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yet another Microsoft blogger

# Friday, October 05, 2007

Amazon MP3 Download

image I have fallen in love with Amazon.com's new MP3 download service. Here are the facts:

  • DRM free music from EMI and Universal
  • $.89 a track
  • $8.99 for most albums
  • 256 kbps Variable Bitrate MP3
  • Application that downloads tracks and transfers to iTunes or Windows Media Player with Album Art

Before this service I was still firmly a "CD only" purchaser. DRM was too restrictive. For example, how would my wife and I share music on our iPods? Our current solution was to use my iTunes accounts on my machine, her machine etc. But this got to be a pain in the butt.

Another thing that rocks? Amazon customer service. I had a problem with a credit card on file due to some one-click thing. So I clicked on the help link, and then clicked "call me", entered my phone number and within 3 seconds I was talking to a live human being who already had all my account info. It was actually kinda funny because I was buying my wife the new Fergie Album she asked for and the customer service lady was like "So you're trying to get your fergie"?... awkward!

Anyway, lets see how this stacks up to iTunes:

  1. Cheaper
  2. More DRM free music selection
  3. No DRM on all tracks sold
  4. MP3 format, so it works on all music devices.

Sold!

Posted Saturday, October 06, 2007    Permalink    Comments [4]  View blog reactions

 

Saturday, October 06, 2007 6:07:40 AM (Pacific Daylight Time, UTC-07:00)
"More selection"? I don't think we can claim that by any stretch of the imagination. Not only is the catalog a third of the size, but the non music catalog is just one more thing that make iTunes the all in one solution for most.
That said...
I agree with everything else, and I wish the rest of the music industry would get their heads out of their posteriors. At least they could start signing people with talent again... not likely.
Fred
Saturday, October 06, 2007 7:18:39 AM (Pacific Daylight Time, UTC-07:00)
sorry, I should clarify. I meant more DRM-free music selection. Apple just has EMI
Monday, October 22, 2007 8:14:32 AM (Pacific Daylight Time, UTC-07:00)
Finally, some real competition to iTunes! Unfortunately, if you live outside of the US, you can't use AmazonMP3. If you are one of those unlucky people, there is a site that searches several non-DRM music stores at once: http://www.songboxx.com. You’ll certainly find a store that will work for you.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007 7:08:34 PM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)
I take some benefit from Amazon MP3 Download by developing catalog website to promote all songs. You can see my website.
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