Has iTunes changed how you guys purchase and listen to musica a lot?
Yes, quite a lot. I generally try to download an album from eMusic (higher bitrate, cheaper), and if they don't have it I'll buy it from iTunes. I make exceptions for music that's sonicly "complex", as it won't compress as well, or stuff that I just want maximum fidelity. And of course, stuff that I can't find in either iTunes or eMusic I then hunt down in Amazon. Or if I happen to be in a record store I might buy something from them. But that happens much less often these days.
What has changed more is the way I listen to stuff. I hear so much more of my stuff now. I have an entire list of "unplayed" tracks, so I can expose myself to the tracks that I don't really know.
Oh yeah, I do that. I find I'm much less likely to listen to an album from start to finish. Oh, and I used to buy a lot of CDs where I just wanted one or two songs - buying just those tracks online saves a lot of money.
eMusic (higher bitrate, cheaper)
Really? I've never used them, but I keep getting "50 free downloads!" coupons in my magazines. So far, I've never followed through because they wanted my credit card.
I buy much more music than I used to pre-iTunes. Being cheaper, instant, and not having to find more space for CDs is a big draw.
Now that I've finally processed that half my music died in Katrina, I'm going about replacing it. Some things are automatically replaced in kind--Prince I'm getting in hard copy, no discussion. Some things I realise that I didn't like all the album, and I just buy a few tracks from iTunes. Yet, I still decided to get the Tina Turner album from iTunes. Others I realised that I didn't remember many of the tracks, but I find the artist interesting enough (Meshell Ndegeocello) that I'll buy the whole thing and listen to it--via my "New&Unheard" playlist. One day I'll have listened to every song.
It would be cool if there was iTunes exclusive content--like you get an extra track if you buy it there.
I need to look at this eMusic thing.
The worst thing about iTunes is that I can hear a new song on a TV show, google the lyrics, and have bought it before the commercial break is over.
Really?
Yeah. I don't have my main iTunes computer in front of me to look up some eMusic mp3s, but I think most stuff is about 160 kbps, VBR.
Oh yeah, eMusic gives you mp3s with no DRM.
I am using eMusic and I know their catalogue is growing everyday, but I found them to have more indie than popular stuff.
There are iTunes exclusives - just look on the front page.
I think most stuff is about 160 kbps, VBR.
Nice. Maybe I'll get my 50 free songs after all.
Can someone please get a Random Facts thing going about Batman?
I can't do batman, but how about bats --
Size does matter in bats' evolution
A research team led by Syracuse University biologist Scott Pitnick found that in bat species where the females are promiscuous, the males boasting the largest testicles also had the smallest brains.
There are iTunes exclusives - just look on the front page.
In albums, or just as singles?
Oh, and I hate the fact that podcasts come up in default searches. It's distracting. They should have separate searches for that.
