Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, iTS, Software, Features, iTunes
Will iTunes truly support interoperability?
Earlier this week, Apple and EMI broke some serious ground in the digital music industry by announcing DRM-free music across the entirety of EMI's catalog, beginning with the iTunes Store. In the conference call, Steve Jobs cited interoperability as a key reason for the move; songs downloaded from the iTunes Store can only be played on iTunes, the iPod and other Apple products, and iTunes Store songs are in the AAC file format, not MP3. While this arguably standard/non-standard file type is considered by some to be proprietary to Apple and/or the iTunes Store, this is entirely not the case. Plenty of other software and DAPs (Digital Audio Players) support the AAC format, even including, as John Gruber points out, Microsoft's own iPod competitor, the Zune. If these non-Apple products don't support AAC, they easily could with a software plugin or firmware upgrade.
More important, however, is the fact that the iTunes Store is still the world's most popular legitimate digital download store, and that popularity could skyrocket even farther once they unleash these much, much higher quality downloads (higher than any digital store I know of) in a legitimate, affordable and DRM-free download. The newfound interoperability that Apple is boasting for its present and soon-to-be customers could meet a roadblock, however, if the company doesn't build compatibility for non-iPod devices into the iTunes software itself. While customers can buy DRM-free AAC files through the iTS, iTunes is still the gateway for easily moving those files from one's computer to a DAP, and the claims of interoperability and unparalleled experience could crumble quickly as consumers plug in their Creative Zens, Microsoft Zunes and [insert non-iPod here], only to find out that iTunes scoffs at their non-Apple-branded device.
Will Apple support other DAPs in iTunes? Could we see a 'sync with TiVo' option in the preferences of a forthcoming iTunes 7.5? Time will only tell, but Apple and EMI just opened the doors on the issues of DRM and interoperability - we'll just have to see whether consumers who own something other than an iPod are actually invited to the party.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Nicholas said 5:18PM on 4-03-2007
I'm sorry, but making iTunes sync to every MP3 player on this earth for the sake of "true interoperability" is the most ridiculous premise I have ever heard of. Expecting Apple to invest countless hours in even making the TOP MP3 PLAYERS sync with Apple is just as ridiculous. Apple makes iTunes. Apple makes iPod. THAT is why they work so well together. Because there is an intrinsic understanding of how one another works. With the Zune, for example, do you really expect Apple to know how that thing works in and out? If anything, other MP3 manufacturers should make programs that allow their players to "sync with iTunes library". This takes the complexity out of Apple figuring out how to get every single player synced thru iTunes, yet still lets other players keep up with music bought thru iTunes.
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Greenline said 4:52PM on 4-03-2007
Hey David this is a blog, not the New York Times, try putting half of that rambling behind a "click here for the rest" link.
Thank You,
Concerned TUAW'er
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Nick said 4:53PM on 4-03-2007
"Everyone, from consumers to the EU, have been asking for the abolishment of DRM ..."
That's quite untrue.
Insofar as there's been much comment from EU bureaucrats on this it has been to indicate that they'd like so called "interoperable DRM". Indeed, the most recent ill-judged comment from an EU commissar--Meglena Kuneva--on the matter referred not to removing DRM but to supposed interoperability problems.
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20070312/080759.shtml
Apparently, burning a CD and ripping it into another format is a problem for what the EU is pleased to call "consumers".
I think not. *raises eyebrows*.
But, anyway, no the EU did *not* ask for the abolition of DRM. Let's not give these people unearned credit for something they've never done.
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Joshua Ochs said 5:00PM on 4-03-2007
Um, remember, Apple makes money on the iPod, not iTunes. They have utterly no reason to support other DAPs.
Also, until the iPod came out, iTunes 1 and 2 (and maybe further) did support third-party DAPs, although I can't find any sign of those SDK's on Apple's web site now.
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Mitesh Gowani said 4:59PM on 4-03-2007
Isn't the whole point of there being no DRM that from now on the purchased song can be played in ANY media player rather than just iTunes? I would definitely think so.
I don't mean playing on different devices but you could very well just buy the song from iTunes but then copy it over to your Windows Media Player library which would then sync to your Plays For Sure devices.
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Andreas Tellefsen said 5:03PM on 4-03-2007
I agree with Joshua, Apple makes money on the iPod, not the iTS. I think they would rather you buy your music elsewhere, than buying another player for use with the iTS.
Sure you can technically play iTS non-DRM files on a Zune, but those are not the people that Apple are trying to please with this recent development. And don't forget: EMI approached Apple with this - not the other way around.
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Tony S said 5:05PM on 4-03-2007
This is a tremendous moment in Apple's history as a music company no doubt, and even in the history of digital music sales. However, why would apple add support for non-iPod devices to sync with iTunes? First of all, it's not in Apple's interest to support other non-iPod players. The songs that aren't locked by Fairplay can now be managed by any application ( like Winamp, for example..I can't think of a Mac alternative). Secondly, most digital audio players allow for a quick drag and drop of music once the device is mounted like a drive. That's way more convenient than the iPod sync with iTunes model.(In fact, I wish my iPod would allow me to drag and drop music in addition to syncing with iTunes.) The best bet apple has to foster interoperability is to untie the iTunes Music Store from the iTunes software. They need to turn iTunes.com into a web based storefront. The iTMS is already just a series of webpages that load in iTunes, so this transition wouldn't be that far fetched or difficult. Opening up the iTMS to anyone with a web browser is the only way Apple is going to become the one stop shop for legal digital music.
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Nick said 5:04PM on 4-03-2007
"... much higher quality downloads (higher than any digital store I know of) ..."
Magnatune provides an option of downloading any item in its catalogue in FLAC (or WAV for those with no sense at all). FLAC is lossless, so, no, it's not higher than any other digital store is offering. There are higher quality downloads available right now.
However, practically speaking it makes little difference. If someone claims to be able to hear the difference between FLAC and 256kbps AAC (i.e. MP4 audio), or 320kbps MP3 for that matter, then ask him to prove his claim by taking a blind ABX test:
http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=16295
Most such claims boil down to assumption and the placebo effect.
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Dina said 5:16PM on 4-03-2007
I think iTunes will continue to singularly support, only the iPod.
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Mr. Nosuch said 6:12PM on 4-03-2007
SyncTunes sort of makes this moot for Mac, at least. And I imagine a similiar tool on PC exists.
http://www.nesfield.co.uk/synctunes/
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BJ Nemeth said 5:34PM on 4-03-2007
Considering that the iTunes Store is far and away the market leader, there's no reason for them to try to attract non-iPod users. If they want to use a DRM-free iTunes purchase, they can drag it from any playlist to the desktop.
Will some non-iPod users load iTunes just to buy music? It's unlikely, assuming that the other music stores follow suit on the EMI deal.
If you want your digital audio player to work with iTunes as well as an iPod, then buy a freakin' iPod! Steve Jobs doesn't consider Fairplay DRM to be "lock" consumers to iTunes, but he does consider the elegance of iPod+iTunes to keep them coming back. Why give that experience to inferior (in Steve's mind) non-Apple products?
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Colin said 5:32PM on 4-03-2007
I see absolutely no reason why they can't just build a stand-alone iTS application and toss a preference into iTunes: "Use to connect to the iTunes store".
Besides, this whole "iTunes" thing is getting a bit limiting, now that it sells movies, TV shows and works with the TV. Maybe they could just rename the thing "Apple Store", and put the whole damn thing online: Buy media, book Genius Bar appointments, buy products and accessories.
Hmm.
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Elias Guanchez said 5:27PM on 4-03-2007
I think having iTunes sync with non-iPods is like asking Apple to release OSX for generic x86 computers.
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Newtonick said 5:39PM on 4-03-2007
Bottom Line is that this is a smart move. Sure iTMS might not be the a Cash Machine compared the the iPod. Although selling over a Billions Songs already, I'm pretty sure they're making money.
Allowing Users to purchase music in an Open format, SWEET. I will only buy music from iTunes that is DRM free from now on. Later On, I know I will be glad. For any reason with in a few years, if iTunes is no longer my music player of choice. Well then I'll still have a choice. Thats whats amazing. Choice, Thank God for Choice.
I think it's the manufacture of an "MP3 Player's" job to create software for their own devices. Including Plugins to iTunes for users who use iTunes. This is not Apple's problem.
David, Nice Post. I do agree with first comment though.
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Johnny said 5:40PM on 4-03-2007
I agree with (most of) the rest. It would be absurd to expect Apple to make iTunes compatible with all devices. If this is the case, then I expeect to be able to choose Zune Marketplace for my iPod or any service for any DAP.
This would be like telling Time-Warner or DISH that they have to open their programming to run on each other's equipment. Oh wait, I can't get Time-Warner where I am, someone call the EU.
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Mark said 5:50PM on 4-03-2007
I haven't had a non-iPod player in a while, but doesn't iTunes actually still support them? I believe there is a standard (or de facto standard) protocol which iTunes and most music players follow which supports manual song management of the players (although not syncing) from within iTunes.
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dunk said 5:53PM on 4-03-2007
itunes back in the day did support non-ipod players. not sure if it still does. and for those of you that think the iTS is just a loss leader for ipods -- nope. digital downloads represent about 5% of the overall market for music, apple probably owns 3-4% of that and already makes a profit. movies and television it's even less. there is an absolutely massive profit to be made there, one that will dwarf ipod sales within the decade.
there's a reason that everyone from the media companies to major software vendors to cell phone providers are all losing money on these ventures right now -- it's not the 2 billion songs apple has sold in 4 years, it's the 4 billion songs someone is going to sell annually in 2015.
consider even at the ¢10-¢15a track apple makes from the sale of a single (after costs) that's nearly half a billion dollars a year. also consider that bandwidth costs are continuing to drop, hard drives and servers prices are continuing to come down, and once the song is encoded there's almost zero inventory issues to deal with. apple's profit per song should increase over time.
this has been obvious from the start -- to be honest i though apple would end up licensing fair play once the ipod/aac format emerged victorious from the wma/aac skirmish not just dropping DRM, but it's effectively the same thing.
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42 said 5:52PM on 4-03-2007
Oh jiminy crickets... it already supports interoperability with non-DRM'd content; it's just not the transparent experience that it is with an iPod.
look, even through iTunes doesn't offer the iPod experience with 3rd-party DAPs, who cares? Those devices have their own apps to take care of that. Once a buyer has a new shiny non-DRM'd AAC file from the iTunes Store (and it's not freakin' rocket science to find out where them) they can do whatever they want with it. it isn't incumbent on Apple to support non-Apple hardware with iTunes.
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dan said 5:53PM on 4-03-2007
AAC support is now standard in most "MP3" players. Even my Sony phone will play it.
Am I write in thinking that it is actually less patented than the MP3 format anyway?
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sam said 6:09PM on 4-03-2007
I'mm annoyed by this post. Apple has done something great but it's not good enough for some people apparently. We have to move forward in steps.
Apple has no interest in getting you to use other MP3 players besides the iPod. They shouldn't. But they do agree with the interoperability philosophy. They don't have to build support for other mp3 players into iTunes, nor should they.
Remember also that iTunes cn convert un-DRM'd tracks to MP3. This solves any problem you might have getting your tunes onto another player.
Apple has done the right thing to make interoperability possible, but they certainly don't need to go any further by inviting you to buy competitor products. Remember the iTunes store was built to support the purchase of iPods as a value-add. It was not built with the intention of being a be-all digital download service for everyone. The money is in the iPods still. Although that may change.
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