iTunes Store killer: Amazon’s digital music store hitting web mid-September
By Danny Mendez
Although it may face delays, the only online music service currently posing a threat to the popular iTunes Store should hit the Internet this month.
According to Reuters, Amazon.com Inc just announced a tentative mid-September launch window for its music service.
Earlier this year, Amazon boasted its upcoming online music store will offer DRM free MP3 tracks, improving on the weakest element of the iTunes Store, which only offers AAC tracks. Most of those tracks are weighed down by annoying Digital Rights Management, or DRM. The few tracks that lack DRM are unfortunately more expensive.
Many consumers have a problem with DRM because it limits what you can do with your music, such as being limited to a certain number of computers, portable digital audio players, and CD burns. Tracks downloaded via iTunes with DRM are 
only be playable on computers and iPods. The MP3 format is more convenient as nearly every digital audio player ever created plays MP3 tracks. Apple’s preferred format, AAC, has trouble finding quality players other than the iPod.
If Amazon delivers on its promise to offer a quality, DRM free store with great selection, we may begin to see the downfall of DRM laden music for good.
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Read more entries by Danny Mendez.
September 2nd, 2007
“Apple’s preferred format, AAC, has trouble finding quality players other than the iPod.” - as does everyone!
Look on the bright side, at least AAC isn’t from the ’80s like MP3 technology !!! Until these mythical players & services exist DRM isn’t a real disadvantage except to those who steal.
McD
September 27th, 2007
“Look on the bright side, at least AAC isn’t from the ’80s like MP3 technology !!! Until these mythical players & services exist DRM isn’t a real disadvantage except to those who steal.”
Mythical players and services? I have Tivos in three rooms in my house that can stream music from my computer. All my music except what I purchased from iTunes, that is.
DRM is only an annoyance to honest consumers. People who steal music couldn’t care less about DRM, since there are so many sources of DRM free music.