Comments on: UPDATED: Google to Partner with iLike, Lala, Launch Music Service, Compete with iTunes?

By: Oliver

Oliver — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:11:19 +0000

I would like to see them TRY to topple iTunes

By: Dennis

Dennis — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:44:54 +0000

My main interest in this is whether it will allow easy music acquisition through any browser on the Open Pandora and other Linux based devices with ARM CPUs (non-Android). There’s a hole there that needs to be filled. I would have been fine if Amazon covered that, but it seemed unlikely.

By: iDavey

iDavey — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:04:58 +0000

Le sigh. Google is copying?? Really?

Read up on history, Google had looked into acquiring Napster some years before the iPhone (same as they acquired all their other "Android-helping" ventures).

This music thing is nothing new, they just finally found what they wanted. Google is pure genius, they are becoming a force to be reckoned with.

Will this music thing succeed, who knows? Will it overthrow iTunes, most likely not.

But no business ever seeks to overthrow someone with that much control, it's neigh impossible. But to disrupt the flow and take shares...that's what is in store.

And if anyone can do it, it's Google.

By: Greg

Greg — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:40:33 +0000

I can get music from Amazon. What I really want is Audiobook support for Audible (.aa files) on Android. Lack of support is the only thing keeping me with the iphone right now. No audiobooks would make for a very long commute. I also really miss my former Windows mobile phone’s ability to download the morning’s Wall Street Journal over the Air via Audible without having to sync to a computer. But I certainly don’t miss most everything else about WM. It drives me nuts that Apple gives you a mini-computer in your pocket but requires an umbilical cord to its itunes mothership on another computer for so many of its functions. Thank goodness for jailbreaking or the iphone would be even more artificially hobbled than it is right now. Hopefully competition with Google will open Apple up a bit, but then again they haven’t budged much with their Macs despite PC openess.

By: dev

dev — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:23:45 +0000

@IShirk

You might want to read the rest of CJ's sentence. You know, the part that says "w/ no bonuses or options."

Then, compare it to the first sentence of the article you yourself linked:

"Apple Inc. Chief Executive Steve Jobs continued his tradition of taking home only $1 in salary in 2007, when he also gained $14.6 million on paper by exercising stock options that were about to expire"

See the difference? Reading can be fun!

By: IShirk

IShirk — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:19:03 +0000

Yup cj, your so right. I have no education in this area whatsoever.. Oh wait. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22807978/

By: Fassy

Fassy — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:10:28 +0000

Funny how google developing a music service on their own is dismissed as "copying," while Apple buying a map service company is somehow celebrated as wholly new.

Get over it. Apple, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, WalMart - all companies "copy" when they have the business need and it is legally permissable, and the resultant competition benefits consumers.

By: melwan

melwan — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:03:21 +0000

How about taking most of their products out of “beta” first b4 jumping into new projects? This is really starting to irritate me. Google seems to have a tendency to leave projects half finished.

By: curious g

curious g — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:02:18 +0000

@Ishirk - you need to do some research on the term 'monopoly'. Within your very own statement you contradict the essence of monopoly. You can't copy someone and have a monopoly.

Anyway, I see all this competition as good. Android is awesome and one-ups the iPhone in many areas. I like the iPhone (own one) but could be swayed. All I can hope is that all this spurs apple to do even more with the next generation iPhone.

By: fastlane

fastlane — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:05:08 +0000

Google, Google, Google...

sigh...

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:52:23 +0000

@CJ As far as I know Jobs’ salary is also $1…

By: CJ

CJ — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:07:04 +0000

@IShirk

Get off your high horse. Last I checked Google execs made $1 a year w/ no bonuses or options. Do you think Ballmer's & Job's would take a salary like that?

So please tell me, how is Google like M$ again?

By: The Dave

The Dave — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:28:28 +0000

No bad thing this. I think they have to cover both purchases and streams tho to really have a chance at toppling iTunes.

Google is IMO the only real competitor out there to apple and competition drives innovation. Apple have done a fantastic job in gettin iTunes where it is but like the iPhone it's gettingto the point where it needs proper competition to push it to the next level.

By: IShirk

IShirk — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:22:54 +0000

It’s officail, google is officially Microsoft in the sense of monopoly and copying apple. Did quickly noob.

By: iphone4idiots

iphone4idiots — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:10:11 +0000

I've mentioned before how the battle between Google and Apple was heating up. Apple making a play to get rid of Google Maps and Google with Android. Google makes this move and there is no going back. If there are any Google executives/employees left on Apple's Board or vice versa there won't be for long!

IMO, this would be a good move by Google. There is too much money for Google to leave iTunes with its what 70% online share of music sales. Especially, when TV shows and movies will purchased this way in increasing numbers in the future.

By: The Reptile

The Reptile — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:09:42 +0000

Google = cloud. Therefore, it could be you buy or upload and they store and stream only what you own. I don’t see them wanting to be Apple/iTunes completely since data and software on the client side is minimal in their world view.