Rumors of iTunes Demise

@n80 

But I do see it as another step towards individuals not owning music at all.  

Perhaps counter balanced by continually growing vinyl sales - my favorite media to own music.

Ive been reading about the demise of iTunes as well which has nothing to do with apple selling or bringing out new ipods  They will bust iTunes into 3 apps, music, tv, podcast which ipods as well as iphones will access media through. Physical sales of music is now reduced to around 25% of industry revenue it will remain a niche market for years.

I think a generation, and maybe even a population, is selling its soul for a few beans (how is that for a mixed metaphor?).

Ownership = independence=power=money.

Anyone who tries to take ownership and independence out of the equation is doing so for power and money, both of which are finite resources.

I look forward to the day when a new "Apple" emerges with a radical new concept: ownership and independence from 'the man', 'big brother', 'the machine', 'the juggernaut' or whatever else you wish to call it.

Or in the immortal words of the Little Rascal's Spanky "How are things down in Borneo? Yeah, they're bad every place. You know about technocracy?"

I just looked at new iPods cleeds had mentioned. Is this the first time, call it "finally", that iPod plays FLAC? They did not use to have it for the longest time. When did it change?

djones51

Ive been reading about the demise of iTunes as well which has nothing to do with apple selling or bringing out new ipods

Huh? The iPod simply can't function without iTunes - with the exception of the old iPod Classic, which can run on other software. So iTunes and the iPod are inherently linked. 

This story is the epitome of 'fake news'!!!

@chazro : Nope. The story is about a rumor. You know, those things that might or might not be true.

I think some people are confusing iTunes with Apple Music. 

Two totally different creatures.

n80

I think some people are confusing iTunes with Apple Music.

Yes, I think that's behind the misunderstanding here. It's a common error.

It was announced today at the WWDC iTunes will be replaced with 3 apps, Apple Music, Apple Podcast and Apple TV. Synching  will be incorporated  into  the new iOS Catalina 

@chazro : Sometimes "fake news" is the real news. And even then a lot of folks aren't able to tell.

djones51, I’ve been an Apple/Mac user since college. Started with the Apple 2e and I’ve never owned anything but Apple/Mac products for my computing and smart phone needs. (I’ve used Windows at work for decades and know the difference).

But the company that attracted me with an elegant and friendly user interface and went on to meet my needs for high end photo editing and cataloging no longer attracts me. I find their abandonment of the PC and abandonment of their initial principle of empowering the end user to be problematic. I no longer see them as an asset and only as a necessary evil. My current MacBook Pro is 10 years old. My current 27" iMac is about 4 years old and was a disappointment. My iPhone is a 6s Plus and I have likewise been unimpressed and get more frustrated with every new iOS.

The only thing that appeals to me about Apple is their stand on privacy....and even that I suspect is mostly marketing and surely delivers a false sense of security.

I wonder if I will be around when some smart young new iconoclasts see a market that empowers the end user and is based on independence from the "cloud" (I despise that word and the whole idea behind it). And given the zombie-sheep that modern consumers have become I wonder if that product would have any appeal for the masses?

Rant over. Sorry about that.

Anyway, one fewer way to own music as of today.

"...I wonder if that product would have any appeal for the masses?"

It will, just like reel-to-reel players on the other thread. You, a friend of mine, and I will buy it.