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Microsoft launches MSN Music, calls iTunes "closed"

updated 07:55 am EDT, Wed October 13, 2004

MSN Music store launches

Microsoft yesterday officially launched its for drive-based players and 65-percent marketshare for all portable players (including flash-based devices), saying that the "iTunes Music Store, with its catalog of over 1 million songs, works with 65 percent of all MP3 players and 92 percent of all hard-drive based music players being sold today. There is a lot of customer choice happening today, it's just that Microsoft doesn't like the choices customers are making." [updated]

by MacNN Staff

(29)

TAGS :

industry, digital music/video

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pliny
Mac Elite

Joined: Apr 2001

0

10/13, 08:10am | report spam | close Reply |
MSN Closed

MSN is closed. You have to be using Explorer to buy music on the site. And then assume you want to listen to your music on a cd. Does the cd player in your car play Windows media files? No.

And I already have a music player, it's called an iPod. It plays mp3s, the standard. Can I play Windows Media on it? No.

Horsepoo!!!
Banned

Joined: Jun 2003

0

10/13, 08:19am | report spam | close Reply |
Not Only That...

You can only play the music in Windows. That's pretty closed to me.

MichaelNH
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jul 2002

0

10/13, 08:25am | report spam | close Reply |
Don't make me laugh...

"A lot of people want choice and we offer that.".... coming from someone at Microsoft this makes me both laugh, and vomit...

mouseketter
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2004

0

10/13, 08:34am | report spam | close Reply |
We do have a choice.

Over 80 percent of the HDD MP3 players are iPods. Sales and market share continue to go up.

Over 60 percent of all MP3 players are iPods and sales and market share continue to go up.

Sounds like the majority of people have spoken. Although Mircosoft is demanding a recount in Florida.

Will C
Mac Enthusiast

Joined: Jan 2001

0

10/13, 08:35am | report spam | close Reply |
One closed system..

..versus another?

I don't have an iPod and I use iTMS.

poocat
Mac Elite

Joined: Sep 2000

0

10/13, 08:46am | report spam | close Reply |
Microsoft is 1 PLATFORM!

The definition of "closed" is "unusable by others" and that is EXACTLY what MS has done here. Mac users are completely unable to make this "choice".

Such propaganda.

mouseketter
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2004

0

10/13, 08:47am | report spam | close Reply |
Will C. Great point.

That is a great point you bring up Will C.

One hears so much about (the great lie) you can only use iTunes with iPod or visa-versa.

But one can make a music purchase from iTunes and burn it to a CD and even (with the right settings and a few extra steps) buy music from iTMS and put it on any mp3 player. Not just the iPod.

But with many other music stores. They are actualy more closed end. You have to use Windows. You have to use IE browser. You have to use WMA. Wheres your choice Microsoft?

simonlorenz
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Oct 2004

0

10/13, 08:57am | report spam | close Reply |
FireFox cant buy!

It appears that the javascript used on the buy button on their site does not work with Firefox.

This then is a truly "OPEN" and cross browser store!

(Can't say I am supprised)

testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2001

0

10/13, 09:24am | report spam | close Reply |
c***!

Wait! iTMS is a closed system? Damnit, why the h*** didn't someone tell me this before. MSN, here I come! Openness and freedom, that's what this country is about! If you all want to live in your little Stalinist world of Apple, that's fine. But my buddy Glaser says that's not what real Americans do. And now that MSN is here, all I have to do is dump my iPod, dump my Mac, dump all that controlled music I got on the iTMS, get a PC, buy new software, and start buying music at MSN, where I'll be able to do with it WHAT I WANT, NOT WHAT SOME LARGE COMPANY ALLOWS ME TO DO! And, with Apple about to go under (I read it on ZDNET or somewhere yesterday), do you really want to own hardware and music you won't be able to use in 6 months. I didn't think so.

And when I read the headline, I got scared anyway and knew I was going to do this. I thought iTunes had actually 'closed' down, and I was going to be stuck.

mymacluvsme
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2004

0

10/13, 09:28am | report spam | close Reply |
messed-up article

The second quote by Christine Andrews is a repeat of her first quote:

"In response, Apple touted its 92-percent iPod marketshare for drive-based players and 65-percent marketshare for all portable players (including flash-based devices), saying that ""ITunes has done a great job of helping to elevate the [digital music] market," said Christine Andrews, lead product manager of MSN. "We're different because Apple is a closed system. If you want Apple, you have to use the iPod. A lot of people want choice and we offer that."

Was there supposed to be a response quote from Apple?

slider
Mac Elite

Joined: Oct 1999

0

10/13, 10:33am | report spam | close Reply |
Yeah but......

MSN has frelling Metallica. Why doesn't iTMS have Metallica? I need to request it again I think.

sniffer
Professional Poster

Joined: Nov 2000

0

10/13, 10:35am | report spam | close Reply |
In perspective..

I am just happy there is an online store and a decent player available for us Mac users. It gaining markedshare in the Wintel world is nice too. The only drawback for me is that iTMS hasn't arrive to my contry yet (but it's coming and I hear independed labels are interested to make deals).

macimmortal
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2001

0

10/13, 10:40am | report spam | close Reply |
Apple response:

"Ninety-two percent of customers buying hard-drive based music players are choosing iPods, and over 65 percent of customers buying any type of portable digital music player including flash-based players are choosing iPods," Apple said in a statement. "This means that the iTunes Music Store, with its catalog of over 1 million songs, works with 65 percent of all MP3 players and 92 percent of all hard-drive based music players being sold today. There is a lot of customer choice happening today, it's just that Microsoft doesn't like the choices customers are making."

horvatic
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Apr 2002

0

10/13, 10:47am | report spam | close Reply |
Only Microsoft is closed

If there so open then how come there is no access for Mac users? ITMS gives the same privlages to Windows users as Mac users. Why is it that Microsoft forces you to use only IE 6.0 which Mac users have no access to because Microsoft will never release a newer version since 5.3 for the Mac. If there so open then why is there music only playable on Windows Media 10 for which again there is no Mac version. Yea Microsoft your such a wonderful open company, NOT!!! Sorry Microsoft your choice is not a choice for most of us. Only the brain washed will choose your service which lacks service. ITMS and iTunes all the way.

marco114
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Dec 1999

0

10/13, 10:54am | report spam | close Reply |
iTunes is Open

iTunes & iPod are open to Mac & Windows Users. MSN Music is not open to Mac users. In Fact, most of the players only support Windows. Sounds like Windows is more closed than Macs are.

marco114
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Dec 1999

0

10/13, 10:58am | report spam | close Reply |
Another comment

Consumers have a choice. They can use the crappy MSN service on a crappy player or they can use the coolest service on the coolest player. And since I have a Mac, I can't share my music I buy on a PC, but on the Mac, I can share it with up to 3 PCs.. I know what choice I'm making. Closed or not, Apple is still the best choice for me. And, if you want your crappy MSN encoded WMP music on the iPod, just RIP a CD and import it on to your iPod.. easy as Pie. I got all kinds of choices.

Bobby
Mac Enthusiast

Joined: Apr 2001

0

10/13, 11:23am | report spam | close Reply |
Closed?

You wana hear closed? Last time I checked protected windows media of ANY kind wouldn't play on a mac, period. That is unless MS updated their WMP client, which they HAVEN'T!!!

At least iTunes is both Mac and PC compatible...

VadersCape
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Mar 2004

0

10/13, 11:24am | report spam | close Reply |
A New SAT Question

Microsoft : Choice ::

a) Hitler : Truth
b) Bush : Eloquence
c) Iraq : WMD
d) Windows : Security

testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2001

0

10/13, 11:56am | report spam | close Reply |
Re: Yeah, but

MSN has frelling Metallica. Why doesn't iTMS have Metallica? I need to request it again I think.

Because Apple has good taste in music!

aristotles
Grizzled Veteran

Joined: Jul 2004

0

10/13, 11:57am | report spam | close Reply |
Choice of players?

Can i use a iPod with their service? No. Can I use their service with my mac? No. Let's see, iTMS works with the most popular player and works on both mac and windows.

rbarris
Blizzard Staff

Joined: Feb 2003

0

10/13, 12:09pm | report spam | close Reply |
iTMS doesn't force iPod

I use the iTMS all the time, and I don't own an iPod. Computers and CD players I have plenty of, and they all play music from iTMS.

dav
Mac Elite

Joined: Dec 2000

0

10/13, 12:10pm | report spam | close Reply |
in a few years...

we'll all read about how apple didn't innovate with itms & ipod, they stole it from parc.

dav
Mac Elite

Joined: Dec 2000

0

10/13, 12:13pm | report spam | close Reply |
oh, and

windows music store is an integral part of longhorn - it can't be removed from the os.

Filburt
Junior Member

Joined: Aug 2001

0

10/13, 12:27pm | report spam | close Reply |
Jealous Microsoft

Whether iTunes Music Store is more closed than MSN Music, I am sure Microsoft would love to be in Apple's position. Microsoft had the opportunity and Microsoft blew it. Instead of firing the executives in charge, they are still employed and they are whining instead of doing something innovative.

hayesk
Professional Poster

Joined: Sep 1999

0

10/13, 12:41pm | report spam | close Reply |
IE required for MSN Music

is irrelevant. iTMS only works with iTunes, and not Firefox too. The reason MSN is more closed is that:

- it doesn't work on Macs
- it is restrictive over where you can play your music
- it doesn't support the most popular player - the iPod

trevc
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Mar 2000

0

10/13, 12:52pm | report spam | close Reply |
Canada too...

In the newspaper today it says that Canada too will have ITMS as soon as within a month ... the more Apple does to be first in a market the better.

Been waiting a long time for this.

testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2001

0

10/13, 01:23pm | report spam | close Reply |
Re: oh and

windows music store is an integral part of longhorn - it can't be removed from the os.

Well, you joke, but I just installed XP SP-2 on a few machines at work, and wouldn't you know it, MS has added a "Windows Marketplace" to every user's toolbar, and stuck the WMP icon in their QuickLaunch bars and start menus (even if you've previously removed them). MS really wants you to know that WMP exists, you know.

[BTW, if anyone out there is unfortunate enough to use windows and even more unfortunate enough to know enough of what's going on underneath to tell me how to get rid of these 'additions' MS adds - which don't show up until the user logs in for the first time after the update - I'd appreciate it. I'd go ask on a windows forum, but I'm sure I'd get a "Why would you want to remove these wonderful gifts from MS?" kind of response...]

legacyb4
Mac Elite

Joined: May 2001

0

10/13, 02:17pm | report spam | close Reply |
Response from Microsoft

I wrote in to Microsoft to lambast Ballmer's quip about the iPod community and go the following in response:

Hello,

Thank you for getting in touch with us about this. When Steve Ballmer implied that most of the music on iPods were stolen, he absolutely did not intend to single out iPod owners for criticism. In fact, given that they have access to their very own - and very popular - online music store, they are likely among the most law-abiding consumers of digital music. But the reality is that piracy remains high in terms of illegal downloads of music, and while online music services are getting better and better and winning more customers, piracy is still a major problem both on the PC and on devices.

Microsoft Windows Media digital rights management (DRM) is a great way to limit piracy, and the main point Steve was trying to convey was that it requires a coordinated effort among many industry partners to do it right. More information on this platform is found on this page:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/drm/faq.aspx

If you have other suggestions or comments, please feel free to send us another e-mail.

Sincerely,

Peter
Microsoft.com Customer Support

--- Original Message ---
From: xxxxxx@gmail.com
To: microsoftcom_contactus@css.one.microsoft.com
Sent: Sun Oct 10 00:12:37 PDT 2004
Subject: Microsoft.Com ContactUS

URL:http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/10/08/ms_ballmer_ipod_counterspin/
LANG:English (United States)
LOC:CA
BR:ppc mac os x mach-o/mozilla/5.0 (macintosh; u; ppc mac os x /en-us,en;qYour boss, Steve Ballmer, is a bonehead for actually assuming that iPod owners are music thieves. If anything, I avoid downloading music from any of those P2P systems precisely because of the fact that 99% of the pirates are Windows users sharing low-quality, pirated music.

Buran
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: May 2000

0

10/13, 03:08pm | report spam | close Reply |
Three words

Pot. Kettle. Black.

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Microsoft launches MSN Music, calls iTunes "closed"

updated 07:55 am EDT, Wed October 13, 2004

MSN Music store launches

Related Articles

Recent Articles

MSN Closed

Not Only That...

Don't make me laugh...

We do have a choice.

One closed system..

Microsoft is 1 PLATFORM!

Will C. Great point.

FireFox cant buy!

c***!

messed-up article

Yeah but......

In perspective..

Apple response:

Only Microsoft is closed

iTunes is Open

Another comment

Closed?

A New SAT Question

Re: Yeah, but

Choice of players?

iTMS doesn't force iPod

in a few years...

oh, and

Jealous Microsoft

IE required for MSN Music

Canada too...

Re: oh and

Response from Microsoft

Three words

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