The iPod Nation

There have been several reports from iTunes users that suggest that iTunes is starting the transition to DRM-free music. According to these users, they have spotted several songs from different studios that now have the DRM-free option. Although iTunes already offered several musical tracks that are DRM-free, these songs were only offered from the record label EMI. If this rumor is any indication, it confirms that Apple is close, or already has, to striking a deal with the other three big record labels.

In other iTunes news, Paul McCartney recently said in an interview, regarding the long rumored Beatles launch on iTunes, that:

“The last word I got back was it’s stalled at the whole moment, the whole process… I really hope it will happen because I think it should.”

For the longest time, Apple and the Beatles have been in a legal battle over the use of the “Apple” logo. When they settled the lawsuit back in February of 2007, there were many rumors spreading that iTunes will soon have Beatles music ready for download. But by the looks of it, we might have to wait a little longer for this to happen.

- Geoff

[Source: MacRumors]

Along with the release of iPhone Firmware 2.2, Apple released a new update for iTunes. The new update, called iTunes 8.0.2, is available through the Mac OS X software update and includes the following updates and fixes:

- Addresses a quality issue creating MP3s on some computers.
- Fixes a connectivity issue with the iTunes Store when using some Internet proxies with Mac OS X.
- Improves accessibility with VoiceOver.

So update your iTunes and remember to come back and let us know what think.

- Geoff

[Source: MacRumors]

If this isn’t any further indication of how dominant iTunes is in the digital music industry, then I don’t know what is. eMusic announced today that they have reached the 250 million song downloads bench mark since its inception in 2003. The problem is that iTunes, which also opened its iTunes store in 2003, has sold over 5 billion songs in the same time period. Poor eMusic. Having to face a juggernaut such as iTunes is no easy task. Congratulations to eMusic on hitting the 250 million mark. Now you just need 4 billion plus more songs to be downloaded by your customers to catch up to the iTunes.

- Geoff

[Source: CrunchGear]

While the economic downturn hasn’t hit Apple quite as hard as some of its competitors, they have nonetheless felt the impact of reduced disposable incomes. The good news for consumers is that the iTunes store now has a bargain bin that will consist of a weekly selection of movies for 5 dollars! The movies in these bins aren’t box office and critical pushovers either, this week; Terminator 2 and Total Recall. Nothing like a little escapism to take your mind off how you’re going to pan-handle your way to your next mortgage… The selections change every week also so if you want that some Ah-nold action, get it while its hot!

-Derek

Our friends at Edible Apple has just figured out what is the most downloaded catalog song in the history of iTunes. And just for your information, a catalog song is basically a song that was created before the digital era and now comes in a digital format. Anyways, back to the task at hand, Edible Apple has found out that the most downloaded catalog song is Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin”. The song was released back in 1981, but it has made a recent resurgence in today’s pop culture. A startling fact: when the song was featured in the last episode of The Sopranos, sales of the song increased 428% in just 3 days. Talk about resurgence!

- Geoff

[Source: EdibleApple]

Apple has always wanted to control everything. From iPhone applications to the music downloads from iTunes, Apple has always had their hands on the steering wheel. But now Norway is stepping in to take the steering wheel away from Apple. Norway’s top consumer advocate has asked the help of the Norway government and justice system to ask Apple to ditch their anti-copying digital rights management (DRM) technology and open up the iTunes music store to users who do not own an iPod. Bjorn Erik Thon, Norway’s consumer ombudsman, had this to say:

“It’s a consumer’s right to transfer and play digital content bought and downloaded from the internet to the music device he himself chooses to use,” said Bjorn Erik Thon, Norway’s consumer ombudsman. “iTunes makes this impossible or at least difficult, and hence, they act in breach of Norwegian law.”

So if Apple does not comply with the Norwegian govenment, they will be fined. In addition, if Norway wins its case and Apple has to pay fines, the European Union will step in and it might become a staple in the European Union consumer policy. Consumer advoates for Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, and other European countries have supported Thon. So if Apple does not want any trouble in Europe, they better hope they win this case.

- Geoff

[Source: MacWorld]

As I was searching for Apple news, I came across this great article on how to improve your iTunes experience for Mac users. Check it out:

I love my music and everything else that goes along with it. I love the fact that in my iTunes, every song is properly labelled, is nicely arranged alphabetically by artist and have their particular album artwork attached in high resolution. It is so much easier to search for the songs you want when almost all the fields (i.e. genre, artist, album, year) are completed. Every little bit of information helps Genius to find the songs which match the ones you are listening to, creating a playlist which suits your current musical mood.

Read the rest of this entry »

It has come to our attention that Apple’s iTunes Store has sold over 200 million episodes making it the world’s most popular online TV store. In addition to the 200 million episodes sold, iTunes has also sold more than 100 million HD episodes since the launch of HD programming on iTunes last month. iTunes, which already boasts one of the largest online catalog of TV programming, will be offering primetime programs in high definition quality from all four major television networks. iTunes will be offering shows such as Desperate Housewives, CSI: Miami, 30 Rock, Heroes, etc. Go check the iTunes Store for more information.

- Geoff

[Source: Apple]

Apple changed the music industry when they first released iTunes. They changed the way consumers consume music with the introduction of iTunes. People began buying their music from iTunes, which makes iTunes the largest music retailer in the United States and one of the top music retailers in other parts of the world. But is Apple’s iTunes on the verge of losing business? Check out this article about the music industry and its relationship to Apple’s iTunes.

iTunes under threat as bands take their business elsewhere

Bands concerned for the ongoing commercial viability of albums are adding to the pressures on iTunes, says Brian Boyd
The previously unremarkable rap-rocker Kid Rock had a huge worldwide hit this summer with the single All Summer Long. The album it came from, Rock’n'Roll Jesus, has now sold more than two million copies.

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Apple is said to have sold about 12 millions iPhone around the world and the Apple App Store has already sold over 100 million apps within its first two months online. Now the iPhone has broke another record, it is receiving downloads twice as fast as music from iTunes. It took two years for iTunes to hit one billion downloads while App Store is targeting at one billion downloads in about half the time. Some are saying the App Store will have a billion downloads even faster than that. Good news for Apples stock holders.

-Ray

[Source: techcrunch]