Yeah I get it, Steve Jobs is our savior. If only he would get his way, we would all get free iPods AND free music.
I think Apple probably had to introduce DRM to be able to make a deal with the music industry. At least I remember Steve Jobs proclaiming that DRM is bad later on - he could simply have changed his opinion in alignment with customer wishes, though. But to think that they would love to give us the music for free goes a bit too far.
Also, afaik the "DRM-free" music on iTunes still has DRM: it is signed with your name. So you can copy it freely on your own devices, but you can not sell it on ebay. The ebay factor is something I still don't see factored into the prices for online music (it should be cheaper than CDs, because I can sell a CD once I get tired of it).
> to think that they would love to give us the music for free goes a bit too far
Did I write that? I don't remember, and I can't find it int he essay. I wrote that they would love to be able to compete with Amazon on price and that if they could get it from the labels on the same terms as Amazon, they woul doffer it at the same or lower price.
As for free iPods, I don't remember writing that either. That being said, lots of companies work very hard at making their products less expensive in order to occupy mor eof the market. Last time I checked, Apple has offered a variety of iPods over a very broad spread of prices, from shuffle to iPod touch 32GB. Cheap iPods = no oxygen for competitors at the low end.
That's a perfectly normal business strategy, isn't it?
"you can copy it freely on your own devices, but you can not sell it on ebay. The ebay factor is something I still don't see factored into the prices for online music (it should be cheaper than CDs, because I can sell a CD once I get tired of it)."
I learn from your response that my comment was written in a too inflammatory way. Sorry for that.
It just seemed to me that it was too much biased in favor of Apple. Unless you have insider information, I am not convinced that your theory is right. It is a possible explanation, but on the other hand, Apple has a nice lock in with iPods and iTunes. Do they care about DRM? Maybe: they might be happy that you bought an iPod. But the thing is, once you consider upgrading to a newer, fancier MP3 Player, you better make it another iPod, or you lose your music. So Apple does benefit from DRM. Not saying that is what they want, but it is an alternative theory.
Possibly they simply charge higher rates because they can (yay for fanboys). Most consumers by now might associate digital music with iTunes and not even check Amazon for prices.
I think Amazon also has the DRM that signs the MP3s with the buyers names, but I am not sure (haven't actually bought any music online yet).
It's certainly fair to have different opinions. For one thing, Apple themselves probably have different opinions: they probably have debates like this where one manager screams at another that there is One True Way to manage iPod/iTMS and the other throws a stapler at her head.
For example, I wrote that essay as if there is one, coördinated strategy with iPod and iTMS. In reality, there may be iTMS managers who are trying to maximize profits for their division while the iPod managers are trying to undermine iTMS and commoditize it for the benefit of their division, just as if they we in coöpitition as independant companies.
So... the truth is probably way more complex than we imagine, or even could imagine.
I think Apple probably had to introduce DRM to be able to make a deal with the music industry. At least I remember Steve Jobs proclaiming that DRM is bad later on - he could simply have changed his opinion in alignment with customer wishes, though. But to think that they would love to give us the music for free goes a bit too far.
Also, afaik the "DRM-free" music on iTunes still has DRM: it is signed with your name. So you can copy it freely on your own devices, but you can not sell it on ebay. The ebay factor is something I still don't see factored into the prices for online music (it should be cheaper than CDs, because I can sell a CD once I get tired of it).