SillyDog701

[richard mitnick]

So, I am here today to sing the praises of Amazon mp3 downloads.

Public television just gave us a taste of The Who, with 58 minutes of The Who at Kilburn, 1977. Of course, it took two hours what with all of the pledge periods. So, I recorded the whole thing, but then did a DVD of just the concert.

But, hey, this is the tip of the iceberg for this very important band.

So, off I went to Amazon, where I found their CD production "Thirty Years of Maximum R&B", 95 tracks 256vbr, for US$36++. Wow!

I wonder what iTunes would have this for, and if it is available without DRM?

Anybody know the answer?

>>RSM

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[Antony]

It seems to be a great deal on Amazon. Except Amazon (music) is not available in Australia.

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[richard mitnick]

Well, my friend, it is time for a grass roots effort, a clamoring of emails to Amazon to correct this. Believe me, as a music enthusiast, Amazon is the Garden of Eden, especially emphasizing the "long tail", I have found really arcane classical composers, Harry Partch, Edgar Varese, Conlon Nancarrow.

Music lovers of all stripes *need* Amazon's mp3 download service.

I am a stockholder, and in that capacity, I will send my own email. Right now!!

>>RSM

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[Don_HH2K]

I've been using Amazon's download service for some time now and have been quite satisfied with it. I'm surprised that they even have some of the obscure metal and eurodance bands that my friends will occasionally get me interested in.

I have a habit of taking down the codes off the top of friends' Pepsi 20oz bottles; five of those will get you one free song off the Amazon music store. Most of them are either pirates or iTunes users, so they don't mind.

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[richard mitnick]

Antony-

Here is the (really quicK) response from Amazon.

>>RSM

"Greetings from Amazon.com.

Thanks for writing about purchasing music from Amazon MP3 Music Downloads.

Due to import/export laws and other restrictions, we are only able to sell Amazon MP3 Music Downloads, and other downloadable products to customers who use a credit or debit card issued by a U.S. bank with a U.S. billing address. To successfully complete your purchase, you must have a valid U.S. 1-Click payment method listed on your account.

Presently, Amazon MP3 Music Downloads are only available for US customers located in the 48 contiguous states, Alaska, Hawaii, and the District of Columbia and we do not have an estimate for when it will be available for the international customers. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.

We value our international customers and hope to make content available in other locations in the future. Please continue to check our website for additional information on supported locations.

Please know that Amazon cares about its international customers and is working on ways to improve your service and selection.

Thank you for your feedback and interest in Amazon MP3 Music Downloads.

Please let us know if this e-mail resolved your question:..."

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[richard mitnick]

Antony-

What about iTunes? Is that available to you?

>>RSM

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[richard mitnick]

Antony-

I just spoke to an Amazon representative on the telephone. I asked what about if I gave my friend in Australia all of the necessary information from one of my credit cards, could he then buy mp3 downloads? The reply was that you would need to be physically located in the US.

So, I registered a complaint, as a stockholder, that this is restrictive of business and not in my interest as a stockholder.

But, you know, if you do have access to Amazon, for other purchases, part of their Help|Customer Service is a telephone call answer back, for which I get an immediate call (pretty fantastic in this day and age).

You could get up a telephone call rampage among people you know in Sidney and maybe get some movement on this issue. Amazon is very responsive to customers.

>>RSM

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[Mandrake]

iTunes is available in Australia. It's by far the largest online music store here.

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[richard mitnick]

Mandrake-

Thanks for telling me.

I suppose this whole thread should be off-loaded to the Lounge, my topic was originally computer oriented, but now, it's business.

Mandrake-

Are you happy with iTunes? It's mostly DRM Material, and, the very short time I tried it, it was more expensive than Amazon for the same music, and the Amazon offerings were at a pretty decent bit rate.

I wonder why if iTunes can sell in Australia that still Amazon cannot?

>>RSM

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[Antony]

Antony-

What about iTunes? Is that available to you?

Hello Richard,

thanks for posting the response from Amazon.

As Mandrake said, iTunes Store is the largest online music store in Australia. There are some others based on Microsoft's Windows Media DRM technology.

To me, I am very happy with iTunes. It works very well with my iTunes (software) as well as iPod touch and iPhone. Most of my friends are quite happy with iTunes Store as well. (I am not talking about those who simply hate Apple because the product carries the Apple or Mac logo.)

iTunes Gift Certificate is still a great gift item for all sorts of occasions.

As for the DRM aspect. I found it nicely implemented and not extremely tight. For my friends who uses iTunes Store, they find the DRM thing is all right with them. For those who simply hates Apple, they could tell me how evil DRM is. Simply they consider that once they bought a CD, they should have the right to redistribute the music to anyone they want.

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[richard mitnick]

Antony-

Just for transparency, I am not a Mac user, but I am an Apple stockholder. I have great respect for Steve Jobs.

I work in the industrial/commercial world. To the greatest extent, that is a Windows world.

I am also a Dell stockholder and currently have four Dell computers. Dell has won me with great service when in some rare cases I needed it.

I did try iTunes, it was not to my taste. I prefer Winamp and RealPlayer.I also have Safari on all of my computers. It is just not Firefox, my default.

The best, always, to you and to Apple.

>>RSM

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[Antony]

I did try iTunes, it was not to my taste. I prefer Winamp and RealPlayer.I also have Safari on all of my computers. It is just not Firefox, my default.

(Not to turn this into another PC vs Mac debate.) Before I switched to Mac, I used Winamp. I did use RealPlayer, but never really liked it since the first time I used it. (I don't know why.)

I stopped using Winamp about the same time I switched to Mac.

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[richard mitnick]

Antony-

Is it not wonderful that we have all of these choices?

I am about to purchase a 160 gig Zune mp3 player, easier to carry on a plane than several of my six iRiver H10 20 gig mp3 players. They are better for use on my exercise walks. Choices, so many. Money, lucky to have enough.

>>RSM

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[Antony]

Good to know that. Hope that you will enjoy the Zune.

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[Fulvio]

Going back to amazon.com. Joan Baez newest album (10 tracks) is available for download at $6.99. eMusic has it, at above 24c/track, or about $2.40.
I found out that amazon.com will show first albums to ship, then, looking at the fine print, one sees that the same music is available for download.
But, I guess it is the same for everyone. If you are used to amazon.com, then you can find some hidden treasury. eMusic, for instance, does not carry the Who's music, either because the label or the artist does not want to be bothered with the ridiculous fees, or because no one asked for their music. I, just, did, and I am not holding my breath.

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