Windows iTunes and MC9
When (and if) Apple releases iTunes for Windows, how do you think it will affect MC9 use?
Will iTunes be free? I understand it's an all-in-one app with the addition of purchasing music.
I'd sure hate to spend $40 for MC9 only to have iTunes come out for free (and, I understand iTunes uses the Gracenote database, which is consistently outstanding - EZ CD, which I use for ripping, also uses it).
iTunes has smart playlists and such, doesn't it? Obviously, I'm not a Mac person.
Cheers
Randy
[557 byte] By [
Randy_M] at [2007-11-9 12:42:40]
# 1 Re: Windows iTunes and MC9
I hear ya...I'm tempted to get MC9...but a good friend of mine reminded me that iTunes for windows will be out..and she tells me she loves iTunes (I'm not a mac person either).
Does anyone know about any prices or licensing fees involved with it? It's supposed to be out by the end of the year, right?
# 2 Re: Windows iTunes and MC9
No one knows really if it's going to cost money. I sort of doubt it though.
As far as MC9 vs. iTunes: for me there's no comparison. I've used both w/an iPod and MC9's smartlists are so much more comprehensive. Once you start using MC9 and realize what you can't do in iTunes it just doesn't become usable to me.
I'll play with it just for kicks, but as for quality, MC9 is a better ripper/encoder and music organizer & smartlist creator.
The good thing about iTunes for windows is that Apple will have to enable the previously disabled features on WiPods (Playcounts, ratings). Once that's done, then MC9 will be able to leverage them and we'll have a level playing field.
It'd still pay twice as much for MC9, but that's just me.
But there's no need to worry about loss of market share for MC9, I don't think that the iPod user-base is their core market anyway, more high-end audiophile types and video folks.
Adam
# 3 Re: Windows iTunes and MC9
I agree with Adam 100%. I've played around with Itunes briefly, it's much better than MMJB, but I'd still pay the $40.00 for MC9, even if Itunes was available for windows.
There is no question that Itunes is going to cut into MC9, but as Adam said, the ipod is more than likely a relatively small part of their business--just go into the Jriver forums, and see what some of the folks are doing with MC9--it's way over my head.
But even with Itunes out, MC9 will still have a niche with ipodders, although it will be a smaller niche--for the reasons Adam posted--better ripper/encoder, more options for file management, etc. It will be interesting to see how well iTunes for windows works--there is a huge bug potential here...
I also agree that Itunes will more likely than not be totally free. Apple plans to make a boatload of money off the Itunes music store; it's already done better than what they expected--to get the windows users, which would be absolutley huge for them, they're going to be able to offer up Itunes for free--they aren't going to make a ton of money off the software anyway, but they could make a killing selling their music if it was easily accesible to PC users. Personally, I'm waiting for windows based online music stores to come into being--BMG has one in the works that should be out later this year, with a huge catalogue--I'm just too limited to what I can do with AAC.
dmt1 at 2007-11-15 17:24:08 >
# 4 Re: Windows iTunes and MC9
The music store is what I'm looking forward to...There are many discs (especially box sets), that I only want a few songs from, and would gladly pay a fair price per track.
# 5 Re: Windows iTunes and MC9
Yeah, that's why I'll have it on my computer. But given the "quality" of iPod Manager and other for-windows Apple software, I'm not holding my breath that it'll work flawlessly.
Who knows though. Been wrong before. ;)
("too many times to count" says the wife) :D
Adam
# 6 Re: Windows iTunes and MC9
The main thing that holds my interest in iTunes for windows is a convenient way to rip and tag in AAC. I've tried a few AAC encoders and they're okay, but the tagging doesn't seem to be there. If MC9 would offer up some AAC support (which I know they have no plans for at this moment) I would be content to stick with it. But I will definitely play around with iTunes when it comes out.
# 7 Re: Windows iTunes and MC9
Originally posted by ashawley
Yeah, that's why I'll have it on my computer. But given the "quality" of iPod Manager and other for-windows Apple software, I'm not holding my breath that it'll work flawlessly.
Who knows though. Been wrong before. ;)
("too many times to count" says the wife) :D
Adam
Good point. Quicktime for Windows has always been substantially worse then its Macintosh counterpart.
# 8 Re: Windows iTunes and MC9
Well, if Apple intends to become the de facto standard for MP3 players (like one of the news articles linked from here recently stated), they're gonna have to NOT blow this one.
They must make it easy for Joe Blow to operate one of these things, and Joe Blow has a PC.
# 9 Re: Windows iTunes and MC9
Originally posted by Randy_M
Well, if Apple intends to become the de facto standard for MP3 players (like one of the news articles linked from here recently stated), they're gonna have to NOT blow this one.
They must make it easy for Joe Blow to operate one of these things, and Joe Blow has a PC.
That is so true. With 95% of the people out there with a PC, Apple has a big step to take. I think iTunes for Windows is just the beginning of Apple software for Windows/PC for that matter.
ToddW at 2007-11-15 17:30:18 >
