Was going to post this in another itunes thread but thought I'd start a new one as I think everyone should know about this!
Just thought I'd mention something on the itunes thing. The tracks are all AAC encoded, which not all music software supports. Sometimes tracks are downloaded in "purchased AAC" format which is fine because you can convert to what ever format you want in itunes. Most of the time it downloads in "protected AAC" format which means that if you want to convert to AIF, WAV etc you must burn to CD and reimport in the format you want. Not practical if you have downloaded just one song as it wastes a CD and your money, and if you have downloaded a load of songs it wastes your time.
itunes charges 79p and sometimes 99p for a track. The tracks are all in 256k. If you delete a track by mistake you must pay again to download it and as I just mentioned all the tracks are encoded.
SO PEOPLE, MY ADVICE TO YOU, SHOULD YOU CHOSE TO LISTEN TO IT, IS....
DON'T PURCHASE TRACKS FROM ITUNES!!!
Play.com and many others offer the same tracks in 320k bit depth (they even tell you the bit depth of every track before you download, as some are 256, the majority are 320... but at least they tell you). The tracks are also not encoded so will be ready to use in any music software. They also let you download the tracks up to somewhere around 3 or 4 times with no additional cost, just incase you loose or delete the track by mistake. They also only charge 69p per track as opposed to 79p and it works out even cheaper per track if you buy an album (sometimes as little as around 40p)! I have no problem with paying 79p or even 99p per track... but in a lower bit depth?... and encoded?... and with the option to only download it once?
ITUNES (APPLE) TAKE THE PISS!!
I'd love to spread the word to get everyone to boycott using itunes. Sure use it to organise your music but not to purchase... not until they at least stop encoding the tracks!
Sorry in advance if anyone feels differently on this matter.
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