New iPods and New Apple Music Service?
The iPod updates may, however, bring us a new unexpected service from Apple.
Sources report that Apple will be introducing an MP3 music-downloading service to users. The service partner to provide the music has not yet been identified, but songs are expected to cost $0.99 per song.
Dedicated readers may recall a similar rumor which made our 2002 Rumor Reject list with this anonymous Slashdot post.
- In the future, you'll (assuming we can cut a deal with Apple Records on that nasty trademark matter) be able to plug you iPod into your Mac, browse a library of songs via iTunes, and download them directly to your iPod over broadband or AirPort. Micro-payment (well, semi-micro; on the order of a dollar per song) will be handled through the .Mac "one click" system, which Apple licensed from Amazon and already uses in iPhoto for buying photographic prints on line.
While Anonymous Slashdot posts are certainly not a source of reliable information, it appears there may be some truth to this particular post based on current reliable information.
Top Rated Comments
(View all)iJon
Originally posted by iJon
all these pay for music sites flop.
They flop because there's a very limited selection of music to choose from, the music files are either streaming so you can't save them or they're copy protected WMA files (or something else propietary).
If there was a site for pay which I could download music from with an extremely wide selection and I could do with the MP3 file with what I can do with a CD than I'd gladly pay 0.99 a song.
The pay-to-download can work, it just has to be done right.
Edit: And I hope they can have different selections of bitrates, even though I have dial-up I'd gladly wait longet for a higher quality file than some horrible souding 128kbs MP3.
I miss the days of Audiogalaxy.
Think of all the .Mac members that would sigh up for this.
If this dose come true I will be very happy :-)
It's amazing how things change so rapidly in these times.
I've never taken .Mac seriously, but depending on the repetoire that would be offered with this rumored online service, it just might persuade me to give it a try.
If this were a .Mac service, who would sign up for .Mac now who doesn't already have it?
[ Read All Comments ]

Analytics firm Chitika today released a report showing that by its metrics iOS has now surpassed OS X in overall web traffic share in the United States. Chitika's methodology involves an analysis...
One of the most frequent reasons for an iPhone to go on a trip to the Apple Store's Genius Bar is because of water damage. Typically, a water damaged iPhone can be replaced for a flat $199...
TheVerge's Joshua Topolsky summarizes the iPad 3 casing findings reported earlier today, but also adds his own sources regarding some details of the iPad 3.
Image from RepairLabs
As...
Last July, Apple discontinued the white MacBook from its consumer lineup, pushing consumers toward the company's popular MacBook Air line or the 13-inch MacBook Pro. The company didn't kill...
Popular iPhone Twitter client Tweetbot has finally arrived on the iPad, with a user interface instantly familiar to any current Tweetbot user. Designed for the Twitter power-user, Tweetbot packs a...