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With Android you can use both Google play and Amazon if you buy something like an Asus prime or a Galaxy S III.

This keeps them competing and you the consumer benefits. I don't know what consumer in his right mind would chose iTunes

"I don't know what consumer in his right mind would chose iTunes" - Totally, I could not agree more! It's b/w Amazon and Google Play.

Why are Microsoft content stores being left out?

kronoscornelius, on 10 July 2012 - 11:31 PM, said:

Why not?

I find the "no streaming" argument against iTunes a bit deceptive since you can stream any content from a computer or iOS device to any AppleTV-equipped display. I have three separate TVs in my house, each with their own AppleTV and each capable of viewing separate streams OR a single stream to any combination of all three sets. We also have access to Netflix and most other video sources (Vimex and YouTube, for example) just as easily though without quite the same interactivity. You also have access to all the music videos in your iTunes library with the same ease of use.

I'm not faulting either of the others, I'm only saying that this article sets an artificial limit to what iTunes can do.

kronoscornelius, on 10 July 2012 - 11:31 PM, said:

Ok, I'm crazy--crazy like a fox.

Just because you don't like iTunes doesn't mean people are crazy for liking it. Rather, it means you're too closed minded to even consider the benefits a different platform might offer.

JackHammer007, on 11 July 2012 - 07:23 AM, said:

Yeesh! And people say that Apple Cultists are zealots.

Google Play isn't even in the game right now as their Android software only works ~50% of the time (Motorola Atrix v2.3.6).

iTunes didn't get to where it is today by only playing songs 50% of the time that users clicked on a song.

How are these journalists so unaware of the rampant problems with the products they review?? Check the Google Play forums

none of the above, spotify is the only way to go. you don't store anything local or buy songs by one by, you pay a set monthly fee and get unlimited access from any device

mo1076, on 11 July 2012 - 01:56 PM, said:

... and have nothing to show for your money. At least I have a huge audio and growing video library that doesn't cost me a thing to maintain.

This story says that Amazon has movies for purchase in HD for $19.99. Last time I checked I didn't see a single HD movie for sale. Was I looking in the wrong place?

This story says that Amazon has movies for purchase in HD for $19.99. Last time I checked I didn't see a single HD movie for sale. Was I looking in the wrong place?

The biggest advantage that I personally see for iTunes is that it will run on my iPad, and it will also play on my Apple TV. When I think movies or songs I first turn to Netflix for movies and then iTunes, with iTunes the clear choice for songs. I tried watching a movie once on my DInc2, but just couldn't get into watching a movie on a screen that small. With a tablet the screen can be a foot from your eyes and it's effectively the same angle as an HDTV at a nice distance... my phone simply has to be too close to my eyes to get the same effect. Additionally, iTunes has that FANTASTIC thing called iTunes University... free class lectures and discussions of all sorts. Even if you don't use an iPhone or iPad, go fire up iTunes and go to the iTunes Store. Then select iTunes U and find something that interests you.

JackHammer007, on 11 July 2012 - 06:38 PM, said:

I agree, but luckily for all of us, there are very few Apple cultists. Moreover, most owners of one or more Apple products just like Apple products and aren't cultists or zealots. Your wife, husband, mom, sister, brother, boyfriend or girlfriend, or one or more of your children may even actually own an Apple product or two. Do you go and yell into their face that they're a cultists and zealot? Do you know you would look like a lunatic if you did that? Talk about getting a life...

This post has been edited by Nuke61: 11 July 2012 - 06:48 PM

Google play is going to be the winner in this sector. Google has the biggest mobile OS atm, and my experience with Google play has been wonderful. If MS is smart, they will license Google play for use with WP7/WRT devices and dominate the market.

kronoscornelius, on 10 July 2012 - 11:31 PM, said:

iPhone fanboys have to.

Jimster480, on 12 July 2012 - 06:45 AM, said:

Not true. Also, why the unnecessary pejorative? Can't you just enjoy your own choice without insultng that of others? Sounds like compensation to me.

This post has been edited by crosswordbob: 12 July 2012 - 07:31 AM

kronoscornelius, on 10 July 2012 - 11:31 PM, said:

One of the HUGE benefits not mentioned in this article is iTunes Match for music. You do not need hours/days to upload your entire music library (with unlimited storage) for instant access on all iOS devices and computers connected with your iTunes account. Neither Google's music locker and Amazon's Cloud drive can match it's functionality.

$25 annually and all my songs are availabile on all my devices (Computer, iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch) instantaneously for immediately streaming/download.

I like Amazon's store also, but it doesn't match iTunes in terms of selection, as stated by the article. So for those who have taste for European Dance music (like I do), you won't find it on Amazon nor Google Play. Those are 2 big reasons people choose iTunes over the other two.

I have a TiVo, a PS3, and an Amazon Prime membership. The Amazon movie selection varies with iTunes, but iTunes download experience is superior. Within 2-5 minutes on my Comcast 12+ Mbps connection, I can start watching my movie on iTunes. If I rent on Amazon on my TiVo, using the same connection, I have to wait at least 30-40 minutes for it to download enough before I can start to watch. The Amazon streaming on the PS3 is a little better, but it will frequently have to pause and buffer, as I think Amazon's servers can't always keep a steady stream to the PS3; either that or the bit rate (picture quality) will suffer, as they give you that as an option to pause/buffer. With iTunes, you never have either of these issues.

One advantage of Amazon is price. They frequently have fairly new movies for rent on a one-day sale for $1 - $2, where on iTunes, they never run new releases on sale, at least that I have ever seen. I also bought all 4 seasons of Battlestar Galactica on Amazon VOD for only $5 per season. You will never see a sale like that on iTunes.

In my opinion, iTunes wins with iTunes match, plus greater content selection, and near instant playback of movies/tv shows at full quality. Amazon's strength really is on price, and I guess if you own an Android device or Kindle Fire, you really don't have iTunes as an option, except for music.

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