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Alternative to itunes and ipod - can you recommend?
Faust
10-12-2006
My daughter has been hinting at an MP3/Ipod for Christmas. However, she is concerned about being tied into Apple for ever and a day if she goes the iPod route. At present she does use itunes on her computer but I always tell her to download the music as WAV files. At least that way they can be burned to CD's then as far as I know can be converted to MP3's and played on any MP3 player - is this correct? My main question though is this - if we can convert all her existing Apple music to MP3 from the WAV files what other music download service would anyone recommend that comes anywhere near itunes and doesn't tie you into a monthly contract or file protection issues.
Havelock Vetinari
10-12-2006
First question is really, what size MP3 player does she want?
the only way to not have a monthly contract is to buy the tracks individually. For that you have Napster, HMV, Virgin, Tescos and several others. BUT they all are tied to DRM. The only way to avoid DRM is illegally downloading them, or allofmp3.com which doesn't have it, and you can buy tracks individually. But of course there will be others who will shout it's illegal. Well that has never been proved so to those who say it .
For MP3 players for differing sizes Creative have ones from about 1GB upwards and are pretty good prices wises, they also go in for larger sizes up to 60GB. iRiver are pretty good, Cowan are not bad either a lot will depend on size and budget. Wether you burn them to wav and then convert them MP3, not sure (I may be wrong) but it does count as part of the DRM and the allowance of uses of the track. Again not sure if it does, or doesn't give quality loss.
Ross Murray
10-12-2006
Hi,

You don't need to convert to WAV to burn audio CD's in Itunes, as the program will burn CD's regardless of the native file format, they can then be ripped back on to a computer using an MP3 extractor i.e. CD EX.

With regards to on line music stores their is many to choose from, like Napster, tesco downloads, hmv, virgin digital to name a few. Most do have file protection (DRM). I'm not sure which ones do and do not require monthly contract, as I use Itunes Store.
Havelock Vetinari
10-12-2006
The monthly contract system, Napster, HMV both have one not sure about Virgin. But that is not the question. All of the stores have tracks you can buy indiviually. Umm all have DRM in them, it's a requirement by the BPI to stop file sharing.
Faust
10-12-2006
Am I right in thinking though that you can play tracks bought in MP3 format on almost any player but you can only play Apple tracks on an ipod unless of course you burn to CD then rip them back as MP3 files? - crafty Apple move not licensing its software.
moisie
10-12-2006
If you rip files from your CD's then technically you can then play them in any player that decides to support those formats, I'm not sure about Apple Lossless but AAC is not owned by Apple so any player can support it if they so wish. Of course, mp3 is the safest bet since it has the widest adoption.
The only thing you can't play outside of iTunes/iPod are songs bought from the iTunes music store since they have DRM on them, DRM which Apple have chosen not to license - just like Microsoft haven't licensed the DRM for their Zune player. If you're going to buy DRM'ed files and want more than one store to choose from then you have to go Playsforsure but since it's owned by Microsoft, there is nothing to say that they won't shut it down or change the licensing, etc. In reality most people will never come up against the licensing restrictions of DRM but if you want to be doubly sure then just use CD's.
Like any format, you can never be sure you'll be able to use downloadable digital music forever and a day.
TheBigM
10-12-2006
It may be worth importing audio CDs from abroad where they are often cheaper - this way your music will still be legal, similarly priced to iTunes (except buying albums rather than individual tracks) and you won't face DRM issues.

Yes - if you find a download store that allows you to burn your tracks to audio CD, you can get around DRM but this is lengthy and time-consuming. With PlaysforSure, some players made by the likes of creative, toshiba and sandisk can be used on several online music shops which sell in pay as you go form and subscription formats. For flash based players - look at creative, Sandisk eSansa and Samsung players. For HDD players there is Zune, creative and Toshiba players. Several other noteworth Iriver and similar players exist - www.cnet.com will give you a decent idea.

As far as dangers of being locked in go, it is unlikely Apple's service (which has 70% market share) is going to go away and iTunes bought music can be transferred to different players (I think) should you decide to upgrade your iPod.

MS Zune is currently a wait and see option to see how committed to it Microsoft are, and how many improvements they make to it.
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