A stupid question on iTunes

[adrianka]

Hi.

I have this problem - being resident of Luxembourg, it's virtually impossible for me to buy mp3s legally. Yes, in times of globalisation digital content is geographically limited, whereas everything else can be bought with no problem anywhere. A common digital market in the EU is on its way (yay for my employer who put this forward :-), but sadly it will take some time before it's a reality.

So for the time being, if you live in US, UK or Germany, you're fine, otherwise you're out. Fun thing is that 7digital USED to work for Lux, but doesn't anymore. And I do refuse to buy whole CDs because of one song.

iTunes works for Luxembourg, but I would like to know the following - how does it work? Can the mp3s bought there be used "outside" the programme, or do they work anywhere? I don't know if this question is clear - I just want to know whether using iTunes will give me something that only works within iTunes, or whether I get a nice, independent, workable mp3 that works anywhere. Since I'm a stranger to iTunes, this question is certainly rather stupid, but still.

Thanks.

[Inkspots]

We have never had problems with iTunes. I've burned many cds from our purchased music to be played on cd players. However, for whatever reason, some cds don't always work in all machines--our car has been the only finicky one so far.

What are you looking to play your music on?

[adrianka]

Well, I'd like to be able a) to listen to them on my PC and b) to burn audio CDs using them.

I'm totally disgusted by the geographical limitations on digital contents. It's *so* against the spirit of digital!

[rach3975]

Music from itunes can play on your pc, cds, and any players you sync to itunes. In other words, for now you'd be fine. The 1 problem is that once you have a local digital download solution, you may need to switch from itunes to another program. You can buy software meant to convert your itunes music so it works with any program, but I haven't personally tried it. You may also be able to import it into the new program by burning it onto an audio CD through itunes and ripping it in the new program. It's hard to say for sure since you don't know what you'll eventually be using.

[adrianka]

Yup. This is exactly why I have shunned iTunes. With other stores, you just buy an mp3 and it works perfectly everywhere.

Thanks for your answers!

I've just found out that the prototype Belgian version of 7digital works for Luxembourg (so far - might not last long, as the UK and German used to work for a time and then not), but the songs I want to buy are NOT on offer.

SO COOL.

[MissKim]

You can convert iTunes music to mp3 with iTunes. I do it all the time so that I can use music I've purchased on iTunes in slideshows and videos. That would also allow you to use it on a regular mp3 player. Never had a problem playing CDs I've burned with iTunes. I do that for my classroom music, and it plays every time.

[adrianka]

Cool. Thanks! Will definitely look into it then. And I hope that EU's digital single market will be born ASAP, because this is ridiculous with capital R.

[adrianka]

Just found out that European iTunes store has a seat in... Luxembourg. I even know the street. :-)

[newfiemountiewife]

You can convert iTunes music to mp3 with iTunes. I do it all the time so that I can use music I've purchased on iTunes in slideshows and videos. That would also allow you to use it on a regular mp3 player. Never had a problem playing CDs I've burned with iTunes. I do that for my classroom music, and it plays every time.

Yup, I never had a problem with any cds I've burned with iTunes. I also have a program that converts the iTunes format to mp3s, and they work great.

I'm in Canada, and it's a nuisance here too to get digital downloads. I only get from iTunes, Amazon.com and places like that do not allow purchasing from Canada.