Tag Archives: subscription

New iPods, New iTunes, No Subscription Music

September 9, 2008 – 7:24 pm

New iPod TouchAs reported by Apple blogs and news sites such as Macworld and TUAW, Apple unveiled new iPod Touches, new iPod Nanos, and new iTunes 8.0, along with the new Genius Recommended tracks and playlists, HD content to watch on your computer, as well as the return of NBC programming.  New toys, new shows, new games, bla bla bla.  Yay for Apple.

Whoop-de-crap.

What’s the one feature I’ve been waiting for since I got my Mac two years ago?  What’s the one feature people had been predicting with more certainty than ever?  What’s the one feature that didn’t get unveiled today?

That would be the iTunes Unlimited Subscription service.   That was a no-show today, leaving my hopes dashed and my Parallels-Windows-Rhapsody setup firmly in place, and not going anywhere.  I would love to go “all Apple”, but I remain enamored enough with the concept of subscription music that I won’t get a shiny new iPod until they decide to try subscriptions.  And no, I don’t think the new Genius feature is any sort of substitute.

Oh well.

By Kent | Posted in Reluctant Geek | Also tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

iTunes Subscriptions Finally a Reality?

September 7, 2008 – 4:35 pm

Among other things predicted by this post,  TUAW is suggesting that on September 9, Apple may introduce a subscription model to their iTunes software.  I’ve posted plenty of times about what I think of the idea of subscription music (see the Related Posts below if you want to see for yourself), and any of you who have read any of them know that I think the concept is a great idea.  I still use Rhapsody, and I still complain about having to boot up Windows on my Mac through Parallels so I can sync music to my non iPod media player.

Rumors like this have been circulating for years, but this time around there seems to be definite evidence that Apple has actually been negotiating with record labels for such a service.  If this rumor proves true, here’s one guy that will be running out to buy an iPod as soon as he can afford one!

Anybody else heard anything about this?  Do you have any opinions about subscription music?

By Kent | Posted in Reluctant Geek | Also tagged , , , , | Comments (6)

More Thoughts on Rhapsody (Or, Why Can’t iTunes Do Subscription Music?)

September 13, 2007 – 1:00 am

I’ve posted a lot about subscription music in this blog, making sure to include my opinion about it in general, and also relating my initial experiences trying the Rhapsody music service, after being dumped there from MTV’s soon-to-be-defunct URGE service.

(Actually, this subject has so dominated this blog so far, that the title “Reluctant Geek That Mostly Whines About Subscription Music” would not be inappropriate.)

After further “normal” use of Rhapsody, and a multi-day ordeal involving the reinstallation of Windows XP on my MacBook Pro, I can now give you further thoughts on Rhapsody, with the added fun of trying to use it on a Mac machine. If I had to sum it up in one phrase, it would be this:

Why, oh why, can’t iTunes do subscription music?

Read More »

By Kent | Posted in Reluctant Geek | Also tagged , , | Comments (0)

Why Subscription Music is a Good Idea (Or, Is There Life Without iTunes?)

September 1, 2007 – 11:02 am

In a previous post, I lamented the impending demise of a music subscription service that I use and enjoy. I also warned you that I would be posting about why I think subscription music is a good idea. I’ll give you three guesses as to the subject of this post.

Um, no. It won’t be about the advantages of organic dog food. Good guess, though. Read More »

By Kent | Posted in Reluctant Geek | Also tagged , , , | Comments (1)

Trying the Rhapsody Service: First Impressions

August 31, 2007 – 12:32 pm

In a previous post, I had grieved over the impending loss of the URGE music service, but grudgingly decided to give the service to which us URGE users were being dumped – Rhapsody – a try. Well, as they said in Groundhog Day, “Rise and shine campers, and don’t forget your booties ’cause it’s cold out there today!” That quote has nothing to do with anything regarding Rhapsody, but I still think that’s a funny line. Yes, by the way, I have tried Rhapsody, and I have for you today, hot off the presses, my own “Rhapsody Report”.

Read More »

By Kent | Posted in Reluctant Geek | Also tagged , , , | Comments (1)

Losing the Urge

August 23, 2007 – 3:09 pm

I’m losing my Urge. I can’t tell you how disappointed that makes me.

Don’t worry. It’s probably not what you think. No, this concerns something all glitzy and technological, with a large helping of music thrown in. Ah, yes: computers and music – my idea of the perfect post. Now, to the problem at hand.

As a recent and enthusiastic convert to the Mac platform, I rarely need to fire up Windows. Mac OS X is just too nice. Unfortunately, there are two instances that are important enough to run a Windows install through the Parallels virtualization program. The first is for the little bit of .Net development work I continue to do on the side. The second, though perhaps not as important to paying the rent each month, is profoundly more important to me, and was the sole reason I decided to install Windows on my MacBook at all.

Read More »

By Kent | Posted in Reluctant Geek | Also tagged , , , | Comments (2)