“Apple today released iTunes 4.5, which allows you to convert WMA songs to AAC format so they’ll play on the iPod. In typical Apple fashion, this is the hard way to do things, as the iPod would support WMA naturally if they just let it (Apple turns off this feature in the iPod bios). But give Apple credit: A file transcoded from WMA to AAC will sound like crap, so the company can point to the sound quality difference as a reason to stick with its proprietary format,” Paul Thurrott writes for Paul Thurrott’s Internet Nexus. Full article here.
In an article dated January 9, 2004, Thurrott wrote, “Exclusive: HP Working to Get WMA on iPod – HP’s blockbuster deal with Apple will have one exciting side effect, I discovered today. The company will be working with Apple to add support for Microsoft’s superior Windows Media Audio (WMA) format to the iPod by mid-year. You heard it here first.” More here.
No word on whether Paul is reconsidering his position that the HP ‘iPod’ will play the “superior” WMA format. Looks like it’ll play WMA format music after it’s been converted to AAC, that is. Also, Thurrott provides no hard facts supporting his assertion that “a file transcoded from WMA to AAC will sound like crap.”
Users with a Windows machine and browser (or using Safari’s Debug menu to set the User Agent to “Windows MSIE 6.0” will see this from Apple on the iTunes Import webpage:
“If you
Let the hating begin.
surprise surprise
thurrott thurrott
Well he’s probably right. It probably will sound bad. It’s been encoded, decoded and encoded again.
The bit that bothers me is the “Microsoft’s superior Windows Media Audio (WMA) format”. How the hell is it superior.
And this proprietory stuff too. Like WMA isn’t proprietory ! None of the ‘A’s in ‘AAC’ stands for Apple you bloody fool ! This is all talking about DRM-free stuff too (AAC/Fairplay is effectively proprietory).
Apple is playing it fair
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Is that a picture of a Kernel Panic he’s got on his site ? What a twat. That little picture shows just how balanced his reporting is.
Stick to the man at M$
Correction: I meant stick it to the man at M$.
Doh
Soon Apple will start selling G4 processors to PC�s so that you can replace intel�s processor with it and start using Os X.
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Isn�t it nice
Thurrott, thurrott, thurrott. This is all so funny. He’s the official Apple jester.
“Microsoft’s superior Windows Media Audio (WMA) format “
He’s like our very own Bill O’Reilly.
Ray, That’s better than “stick it in the man at M$.”
Hywel
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Maybe Windows users can use Apple Lossless coder so that they actually get better quality than the original WMP
What are you now sticking in the man at M$?
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I would not stick it in the any man at M$
Homophobe do not change the subject.
Given that he’s also encouraging people to steal, I sent him this e-mail
[I]Paul,
So now we see your morality in all its glory.
By posting a link to FairTunes, and by exhorting people to download now, you are – whether you like it or not – promoting copyright theft.
So as you once referred (in an e-mail to another correspondant) to Apple as “rotten from the top down”, what does that make someone who encourages people to break the law. How would you feel if I went online and encouraged people to ‘acquire’ photocopies of your doubtless incredibly turgid books? What a truly wonderful example to set to your children: theft is alright, so long as you’re screwing someone you don’t like.
Don’t bother replying, as I’m not sure I can stand to read another of your Goebbels-like pieces of revisionist drivel.
Example:
Claiming that, by incorporating a WMA conversion utility into iTunes 4.5 for Windows, Apple has fulfilled your discredited prediction of WMA support in iPod.
Here’s another spin: WMA audio stores have failed in the marketplace, and Apple – despite the fact that it is under no obligation so to do – has created a lifejacket for all the poor saps who bought into the Microsoft ‘vision’ (how strange those words look together) of inconsistent usage rights, poorly designed software and cheaply-built players.
In case you haven’t guessed, I’m not a fan.[/I]
Feel free to write something similar.
The guy is a complete waste of time. Of course everyone knows that WMA is superior.
So was Beta vs. VHS.
Mac isn’t supporting the superior encoding, it is supporting the one that will be used for the masses.
Isn’t that brilliant Paul?
WMA is superior elitist niche market format. AAC is the inferior “for the masses” format.
Oooooo how do you like being on that side of the apple Paul? Watch out for the worm.
Apple’s site says it can only import “unprotected” WMA files. Opps, oh well. Has anyone hacked the iPod bios yet to allow the playing of WMA? Could it play protected WMA?
The descent into hell begins…
Thurrott must eat his words when he sees how successful iTMS Europe will be later this year. I have urging need to buy thousands of songs in the first month. I have lost so many lp�s and cd�s over the years and I need to get that music back. Also I have borrowed cd�s to friends and never got those back. I think that my whole collection will be reborn.
MCCFR
I will copy your post and send it to thurrott with my name on it.
I am not so good writer in English.
MCCFR
I will replace that G�ebbels with Bush though
Thurrawthroat, if your head goes any farther up Win$ins arsenal, it will penetrate the earths atmosphere. You are the new definition of the word “fool”. Everybody knows it. Please give Enderle a chance at the top of the fools throne for awhile. You hate what you know noone can touch. Sony and Micro$in are at the very least a year behind, and deep down, you know it. It’s eating at you inside, man…give yourself a break. I’m worried about you.
Fin:
Don’t start the political crap! The Apple/Mac community is obviously multi-partisan and you just spoil the experience with that stuff. When you need to make some partisan jab, just go to some other site (love your Apple comments though–those are usually sharp and enjoyable). Don’t mean to come off too harsh, just tired of the irrelevant political nastiness…
http://www.petitiononline.com/muapt1/petition.html
What a tool. Why do all the PC-chump Mac bashers feel the need to yammer on about their ultra-manly car obsessions? Remember when Thurrott’s soulmate Rob Enderle waxed orgasmic about his new Ferrari-cobranded Acer laptop? (it’s RED! and Windows plays a VROOOM! wave file when it starts! take THAT, PowerBook!) Wonder what Freud would say. Nice to know Thurrott is a Van Halen fan, too. And you know their CD’s ship with coupons for hair plugs and penis-enlargement pills now.
If it sounds like crap before conversion, it will sound like crap after. That’s how he knows it will sound bad.