Latest iTunes Hi Res Rumor

[Paul R]

Nothing about high rez music from the keynote?

 

Some jokes about Beats, but that's it. Doesn't mean they won't come out tomorrow and make an announcement though. Sometimes, Apple will doe things just to aggravate the people who believe they have an "inside track"...

 

-Paul

[new_media]

24/96 albums are up on HDtracks and not on iTunes. I think it's about time to stick a fork in this rumor.

[paulgh]

SSometimes, Apple will doe things just to aggravate the people who believe they have an "inside track"... -Paul

 

I really doubt this. More likely scenario is that it is just not a priority for them, and necver has been. Why make a grand announcement on itunes hi-res music, when 99% of the population will say "huh? What is the point of this. I am happy the way it is." I agree with the @new_media. Time to stick a fork in it and move on.

[Audio_ELF]

I really doubt this. More likely scenario is that it is just not a priority for them, and necver has been. Why make a grand announcement on itunes hi-res music, when 99% of the population will say "huh? What is the point of this. I am happy the way it is." I agree with the @new_media. Time to stick a fork in it and move on.

I think with the imminent purchase of Beats (yes they have agreed a purchase but the actual deal will happen towards the end of the year) it's unlikely there will be any announcement until everything can be brought into the fold...

[wappinghigh]

Apples next big thing is into Home Automation...

[realhifi]

Apples next big thing is into Home Automation...

 

A much higher percentage of customers are interested in Home Automation than higher resolution music. MUCH higher.

[Paul R]

A much higher percentage of customers are interested in Home Automation than higher resolution music. MUCH higher.

 

They just spent *$3 Billion* dollars on music. I think we can expect an extraordinary announcement on this area sooner or later. Honestly, I think Eloise has the right of it here. Home Automation, perhaps. But there are at least 3 billion reasons to expect something in the music area. Hopefully, it won't be totally stupid or un desirable to the audiophile community.

.

[mav52]

A much higher percentage of customers are interested in Home Automation than higher resolution music. MUCH higher.

 

Got that right its called HomeKit Apple's HomeKit turns the iPhone into a remote for your smart home | The Verge

 

https://developer.apple.com/library/prerelease/ios/documentation/HomeKit/Reference/HomeKit_Framework/index.html

[PewterTA]

So Apple's idea of Home Automation is stuff that you can already do on any apple device OR android. Huh.... sound about right for the way Apple is going these days. So far the lack of imagination and ingeniousness from Apple is staggering.

[Audio_ELF]

So Apple's idea of Home Automation is stuff that you can already do on any apple device OR android. Huh.... sound about right for the way Apple is going these days. So far the lack of imagination and ingeniousness from Apple is staggering.

Like everything; Apple is not inventing anything new. What is new is the idea if integrating everything in one place. Also the certification programme should enable you some element of assurance that things work together.

 

I imagine (for example) that Marantz and Oppo may both get their devices certified. A third party application could tap into that to enable control of both devices from a single application along with your Phillips lamps also controlled. Yes you can do that now; but you either need (a) a bunch of different applications or (b) to programme it in a custom design on Roomie or similar.

 

In addition; Siri is expanded into this environment as well as ibeacons so (for example) your heating system knows when you leave the house.

 

Eloise

[realhifi]

So Apple's idea of Home Automation is stuff that you can already do on any apple device OR android. Huh.... sound about right for the way Apple is going these days. So far the lack of imagination and ingeniousness from Apple is staggering.

 

If you have been working in the home automation field for some time you can see the progress that has happened since the iPhone, iPad launch from Apple. From just a few short years ago where every little piece had to be programmed into a static touchscreen with no two way communication to today, where Lutron, security companies, HVAC, etc. now are controlled by an iDevice that is $500 is staggering. Apple has opened the door for affordable home automation and now they have just decided to tie the loose ends together (as they are constantly doing) to make it into a cohesive control solution. The companies that now occupy the space on iDevices will be asked to make apps that will "fit" into this model so that there is an overall "feel" to the application. Not ingenious perhaps but evolutionary to making things available to the common folk that a short time ago was the provenance of the very wealthy. In this way Apple is ingenious and imaginative in how they view the market.

[Jud]

They just spent *$3 Billion* dollars on music. I think we can expect an extraordinary announcement on this area sooner or later. Honestly, I think Eloise has the right of it here. Home Automation, perhaps. But there are at least 3 billion reasons to expect something in the music area. Hopefully, it won't be totally stupid or un desirable to the audiophile community.

.

 

Streaming. That's why every analyst I've read thinks they bought Beats.

[Audio_ELF]

Streaming. That's why every analyst I've read thinks they bought Beats.

Yes... But with the introduction of a streaming service will they also offer some form of "audiophile" premium service via iTunes?

[Sam Lord]

"Siri, get PRAT on the phone"

[Paul R]

Streaming. That's why every analyst I've read thinks they bought Beats.

 

I would bet a nickel it is more to produce new music. They cannot use the Apple records label of course, so Beats may be the Apple gateway into not only selling and streaming music, but into making music as well. Heard it here first...

 

 

-Paul

[Jud]

Yes... But with the introduction of a streaming service will they also offer some form of "audiophile" premium service via iTunes?

 

Where's the value proposition for Apple? Would just mean greater expense for the streaming business - so they'd then have to make a different business model go (on the basis of huge demand for audiophile-grade streaming?), before executing on the original one.

[jhwalker]

Where's the value proposition for Apple? Would just mean greater expense for the streaming business - so they'd then have to make a different business model go (on the basis of huge demand for audiophile-grade streaming?), before executing on the original one.

 

I'm thinking they will stream 320kpbs via Beats Music, but also begin selling lossless and / or 96/24 via iTunes (for download).

[realhifi]

I'm thinking they will stream 320kpbs via Beats Music, but also begin selling lossless and / or 96/24 via iTunes (for download).

 

The hook is that the Beats service would prominently show links to iTunes when you are choosing music and artists (much like Pandora does now) which would open iTunes Store to purchase a higher resolution version of the one you are currently listening to. Having those apps as permanent and featured when someone buys a new iOS device makes certain they are instantly in the Beats/iTunes ecosystem. The trickiest part is where does the purchased music go. If it was me I would have the purchases go to whatever computer the customer has as their main iTunes account instead of downloading to their iOS device with the file also being available as a lossless cd quality file to those devices. The other question is, has Beats been acquiring high resolution versions of the music they are currently streaming or would they have to count on Apple to supply those?

[Jud]

The other question is, has Beats been acquiring high resolution versions of the music they are currently streaming or would they have to count on Apple to supply those?

 

That's one reason why I would be surprised if Apple comes up with hi res or even lossless files available for purchase in the very near future. (Completely uninformed utter speculation on my part, of course.) Seems to me the industry is still very (overly) concerned about Teh Piracy. Hi res or even lossless opens up the specter of Perfect Copies Forever for which the music companies get nothing. If that's an HDTracks or a Qobuz or even a Pono Music - OK. But if the distribution is through what's already the most popular music purchasing medium in the world?

 

The music companies are still, if I remember correctly, making as much revenue on CDs as they are on lossy downloads, even though the numbers of downloads sold are vastly greater. So the conundrum for the companies is how to transition from physical media to the Internet as a means of distribution without killing the goose that is still laying lots of golden eggs for them. If I'm the music companies, I'm making no agreements with Apple for sale of lossless/hi res files until and unless Pono Music gives me a proof-of-concept that selling downloads of lossless files is a money-making proposition on a scale larger than HDTracks or Qobuz.

 

Streaming is a different matter, since it's harder to pirate a stream. But I've already voiced my opinion (again, uninformed and complete speculation) that Apple may want to see how well the current Beats/iTunes streaming service will do before branching into a higher-cost, higher-priced business model for lossless.