iTunes and the iPod are clearly the leaders in MP3 space, because they are simply the best overall solution. I would be concerned in the future about a similar Mac like thing happening – as some other players may be better solutions for individuals. E.g. I would love to use a memory stick player sometimes, like while running or something like that. Apple doesn’t give me the option, and if someone else did I might jump.
AAC is an open standard. I have as yet however seen no signs that Apple’s Fairplay DRM technology is/will be so. If you can’t decrypt the songs to play anywhere but iTunes, it’s pretty proprietary in nature isn’t it? WMA may not be an official standard, but it solves the problems of interoperability and it allows other players to throw their weight behind it, which are supposed to be the greatest benefits of open standards in the first place.
The space is still in flux though. Sony and Phillips seem determined to enter the space. Doesn’t Sony have their ATRAC technology? It’ll be interesting to see what happens.
Apple iTunes Music Store
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iTunes and the iPod are clearly the leaders in MP3 space, because they are simply the best overall solution. I would be concerned in the future about a similar Mac like thing happening – as some other players may be better solutions for individuals. E.g. I would love to use a memory stick player sometimes, like while running or something like that. Apple doesn’t give me the option, and if someone else did I might jump.
AAC is an open standard. I have as yet however seen no signs that Apple’s Fairplay DRM technology is/will be so. If you can’t decrypt the songs to play anywhere but iTunes, it’s pretty proprietary in nature isn’t it? WMA may not be an official standard, but it solves the problems of interoperability and it allows other players to throw their weight behind it, which are supposed to be the greatest benefits of open standards in the first place.
The space is still in flux though. Sony and Phillips seem determined to enter the space. Doesn’t Sony have their ATRAC technology? It’ll be interesting to see what happens.