1115.org

For the record: 1115.org is staunchly pro-Mac. We all use Macs, have iPods etc. But we’re not fan-boys (or fan-girls).

I have used the iTunes Music Store (iTMS) since April 28th, the first day it was open. There are several reasons why I have continued to use iTMS ever since. The integration of the iTMS into iTunes is a stroke of genius as it lets users buy music in the same application in which they will play it. The 30 second sample streams allow users to listen to any track in the store before purchase. The iTMS-only exclusive tracks and remixes are a great way to get users to buy music. In fact, most of my purchases have been iTMS exclusives. Finally, the use of the protected AAC file format as opposed to the more well-known mp3 format was a bold step forward. AAC allows one of the most user-friendly copy protection methods to date.

But the iTMS is not perfect.

Apple calls their 128kbps AAC files “CD quality”. I’m not sure what panel of 80 year olds they put together to do the Pepsi Challange, but my own ears (ravaged by years of running nightclubs and raves) can tell the difference in no time. While AAC files sound better than mp3s at the same bit rate, 128 is lousy no matter which way you cut it. It’s a hard choice to pay for something I could easily get on Soulseek at 192kbps or 256kbps for free. It’s difficult to justify paying almost as much as a CD for poorly compressed music. Apple should have started offering 192kbps AAC downloads by now. It wouldn’t cost them anything, and I, for one, would be a more frequent buyer.

After eight months, why are there still incomplete albums? Does it not defeat the purpose of buying an album when you can’t even get all the tracks? Why are some of the tracks available on the “clean” versions, and not on the “explicit” versions?

I don’t especially mind paying $0.99 for songs and $9.99 for albums, but what about the “skits” and “intros” and “outros”? “The $20 Sack Pyramid” from Dr. Dre’s The Chronic or “Aiight, Chill” from Gang Starr’s Hard to Earn are probably worth $0.99, but that’s about it. And then there are the albums that aren’t available to buy for $9.99. Forcing users to download all the tracks and pay extra moves those albums into the “Better off buying the actual CD” category.

Obviously, Apple spent a ton of time and a considerable amount of money to bring iTMS to market for both Mac and Windows so that they could head off competition from the almost countless other services. But now that they are not only up and running, but wildly popular and successful, it is time for Apple to make the iTunes Music Store as good as it can be.

After all, my iPod needs food.