Amazon MP3 Download Public Beta

[Chris Gohlke]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=sa_menu_dmusic2/002-6652732-3213647?%5Fencoding=UTF8&node=163856011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=left-nav-1&pf_rd_r=0CHJ2MEHFSRP35YZCSDQ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=304476501&pf_rd_i=507846' target='_blank'>http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=sa_menu_dmusic2/002-6652732-3213647?%5Fencoding=UTF8&node=163856011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=left-nav-1&pf_rd_r=0CHJ2MEHFSRP35YZCSDQ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=304476501&pf_rd_i=507846</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/cgg-amazon-09252007.jpg" /><br /><br />Looks like Amazon went live this morning with a public beta of their MP3 download server. The juicy bits are that all downloads are 256 kbps non-DRMd MP3's and include the album art. From reading through their FAQ, I don't see any information regarding whether or not these files are watermarked in any way with your account information. Also, you don't have the ability to re-download a file at a future date, so you need to be sure you make a backup. I just downloaded a song (my first paid music download) and it worked seamlessly, pretty much the buying experience I expected from Amazon and what I have been waiting for. My fingers are crossed that this is a success and that they can ramp up the catalog, if so, I may finally never buy another CD again.

[Damion Chaplin]

Wow. Exciting stuff. They don't have everything yet, but I imagine that's coming.

I've said it before, and now's a good time to say it again: I want free access to the digital files when I buy the CD! C'mon Amazon, link the two sites together. I'd gladly pay an extra $2 for the instant gratification.

[Tim Williamson]

That's great!!! Amazon may have hit the nail on the head here, and the non-DRM high-quality music file method they have setup might actually get me to make the jump to purchasing music online. I'd still prefer to have a CD backup, but now that I have 2 redundant data backups for my PC, I'd almost be willing to jump on this.

Damion's idea would still be the ideal solution though.

Also, I always assumed that when they said 256 kbps, that meant it was constant bit rate, but their FAQ states that it's 256 VBR, so this is a VERY high-quality audio file.

[Jason Dunn]

My jaw is on the floor.

I CAN BUY TRACKS EVEN FROM CANADA.

I had to enter a fake address at one point (1 Microsoft Way, Seattle, WA) but it's not hard-linked to my billing address in Canada, so I've been able to purchase a couple of tracks. Audio quality is great. Woo hoo!

[egads]

I just bought two songs to try it out and its pretty nice.
They have a downloader app they would like you to install but if you look hard enough you can download the songs with out it (I hate all of these downloader app's people want you to use...).

They need more artists/music, but I expect they will come along in time.

Thanks for the heads up Chris!!!

[Chris Gohlke]

The fact that Amazon has a HUGE customer base that does not need to set up an account or install any software in order to buy music from them is a huge plus in my book as well.

[Chris Gohlke]

Looks like the downloader is only required if you want to buy an entire album. I'm guessing it is just an app to help manage the fact that depending on the album, one purchase could require quite a few individual file downloads and this is just to ease the pain of having to click to download each file individually.

Also, they passed my music selection test. They have a larger # of tracks from my three favorite groups (Queensryche, Rush, and System of a Down)

[Jason Dunn]

It's funny how the economics of this work out. I can buy an album I've been
looking at for $8.99 USD. The same physical CD can be purchased from Amazon.ca for $9.96 CAD. That's not enough of a difference to really warrant buying the digital version - there's no advantage to it other than instant delivery. On another album though, the difference is $9.99 USD vs. $15.99 CAD, so it makes more sense.

Can't find any Suzie Mcneil or Paul Brant, so they failed my test of looking for music I want to buy today.

Still, I'm quite happy I can buy tracks from them. Screw you Apple Canada and your lame-ass AAC files! ;-)

I bought an album, I'll write up a post about what that's like with their downloader...

[Damion Chaplin]

Screw you Apple Canada and your lame-ass AAC files! ;-)

Now, don't mince words, Jason, tell us what you really think! :wink:

They failed my music selection test too. I can see them not having any Mars Volta, but no Depeche Mode? None? Guess they haven't got that license yet...

[Jason Dunn]

Oh yeah, I forgot to add that because I've told it I'm in Washington, it's charging me 8% sales tax. Quick, someone give me an address and zip code for somewhere in a US state that doesn't have any sales tax. :lol:

No, really. Anyone?

[Felix Torres]

Oh yeah, I forgot to add that because I've told it I'm in Washington, it's charging me 8% sales tax. Quick, someone give me an address and zip code for somewhere in a US state that doesn't have any sales tax. :lol:

No, really. Anyone?

You don't need a state without a sales tax, you need a state that Amazon has no physical in-state presence.
Try Texas.
What's Microsoft's Address for their Las Colinas support center? :twisted:

[Janak Parekh]

They failed my music selection test too. I can see them not having any Mars Volta, but no Depeche Mode? None? Guess they haven't got that license yet...
I think they only have Universal and EMI on board so far, the former deliberately snubbing Apple for DRM-free music.

BTW, Jason: better enjoy it before it gets locked down. ;) I doubt the labels set up for Canada...

--janak

[Tim Williamson]

I CAN BUY TRACKS EVEN FROM CANADA.

Whoa whoa whoa...just wait a minute here...Amazon having high-quality non-DRM'd songs is fine with me, but allowing Canadians to also get in on this deal...that's really crossing the line! What's this world coming to?! :lol:

[Damion Chaplin]

You don't need a state without a sales tax, you need a state that Amazon has no physical in-state presence.
Try Texas.

Amazon has a fulfillment center in Dallas/Forth Worth, so no luck on TX. You're quite right though, Felix. Just need a state where there's no Amazon warehouse.

How about Rhode Island? Try 02901 (that's a zip in Providence, RI)

[Felix Torres]

Does Microsoft have a facility in that area?
(Trying to stay with the theme...) :wink:

[midnight821]

Try Tennessee

[Chris Gohlke]

Or Florida

[OKCrew]

For sure no tax in Oklahoma (74133). Not the case for Kansas. I often have high $ items for my father-in-law delivered to me as there is an Amazon book distribution warehouse in Kansas which gives Amazon a nexus in the state requiring them to collect state sales tax.

[Chris Gohlke]

I like the irony that the #1 download from Amazon right now is 1234 by Feist which is the song from one of the current iPod commercials.

[Jason Dunn]

I like the irony that the #1 download from Amazon right now is 1234 by Feist which is the song from one of the current iPod commercials.

Yeah, I actually bought that song as my first experiment. :lol:

[Chris Gohlke]

Funny! That is the same one I bought, when I previewed it I knew I recognized it and like it, but could not recall where I heard it (certainly not the kind of song they'd play on the radio station I normally listen to). Last night the commercial came on and I laughed since it was for an iPod.

[alanjrobertson]

Hehe - I followed in Jason's footsteps and have just bought the latest KT Tunstall album - and I'm in Scotland :P Just by chance I put in a Florida address after being on holiday there this year and can confirm there's no sales tax charge for it.

Long may this setup last but I'm sure it won't be long before they crack down on this - probably just in time to reprice everything at £8.99 (which would be the usual 100% markup we tend to pay here!). For comparison - best online price I could find for the album (Drastic Fantastic) was £6.99 (US$13.98 - and that's a pretty good price for a CD in UK terms) so $8.99 is a really good price!

Cheers

Alan

PS Very impressed with their setup - nice and easy to use, no big bloaty iTunes, keen pricing.

[Jonathon Watkins]

Looks like I need to get in fast as well then before they close this 'loophole'. Apple charges the UK almost double the US price of iTunes - I expect Amazon to price gouge us soon as well. :?

[Crocuta]

Well all I can say is it's about time. I have never bought a piece of DRM-protected music and I never will. But that has meant that all of my music has either come the traditional way (CD) or from the few Indie sites that have no DRM. There's some good stuff there, but sometimes you want the songs you know. MP3 so it's compatible with everything, no DRM so I can play it forever, high bitrate so it sounds good... that's all it would ever have taken. They've lost years of my business but now it looks like Amazon finally made it happen. Well done, Amazon.

[ctmagnus]

Snow Patrol's Eyes Open: Not VBR.