[CoLoCo] Amazon MP3's

[TC]

Oh, and I also support cdbaby.

How does Amazon giving a discount to use the downloader make them dishonest?

Nelson E. Ingersoll wrote:
> <flame>
> 
>    Amazon requires us to have their "SPECIAL" downloader in order to buy
> an album from them.  And no one here seems to think that is ODD?
> Unreasonable?  No one protests?
> 
>    Is everyone so *happy* that "Linux" is "being recognized" that they
> miss the entire fact that Amazon is playing a really sleazy game?  There
> is NO reason we need to have a SPECIAL program in order to download MP3
> albums from Amazon except that Amazon wants to put some sleazy piece of
> crap software on OUR computers.  Ask yourself why?  By what right?  For
> WHO'S benefit?
> 
>    Amazon is lying!  They are being dishonest and treating their customers
> like crooks.  Anyone who downloads Amazon's SPECIAL downloader just to be
> able to buy an album from Amazon is a sucker.
> 
> </flame>
> 
> Check out http://cdbaby.com where you buy albums cheaper and don't have to
> have a SPECIAL downloader.  Granted CD Baby isn't a big as Amazon; but
> they do understand that honest people should not be treated dishonestly.
> It is TIME for honest people to tell dishonest companies, like Amazon, to
> screw off and go away.  I am NOT a crook and DO NOT LIKE being treated
> like one.
> 
> - Nelson
> 
> TheZorch wrote:
>> Not the first, but one of many stepping stones towards full mainstream
>> acceptance of Linux in 2008.  As far as I know this is the first online
>> music store that actively supports Linux users other than maybe
>> Songbird, but that's not a real music store since you can download music
>> using that without paying.
>>
>> The fact that the Amazon music store doesn't use DRM is also a plus.
>>
>> Chomafin wrote:
>>> http://www.amazon.com/gp/dmusic/help/amd.html/002-0964719-6480026?ie=UTF8&forceos=LINUX&ASIN=&isTrack=
>>> <http://www.amazon.com/gp/dmusic/help/amd.html/002-0964719-6480026?ie=UTF8&forceos=LINUX&ASIN=&isTrack=>
>>>
>>> Not sure if anyone else has noticed this, but it is news to me. 
>>> Amazon has created a GUI Client for downloading music for Linux.  It's
>>> nice to see that some of the bigger companies are starting to help out
>>> the Linux front.  Now if they would only open the source so that it
>>> can be Incorporated into RhythmBox :D
>>>
>>> From the FAQ:
>>> What are the technical specifications of MP3 Music Download files?
>>>
>>> Here's more information about music files from the Amazon MP3 Music
>>> Downloads store:
>>>
>>>     * *Bit Rate:* Where possible, we encode our MP3 files using
>>>       variable bit rates for maximum audio quality and smaller file
>>>       sizes, aiming at an average of 256 kilobits per second (kbps).
>>>       Using a variable bit rate allows us to allocate a higher bit
>>>       rate to the more complex sections of music files while using a
>>>       smaller bit rate for the less complex sections. The average of
>>>       these rates is then calculated to produce an average bit rate
>>>       for the entire file that represents the overall sound quality.
>>>       Some of our content is encoded using a constant bit rate of 256
>>>       kbps. This content will have the same excellent audio quality at
>>>       a slightly larger file size.
>>>
>>>     * *File Size:* A typical 3-minute song takes up approximately 5MB
>>>       of storage space.
>>>
>>>     * *Download Times:* A single MP3 file 5MB in size will download in
>>>       less than one minute on a typical broad-band Internet
>>>       connection. A similar download on a 56k dial-up connection can
>>>       take up to 30 minutes.
>>>
>>>     * *Album Cover Art:* Album cover art is included with each song
>>>       you download.
>>>
>>>
>>
>> -- 
>> Michael "TheZorch" Haney
>> thezorch at gmail.com
>> http://thezorch.googlepages.com/home
>> AIM: thezorch at gmail.com
>> Yahoo IM: zorchhaney
>> ICQ: 343230252
>> GoogleTalk: thezorch
>> MSN Messeger: haneymichael at hotmail.com:
>>
>