This doesn't work with the protected files of the iTunes Music Store, Larry.From: "Larry le Mac" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I have never bought any songs, but I know you can convert the songs within iTunes so you should be able to do it with the bought songs too.
Select .MP3 as the encoding standard and then select the .M4A songs in the iTunes window and convert them the way you would a list of songs on a CD.
The reason is the same reason the files aren't just in MP3 format to begin with -- the big 5 record companies would NEVER license unrestricted music files because they are concerned about piracy. I am not a big fan of the business model of the record companies, but they are right to be concerned. If a legal download can easily be turned into an MP3 and posted to Kazaa et al, what's the point of trying to sell music? You'll only ever sell ONE copy!
Apple hit on what I strongly believe is the BEST possible compromise given the situation. The files you purchase from the iTunes Music store are *protected* MPEG-4 (AAC) files. They have a few restrictions on them:
1. You cannot directly convert them to MP3 format.
2. You cannot burn the same playlist of iTMS files more than 10 times (you can easily vary the playlist, of course).
3. You cannot have copies of the iTMS files on more than five computers, which must be "authorized."
On the other hand, you can copy these same files to an unlimited number of audio CDs, you can copy them to an unlimited number of iPods, and you can convert them to AIFF files (which are unprotected). So I personally think they are pretty darn transportable. If you want to blame someone for the fact that they are not easily convertable to MP3 format (which admittedly would be nice), blame the pirates who steal music instead of paying for it. They hurt everyone, and now we honest people are paying the price. They made the MP3 format untenable for music downloading.
By the way, there is such a thing as UNprotected AAC files. You can make them yourself in iTunes, and of course they have none of the restrictions the iTMS files do. You can convert them to MP3 if you want, even!
_Chas_
FL-MUG: central Florida's Macintosh User Group. Meetings: second Thursday of the month, 6-9pm, at the Orlando Science Center. http://www.flmug.org
-- The iMac List is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and...
Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | - Epson Stylus Color 580 Printers - new at $69 | & CDRWs on Sale! |
Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html>
iMac List info: <http://lowendmac.com/imac/list.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/imac-list%40mail.maclaunch.com/>
---------------------------------------------------------------
The Think Different Store
http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com ---------------------------------------------------------------
