’s rich.
xi) Sell slop to the WinCrowd, so you can reinvest for the Mac crowd. hehe.
BTW, I think 50� MIGHT be the ‘sweet spot’ for downloads. Cuz, I still have to pay for my ISP; CD-Rs; paper AND ink for any liner/cover art, burn time, etc., etc,. etc., if I make my own CDs.
If I pay $10 for an album collection of AAC files – that I can only use three times – and I get NO artwork… Explain why that’s a BETTER deal than buying a audioCD with 2-3 songs I like and 9 songs I hate!
A couple of points here.
Apple’s market share is 2 percent. That’s a fact, and Apple’ own sales figures confirm it. IDC confirmed it too.
Apple says there are 25 million total Mac users, though that figure has been very consistent, and it’s probably bogus. But let’s run with it. How many Windows users are there? 700 million? Probably more. So what is the actual usage share of the Mac? It’s probably a bit more than 2 percent. It’s not 10 percent. It’s not even 5 percent.
As Byron noted (hey, Byron) I am a Mac user. I own a 2001 iBook 500, a 2003 iMac 17-inch, and a 5GB iPod, and I’m a .Mac subscriber. I’m also a Windows user. I think the switch campaign is weird because you can use both. Apple makes good stuff. But I’ve spent a lot of time countering crazy claims from the Apple faithful (like the marketshare/usage share baloney one reader brought up in these forums). Thus, some people (incorrectly) label me as “anti-Mac.” It’s untrue. I’m anti-silliness.
I bought several songs and 2 albums on the iTunes Music Service as soon as the 504 errors died down.
Ironically I had to watch the Steve Jobs announcement about the service, the new iPods, and iTunes 4 on my Windows box because it was only being shown in WMV 9 format (a QT version was available the next day).
I have since found out that Apple is indeed releasing a Windows version of iTunes by the end of 2003. Whether it will be stripped down (Music Store only) or the full thing is unknown.
Paul T. is full of **it.
A couple of points here.
BMW’s market share is 2 percent. That’s a fact, and their’ own sales figures confirm it. Blah, Blah, Blah, Inc., confirmed it too.
I say there are 25 million total Mac users, though that figure has been very consistent, and it’s probably right on. But let’s run with it. How many Windows USERS are there?
7? Maybe. So what is the actual USAGE share of the Mac? It’s probably a bit more than 25 percent, like – Paul T. – said.
As Byron noted (Hello, Byron!) I’m a fake Mac user. I own an Ibook 5200, a 12 incher Imac, and a 15″ GrindaBooty iPounder, and I’m a .Net subscriber. (Oh, wait, there is NO .net – but we’ll all enjoy it any day now) I’m also a BillGate Lover. I think the ‘switch’ campaign is special because you can use both (holes), and win a free toaster. microSOFT makes good stuff. But I’ve spent a lot of time making-up crazy claims about how great M$ is (like the marketshare/usage share baloney I brought up in these forums). Thus, some people -CORRECTLY – label me as “anti-Mac.” It’s TRUE. I’m anti-social.
I stole several songs and 2 albums on the Kazaa service as soon as the B.O.D died down.
Ironically, I had to kiss the picture of the Steve Jobs announcement, the new iPods, and iTunes 4 on my Windows box because it was only being shown in a QT version that day.
I have since found out that BG3 is indeed stealing a Windows version of iTunes4 by the end of 2009. Whether it will be the bug infested version or completely unusable is unknown.
Ironically I had to watch the Steve Jobs announcement about the service, the new iPods, and iTunes 4 on my Windows box because it was only being shown in WMV 9 format…
So, Bill Gates allowed a WMV formatted stream of a live Steve Jobs announcement, of a service that Bill STILL can’t provide?
Right.
Paul. Where was the source of this WMV stream?
I’d really and truly like to know what page you saw this on, Paul. I mean I don’t want to be the one that breaks it to you Paul – that you’re a fscking liar. But, hey.
Will someone out there – please, help me find some kind and gentle language to help me with my dilemma?
BadPop, the entire event was broadcast from MSNBC.com. You could choose between WMV 9 and RealONE.
Is that kind enough for you?
ThoroughPauly (nice name!) …
The car market reference you make is tired and unrelated. BMW doesn’t compete in a market that is dominated by several other car manufacturers, all of whom use the same underpinnings and all of whom use a type of gas that’s widely available, while BMW runs runs on wheatgrass. The two markets are completely unrelated. Thus, the comparison is invalid. This should be obvious, but it’s amazing how often the car analogy comes up.
And again, there was no live QT stream of the event that day, as far as I know, or I would definitely have watched that. Like many other people, I watched it live via WMV 9 using MSNBC.com.
Paul isn’t busy enough that he can’t take a little time from his work at WinInformer to visit the lowly 2% over here at MDN.
He’s learned ‘The bitch about what Apple has created ‘cuz I want in on my PeeCee’ from John Dvorak.
I’m happy for you P.T. You’ve gotten someone to pay you for your OPINION.
BTW, Mac USER that you clam to be, the Mac crowd doesn’t need your brand of HELP.
Starting (and littering) your OpEd with an obvious ‘knock down Apple’ comment is extremely transparent. Everything you say after these back-handed comments destroys any praise
ie., Paul Thurrott’s wife farts a lot (98% of the time), but she’s cute and she makes great sandwiches. Everyone loves her sandwiches, even celebrities come by. But, the air thirty feet around her is only breathable 2% of the time.
Only 2% of the world’s population can bear to be around her.
Despite Apple Computer’s dwindling market share–now barely more than 2 percent…
Despite Thurrott’s’s dwindling originality–now barely more than 2 percent…
How much longer do we have to hear this ‘tired and unrelated reference’ – by people like YOU make.
BadPop, so I’ve proven you wrong about the event telecast and you resort to childish insults? Sad.
PaulT, you may have been correct about the webcast. But that is ALL that you got right. I’m not the only person in this thread that believes that you are wrong in the way you present your OPINION. However, you can attempt to refute me.
BTW, how where you insulted? Was it the example that I used to illustrate how many so-called unbiased editors can skew their OPINIONS by using language to make something that MANY would consider to be good into looking not so good? Half-truths, omissions and loaded language can hurt ANYONE – not just the loonie MacOlytes sensitive feelings.
FWIW, seeings as I’m not the only one skirting questions. It would be interesting in hearing your answer to T.Pauly’s question regarding the ‘tired and unrelated’ claims of Apple’s marketshare. FTM, I’d be interested in hearing any of your resposnes to any of the questions that you’ve conveniently ignored here. Either that or get back to work.
I’m sorry that I have to ‘flame’ you as you sensitive ‘writers’ claim we MacJihad tend to do. But, your style of journalism DOES NOT help the ‘computer’ comsumer one bit. YOU my friend are SUPPOSED to educate folks of ALL the BEST options. But, it’s so much easier to do what YOU do.