Microsoft: "We Were Smoked" By Apple iTunes

[hp79]

Another thing I don't like besides locking down into itunes is about itunes's slow speed. It pauses like couple seconds when navigating app store, or to click on my ipod touch's library, or any menus. I don't think a software should run that slow with not too much functions.

Core2duo L7500 / X25-M SSD / 4GB ram / Win7 x64
Using Lenovo X61 tablet

 

[Stryter]

I've never been able to put my finger on it, but there is something about itunes that I just don't care for. I never could get into the habit of using it. I kept going back to WMP or winamp until I could find something better. Then zune came along and the zune media player, and I got hooked on it. Especially the new zune media player, I can have all my music on any computer I want and not worry about the drm bustin my balls. Just can't bring myself to go back to wmp or itunes.

 

[talzara]

The rumor is that the music industries went along with iTunes precisely because it was Mac-only, and it had only 2% market share. Being paranoid about DRM, they felt that a Mac-only product was nice as an experimental platform that could be "contained", so to speak.

The emails show that Microsoft had tried and failed to get the same deal with the record companies. If you believe the rumor, then the reason is obvious. Going with Microsoft would've meant a worldwide launch -- letting the genie out of the bottle instantly. Also, don't forget that, at the time, companies were a lot more scared of Microsoft than they are today.

Ironically, Apple then came out with a Windows version two years later. And the iPod halo then lifted Mac sales. The music industry essentially handed Apple its success today, and got "tricked" into lowering prices and giving up a whole decade's business practices (bundling songs into CDs so you had to keep buying them over and over).