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Advantageous mp3 simplifies Amazon comparison shopping


The most recent iTunes update introduced variable priced, with many popular tracks now priced at $1.29. Needless to say, this makes Amazon MP3's 99 cent tracks that much more attractive. Advantageous mp3 is a little script and application combo that makes comparison shopping between iTunes and Amazon a snap.

Basically the Advantageous installer adds both an AppleScript to iTunes and a small application to your Mac. When you're browsing in the iTunes Store if you invoke the script from iTunes script menu in the menubar it will start the little application and search for the track in Amazon (via your default browser). It's not perfectly reliable (for instance, it didn't work with Choosy as my default browser and it messes up some searches), but it is a convenient way to surf for music in iTunes but take advantage of lower prices at Amazon. So now you can do to Apple what you've been doing to Barnes & Noble!

Advantageous mp3 is a free download from Robert Palmer.

[via Engadget]

The most recent iTunes update introduced variable priced, with many popular tracks now priced at $1.29. Needless to say, this makes Amazon...
 

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andrewg6100

HOW DO I REMOVE THE APPLESCRIPT ICON/LOGO?
im running 10.5.6 and i deleted advantageous from my computer but it wont let me remove the little applescript logo
AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH.

April 09 2009 at 9:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Chad

Even though Amazon now has an adjusted price system, they are still in great shape to catch up with iTunes. Overall, their prices are simply better and that means everything in this economy. And on top of that, they do a great job with daily promotions and deals which people eat up! For example, I love their daily mp3 album deal which is a complete album download for usually around $2 or $3. That is an affordable way for me to build up my mp3 collection while not spending a fortune. You just need to be patient while you wait for an album you like. I use the following page and google gadget to track the deal so I never miss one:

http://www.frugalgadgets.com/amazon-mp3-daily-deal.php

April 09 2009 at 1:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
xaqtly

I seriously don't understand how all these writers are getting this wrong: Amazon has ALWAYS had variable pricing. ALWAYS. Looking at TUAW, MacWorld, MacUser, MacNN, even Engadget - EVERYBODY is getting this simple fact wrong.

For some reason people either think Amazon just got variable pricing today, or Amazon's tracks are all 99 cents. What? I was looking at tracks on Amazon last year that cost $1.29 each. Yes, that means some tracks on Amazon cost more than tracks on iTunes.

"with many popular tracks now priced at $1.29. Needless to say, this makes Amazon MP3's 99 cent tracks that much more attractive."

Except that there are plenty of Amazon tracks that cost more than $.99, and it's usually the popular ones. It's been like this since the dawn of the Amazon store. Is there some way to spread that around? Because it seems to me like the vast majority of tech writers haven't figured it out yet.

April 08 2009 at 4:37 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jonathan

amazon changed their price structure. as did walmart. and not just for "singles"

i'd hate to link to another site...but this is where i learned from.
http://bit.ly/vTJFD

April 08 2009 at 4:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ele©tro

That's a handy little script. I wish there was a script, app, or even site that could check multiple download vendors (iTunes, Amazon, Beatport, Bleep, etc.) and compare prices automatically. THAT would be a real time-saver for me.

April 08 2009 at 2:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
darkpaw

The url this script fires off includes an Amazon affiliate tag, "&tag=advantagmp3-20". This means that the developer gets a small percentage of every purchase you make via this script.

I have no problem with this; I just thought people should know. There was a backlash against the developer of Inquisitor for not informing people of this, and I can't see anything on this guy's website about this.

April 08 2009 at 2:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
John.B

Cool, so we'll be able to compare $1.29 AAC tracks from iTunes with $1.29 MP3 tracks from Amazon. http://www.macrumors.com/2009/04/08/amazon-and-wal-mart-mp3-stores-adopt-variable-pricing/ Jobs pioneers DRM-less online music sales and practically gets hung in effigy for his trouble, but all the other download services follow suit one day later.

FWIW, I hate VBR songs. I have a few VBR MP3s from Amazon that take as long as 8 seconds to start playing (no matter which PMP or software I use), even though Audacity shows the tracks start immediately.

April 08 2009 at 12:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
EJ

Meh, I'm quickly migrating to Lala.com, which is cheaper than either and grants you the right to stream any song you buy (and your whole library of mp3s, for that matter) from their slick website wherever you are. Also, you can stream any song on their site in it's entirety one time before you have to buy it. Selection is about as good as iTunes. Apple and Amazon really need to step up their game IMO.

April 08 2009 at 12:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
3 replies to EJ's comment
gear

I've been using this for awhile with no issues. I prefer to shop at itunes music store and purchase from Amazon.

Even if the prices and bit rates were identical, I'd purchase from Amazon as I want MP3s not ACCs.

April 08 2009 at 8:58 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
5 replies to gear's comment
eric f

I don't think simplies is a word.

April 08 2009 at 8:38 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to eric f's comment
Jimbo

Back in the day we used it as a short form of 'simplifies'.

April 08 2009 at 8:50 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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