InventorSpot

I don't think Apple has a Monopoly with the iPod and iTunes because, well, they don't! They are allowing competitors to compete with them, they just blow the competition away.

Now please stop making articles about this. (to ALL tech blogs)

So, it would take $40,000 to fill a newer iPod with music. Is that relevant? We fill our iPods with more than just music. Is it your contention that the cost of a track should be 1 cent so filling your iPod with music would only cost us $400. Such a deal!! I wonder if the artists would like that deal?
I agree with Nathaniel - the iPod and iTunes are successful because they are just better than the competition.

Most of my music on my numerous iPods doesn't come from the iTunes store.

Most was music I already owned in CD format. Plus, you can load any mp3 on the iPod you want. No music you load from your CDs or generic mp3s is subject to iTunes DRM.

So, monopoly? No. Exclusive? Yes.

Fundamental errors in both the lawsuit and this article's write-up.
Apple allows multiple standards based file "formats" to be used on the iPod , but it does not license from Microsoft the single vendor format WMA. Why should they? Will Microsoft give to them for free?
Apple permits DRM systems only from it's store as it is responsible for the content it sells under agreement from the record companies. It is the record companies that insist Apple use a DRM. Apple would be very happy if DRM disappeared, just Read Steve Job's letter on DRM!

Now, why are Universal, Warner and the others allowing DRM free content to be sold on Amazon yet specifically excluding Apple from being allowed to sell DRM free content via the iTunes store? Why are they not allowing Apple to sell the better quality MPEG-4 ACC file format higher bit rates? Why do they insist that Amazon only sell inferior MP3 format files and specifically disallow MPEG4-AAC?

Why don't you address the very clear collusion between the principal controllers of content (the music companies) to exclude both Apple form doing business and allowing consumers to choose the file format & the level of quality of their purchases?

As an Apple fan coing back to the Apple ][ who does not own an iPod (Sansa E280, woeks fine on a Mac with XNJB software) and who buys his online music from Amazon (cheaper than iTunes, 256KB MP3), I don't see how Apple has a monopoluy.

I'll admit they have a strong control on the mp3 market, but I wouldn't go as far as saying they are a monopoly yet. There are many companies that could easily beat iTunes.

You'll pay:-
More if you buy the CDs then rip them to iTunes
Less if you buy the full albums from iTunes
Much less if you buy the songs from iTunes Plus (as they're twice the size - half as many songs)
Nothing if you stole the music from P2P networks - crime does pay! and stealing music is now a social institution so it has as much chance of going away as prohibition did of succeeding.

The rest of the lawsuit is so factually incorrect it should be kicked out before it wastes anyone's money.

McD

If European Union can penalize microsoft for $600 million for bundling media player with windows while there are many competing players in the market, this case has plenty of merit along the same lines. EU has requested from Apple to open iTunes to all media players or face penalties.

If European Union can penalize microsoft for $600 million for bundling media player with windows while there are many competing players in the market, this case has plenty of merit along the same lines. EU has requested from Apple to open iTunes to all media players or face penalties.

I love my fkn ipod

How are you forced to accept other formats exactly. Why isn't Sony under investigation because their BluRay players don't play HD-DVD? I'm going to sue Pioneer because my car radio tape deck doesn't play 8-Trak ... My iPod plays MP3 just fine ... which is open for all

As others here have pointed out, all iPods since day one have been able to play the universally supported MP3 format. iPod owners have a choice of millions of tunes to play; they can buy music from major sources such as Amazon. My iPod holds 22 GB of legally obtained MP3s, yet I've never purchased a thing from the iTunes Store. So where's the monopoly?

I have to ask, Joe... how is it that your writeup fails to mention the key fact that iPods have never been locked into either the iTunes Store or the DRM'd AAC format? Is this journalism, or are you just regurgitating what you read on another website?

Apple is a great company, and I don't necessarily believe that they own a monopoly over the digital music industry.  This article is more of a "news" article that discusses the recent lawsuit filed against Apple in Northern California, and so I am just reporting on the facts that I found from the sources listed at the end of the article.  I am in no way saying that the iPod will not play certain formats (MP3, WMV, etc.).  This article states that the lawsuit claims that the iPod "forces" you into buying music from iTunes, thus creating some sort of monopoly - this is not my opinion, it's the facts in this particular case.

Just wanted to clear up any confusion, so that my readers don't think that I'm some sort of "Apple-hater".  The fact is, I love Apple and have written other articles about Apple products at this blog - check em out.  Thanks again for reading, and I appreciate all the comments - good and bad!

 Keep reading...

Joe Eitel
"Gadgets" writer
http://inventorspot.com/blog/joe_eitel

It's not a direct Monopoly, iPod is starting to face competition with products by companies like Creative and Microsoft. However, they still dominant the industry, and do overcharge because people buy from them at the prices they charge. Apple charges the prices it does because it can. Other companies need to look at their products from an aesthetic view since it seems iPods are bought based on their design and brand name.

In terms of iTunes however; I thought there was a way to download the songs in Mp3 format. If you can't, then I am pretty sure that is similar to that old Internet Explorer/Netscape fiasco.

iPods can't remain dominant forever. They are hot now and have a large chunk of the market share. However, its not solely because the product is so much better then what all the competitors have rather it is their marketing department.

http://www.elitefreestuff.com/free_mp3players.php