Comments on: Amazon Says International MP3 Downloads Coming in 2008

By: Facebook Proxy

Facebook Proxy — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:59:00 +0000

Great.

By: Open Source Stuff You Should Know About » Blog Archive » Sun’s pitch to Linux users

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 20:57:46 +0000

[...] was browsing something totally random on Techcrunch, when I came across a banner-ad by Sun for startups [...]

By: Jackie

Jackie — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 23:46:45 +0000

Has anyone else noticed that Amazon’s MP3 search function needs help? I’ve had a hard time finding the tracks I want at times and I think it could use some improvement. Maybe there’s some neat trick to it of which I’m not aware.

By: Lancio internazionle di Amazon Mp3 | Manicalarga: notizie e consigli

Lancio internazionle di Amazon Mp3 | Manicalarga: notizie e consigli — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 19:04:20 +0000

[...] Ne parla anche techcrunch [...]

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 12:02:32 +0000

“You made it sound, though, like iTunes Plus and Amazon’s MP3s are equivalent in quality since they use the same bitrate. In theory, that’s not the case, since iTunes uses the more modern/advanced (but less compatible) AAC format instead of MP3. In theory, a 128kbps AAC is roughly equivalent in quality to a 256kbps MP3, thus, iTunes Plus in theory has the edge.

In practice? Who knows.”

In theory and practice you are totally wrong. Here are the results of a double-blind listening test with 18 samples using between 12 and 27 listeners per sample. It found that Lame MP3 at 128 kbits is statistically identical to iTunes AAC at 128 kbits. I don’t think its much of a stretch to say that MP3 at 192~256 kbits will sound better than AAC at 128 kbits despite the benefit of any theoretical benefits that AAC possesses.

http://www.rjam...28/results.html

Another listening test with similar results is here:

http://www.list...8-1/results.htm

By: Alex Linhares

Alex Linhares — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 09:04:41 +0000

With an economic apocalypse looming the U.S., Apple should start becoming less provincial.

By: Muddabir

Muddabir — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 04:58:54 +0000

Well done amazon.
xperts.net.pk

By: Mark Hendrickson

Mark Hendrickson — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 04:50:37 +0000

@Don – Thanks for pointing that out about sound quality; I wasn’t aware of the AAC/MP3 distinction.

By: vanguardsf.net

vanguardsf.net — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 04:23:23 +0000

this is very cool…..

go amazon!!!

john, owner
vanguardsf.net

By: Hamish M

Hamish M — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 04:11:43 +0000

Yay! Finally Canada gets some love.

By: Don MacAskill

Don MacAskill — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 03:15:12 +0000

Very cool.

You made it sound, though, like iTunes Plus and Amazon’s MP3s are equivalent in quality since they use the same bitrate. In theory, that’s not the case, since iTunes uses the more modern/advanced (but less compatible) AAC format instead of MP3. In theory, a 128kbps AAC is roughly equivalent in quality to a 256kbps MP3, thus, iTunes Plus in theory has the edge.

In practice? Who knows.

By: Virduk

Virduk — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 02:25:03 +0000

I wonder what that means for countries, like say Australia, who don’t have their own Amazon store.

By: isedb.com

isedb.com — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 22:29:06 +0000

Amazon Says International MP3 Downloads Coming in 2008…

Amazon has made the important, if vague, announcement that its DRM-free MP3 downloads will be made available internationally starting in 2008….

By: wayne lambright

wayne lambright — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 19:36:24 +0000

iTunes, was a great way to get the market going, and now its time for something much better.

By: T

Sun, 27 Jan 2008 19:18:46 +0000

Given the huge number of listener in Indian market and no good mp3 download store, I would like to see Amazon.com sign deals with big labels in India and selling the mp3’s online. There is a huge potential that has to be explored in other markets.

By: Tom

Tom — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 19:05:13 +0000

I’m actually surprised it took this long. iTunes has had so many problems in other countries because of its DRM that it only makes sense for Amazon to jump in and gain some traction.

In fact, if I might stray just a bit, I really think Amazon should be putting more into this business in general. They are in the unique position of having both the major suppliers (who are more than a little sick of Jobs dictating terms) AND the media (who love an underdog and hate DRM) rooting for them. Why they aren’t pressing that advantage is beyond me.

It just seems like this is an obscure side project for Amazon when it should be an main focus. I suspect improving the interface alone could net them a lot more customers and those are the kinds of changes they should make BEFORE pushing into new markets.

By: Rejoice… « Relax’s Presence

Rejoice… « Relax’s Presence — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 19:04:42 +0000

[...] Rejoice… as iTunes domination is coming to an end… [...]

By: Charbax

Charbax — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 18:35:27 +0000

Last.fm needs to add an unlimited Mp3 download subscription for something like $5 or $10 providing unlimited DRM-free Mp3 downloads in the subscription.

By: ZOMGPWN!

ZOMGPWN! — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 18:33:08 +0000

qtrax is down. lawl.

By: Amazon Says International MP3 Downloads Coming In 2008 « Raw art Weblog

Amazon Says International MP3 Downloads Coming In 2008 « Raw art Weblog — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 18:29:41 +0000

[...] Via: Techcrunch [...]

By: Bob Caswell

Bob Caswell — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 18:11:36 +0000

If anyone’s curious, it’s likely the first countries to get this will be Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, France, China, and Japan. See here for details:

http://www.tech...m-free-in-2008/