Amazon Cloud Music Player

[Dulanic]

I was talking about the mp3 uploader.. or whatever it is that comes up when I click upload from the cloud player interface.

I don't use itunes as my main player, and have everything under a few different folders (basically, where I got them from... amazon/emusic/ripped/itunes). I gave it the top directory just to try. And it returned a flat list of all the directories I had... making it painful to find the 10% or so of files I didn't want to upload.

Mine didn't do that but it auto detected mine from WMP. Add your files into your WMP library and it will sort it by Artist. In fact the MP3s are on my server and it still was able to upload and list it by artist since it was in the WMP library.

 

[cronos]

Log in to Amazon, click on "your account" or w/e it says in the top right. Scroll down to the Digital Content section, and click "MP3 Downloads" under the "Your Media Library" and you can redownload stuff you bought on that account. The interface has changed recently, but it's always been available in some shape or form in the few years I've used it.

This is great! I didn't know about this.

However, I followed your direction but I couldn't see a way to redownload the songs. I saw the list of albums I bought, and when I clicked on one of them it just shows me a list of songs in that album, and a note 'Already downloaded' on every song (which is not a link). If I click on the individual songs, it just took me to the song's main page, where I can buy the song again individually.

It would be great if I can redownload everything. It would be even more awesome if I can just directly copy it to my Cloud Drive.

 

[Dulanic]

This is great! I didn't know about this.

However, I followed your direction but I couldn't see a way to redownload the songs. I saw the list of albums I bought, and when I clicked on one of them it just shows me a list of songs in that album, and a note 'Already downloaded' on every song (which is not a link). If I click on the individual songs, it just took me to the song's main page, where I can buy the song again individually.

It would be great if I can redownload everything. It would be even more awesome if I can just directly copy it to my Cloud Drive.

I think he was mistaken... you can't re download AFAIK. I am guessing the sending it straight to the cloud drive is a legal issue.

 

[ViRGE]

Billboard notes that Amazon didn't license any of this. The labels believe that any locker service needs to take out a license (which they are unwilling to provide cheaply), which means Amazon is probably going to get sued over this just like MP3.com was a decade ago.

 

[Dulanic]

Shocking the music companies don't think I have the right to store my files where I want... amazing. I bought it, what right do they have to say I can't store it on a server only I can access? If the music companies keep fighting newer technologies they will continue to lose even more customers.

However, I do believe this differs from the MP3.com case does it not? I believe MP3.com just had general copies of the music. Where as Amazon is uploading the actual file and replaying your own file to you.

 

[cronos]

Billboard notes that Amazon didn't license any of this. The labels believe that any locker service needs to take out a license (which they are unwilling to provide cheaply), which means Amazon is probably going to get sued over this just like MP3.com was a decade ago.

It seems that Amazon is taking a big risk, I agree, but saying that they didn't beat Apple and Google is untrue. Regardless of the details, Amazon does currently provide an actual service (cloud storage of music you can stream) that the other two currently do not have. That, by definition, is beating them to the punch

This is all nothing but good things for the customers. Let them fight over providing the best service.

 

[randomlinh]

Mine didn't do that but it auto detected mine from WMP. Add your files into your WMP library and it will sort it by Artist. In fact the MP3s are on my server and it still was able to upload and list it by artist since it was in the WMP library.

arggh... that's poor design IMO. why can't it properly pull the id3 tags and do it itself.

 

[Glitchny]

arggh... that's poor design IMO. why can't it properly pull the id3 tags and do it itself.

I uploaded an album of audio files that were in a random folder and the Cloud Player correctly labeled them by artist and album without any input from me. Or are you talking about something that I'm completely missing?

 

[ViRGE]

Shocking the music companies don't think I have the right to store my files where I want... amazing. I bought it, what right do they have to say I can't store it on a server only I can access? If the music companies keep fighting newer technologies they will continue to lose even more customers.

However, I do believe this differs from the MP3.com case does it not? I believe MP3.com just had general copies of the music. Where as Amazon is uploading the actual file and replaying your own file to you.

Yes, MP3.com's setup was slightly different: they had a master copy that they were giving users access to if they scanned an appropriate CD on your computer. However Amazon isn't all that far off, as they no doubt are using a master copy system to store music you buy off of them for the cloud. I'm not sure the MP3.com case can be used as immediate precedence, but the labels have done quite well for themselves in blocking other companies from doing anything with their music they don't approve of.

 

[KentState]

Was messing around with this at work today and realized half way through that I was uploading about 10GB of music on the companies network. I purchased Queen's greatest hits cd for $5 which isn't bad for 20 songs. I think Amazon may have a huge hit here if they can legally sustain the service.

 

[cronos]

arggh... that's poor design IMO. why can't it properly pull the id3 tags and do it itself.

Yes, it does pull the id3 tags correctly.

 

[KentState]

Yes, it does pull the id3 tags correctly.

Do you know a good way to fix bad id3 tags? I have 2 or 3 cds that are not showing an artist, but iTunes and WMP are display them correctly.

 

[senseamp]

The record labels are still clueless at keeping up with technology.
They are still worrying about CD burners, and we are on to cloud storage already.
They need to be making sure that their paying customers see the most value in buying their products. If you buy a song legally, you should damn well not have to pay for it again. Last thing they should want the customer worrying about when buying songs legally is whether he'll be able to access or store them where he wants to. The record labels should be the ones keeping these songs in the cloud for their customers to access anywhere in the world perpetually once they have purchased it. Instead they are trying to get in Amazon's way.

 

[Deeko]

Billboard notes that Amazon didn't license any of this. The labels believe that any locker service needs to take out a license (which they are unwilling to provide cheaply), which means Amazon is probably going to get sued over this just like MP3.com was a decade ago.

Wow, I am utterly shocked that a label considers something that doesn't involve paying them more money for music you already purchased to be "third rate".

Anyway, I think this is pretty damn cool, especially if you already buy your MP3s from Amazon.

 

[randomlinh]

I uploaded an album of audio files that were in a random folder and the Cloud Player correctly labeled them by artist and album without any input from me. Or are you talking about something that I'm completely missing?

Yes, it does pull the id3 tags correctly.

I'm not talking about the Cloud Player itself, that's fine.

I'm specifically talking about the uploader. When I manually select a folder, it returns a flat list of all the subfolders... not properly nested. This is what I'm complaining about.

I took the suggestion to just load up my library into iTunes and have the uploader scan that automatically instead. That presented a proper artist/album/song tree. Granted, the handful of mixed artist compilations I have annoyingly could not easily uncheck... but better than before.

 

[cronos]

I'm not talking about the Cloud Player itself, that's fine.

I'm specifically talking about the uploader. When I manually select a folder, it returns a flat list of all the subfolders... not properly nested. This is what I'm complaining about.

I took the suggestion to just load up my library into iTunes and have the uploader scan that automatically instead. That presented a proper artist/album/song tree. Granted, the handful of mixed artist compilations I have annoyingly could not easily uncheck... but better than before.

Ah I understand now. I can see why this can be a problem with people who has a huge library and manage it themselves.

 

[MotionMan]

I have never bought digital music from Amazon.

Can I buy an album, put in the Cloud Drive and then/also download it to my computer (so I can import it into iTunes for my iPhone)?

MotionMan

 

[richierich1212]

I have never bought digital music from Amazon.

Can I buy an album, put in the Cloud Drive and then/also download it to my computer (so I can import it into iTunes for my iPhone)?

Yes, there's an option to put the songs into Cloud Drive right away. Then from the Cloud Drive you can dl to your computer.

 

[frostedflakes]

Billboard notes that Amazon didn't license any of this. The labels believe that any locker service needs to take out a license (which they are unwilling to provide cheaply), which means Amazon is probably going to get sued over this just like MP3.com was a decade ago.

Yeah will be really interesting to see how this plays out. I don't see how the record labels have a leg to stand on because I wouldn't need an extra license to upload music I've purchased to another cloud storage service and download it later. Their agreement with Amazon for DRM free MP3s allows users to make backups like this, transfer them to different devices such as MP3 players, etc. The cloud drive thing really is a pretty clever way for Amazon to get around the labels' BS, hopefully it doesn't turn into a huge legal headache for them, though.

 

[teiresias]

Yes, there's an option to put the songs into Cloud Drive right away. Then from the Cloud Drive you can dl to your computer.

If you want to download music though, make sure you're in the Amazon Cloud Music Player and not the general Cloud Drive interface. The normal cloud drive will force you to download one file at a time (unless I missed something).

In the Cloud Music player, if you select to download an album or some group of music it generates a file that opens with the regular Amazon Downloader that you use when purchasing music and downloads the files that way. At least it does this for music purchased from Amazon and automatically saved to the cloud. I'm not sure how it handles re-downloading music you upload yourself.

 

[Patranus]

Amazon is going to get in line real quick if the Music companies want this shut down.

Amazon makes nothing on their cloud drive but they do however make money on music sales.

It would be a shame if Sony pulled their catalog.

 

[dguy6789]

I wish the music industry good luck in trying to shut this down, it will be needed.

 

[Patranus]

I wish the music industry good luck in trying to shut this down, it will be needed.

They don't have to "shut it down". It is simple business.

Amazon makes money by selling products such as those provided by the music industry.
Amazon makes no money via this cloud music player.

All the music industry would have to do is (threaten to) pull their products from Amazons store.

Amazon needs the music industry. The music industry doesn't need Amazon. There are plenty of retailers that are willing to play by the industries rules for them to be phased by Amazon.

Its a little hard for Amazon to provide a free service when they have no revenue to support that service.

See, this cloud music player is seen by Amazon as a means to drive sales of digital music. If there is no sale of digital music, the cloud music player isn't doing its job.

 

[ViRGE]

They don't have to "shut it down". It is simple business.

Amazon makes money by selling products such as those provided by the music industry.
Amazon makes no money via this cloud music player.

All the music industry would have to do is (threaten to) pull their products from Amazons store.

Amazon needs the music industry. The music industry doesn't need Amazon. There are plenty of retailers that are willing to play by the industries rules for them to be phased by Amazon.

Its a little hard for Amazon to provide a free service when they have no revenue to support that service.

See, this cloud music player is seen by Amazon as a means to drive sales of digital music. If there is no sale of digital music, the cloud music player isn't doing its job.

Eh, I disagree. The labels specifically back Amazon in order to keep Apple from gaining too much control. Their biggest fear is that Apple will be the de-facto music retailer, and power will move from the labels to Apple. For that reason they back Amazon in order to keep any single player from becoming too powerful, so that they maintain control.

The flip side is that because they need Amazon, Amazon is going to try to get away with things from time to time.

 

[poofyhairguy]

The flip side is that because they need Amazon, Amazon is going to try to get away with things from time to time.

Like DRM-less music.

You also have to realize that Amazon is probably the biggest retailer of physical music out there (not named Wal-Mart). This is huge for the large group of people who don't understand this whole digital music thing- they want a physical disk to play in their car.

Amazon has some leverage. Good luck to them I say!