MacFormat

A funny thing started happening when people started downloading music from the internet (whether they paid for tracks or not). We started prioritizing songs over albums. It used to be that you’d hear a song you liked on the radio and you’d go out to buy the CD, tape, record, or 8-track recording that contained that track. Now you can purchase albums a la carte, and some artists put out songs one track at a time… but according to a Financial Times article, Apple has a plan to revive the album in the age of digital music. And it may involve the long-rumored Apple tablet.

According to the Financial Times, Apple is working with the four major record labels to offer digital versions of liner notes, artwork, and the other goodies that you get when you purchase music in a physical media format. If the Financial Times is putting its facts and rumors together right, Apple could launch the tablet this fall and use it as a platform for distributing digital albums and interactive media.

For instance, you could purchase an album with 10 to 15 tracks, listen to the songs on the tablet, and “flip” through pages of an accompanying book to read lyrics or other information or look at artwork using the touchscreen device. The albums will also reportedly includ video clips.

I’m not at all convinced that the reason people aren’t buying albums like they once did is because you don’t get liner notes and special content. It’s more likely because many people don’t see the point in paying for 12 songs when you only want two or three. But for music fans who were likely going to pay full price for the latest full albums from their favorite artists anyway, this could be a good deal.

I just hope this isn’t the only trick the Apple tablet will have up its sleeve. Because while a Kindle-for-music would be kind of neat, a device with a good web browser, on-screen or peripheral keyboard, and ability to run third party applications would be a lot more exciting.

via AppleInsider

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4 replies on “More Apple tablet rumors: It’ll play music, revive the concept of the “album””

  1. Apple Tablet may be launched this Christmas or possibly as early as September. I hope this will be another great rally for apple earnings. I will buy one of this for sure. The iphone started to be too little to stay all the day looking things. I am a great fan of apple product so started collecting all the information (more than 200 sites) about Apple Tablet(News, Videos, Pics, Pre reviews, Rumors etc.,). If you are interested take a look at the below link
    https://markthispage.blogspot.com/2009/07/apple-tablet-large-iphone-or-ipod-touch.html

  2. Sounds a bit like the CrunchPad, but more made for the music content.
    Any news on the CruchPad, BTW?

  3. I would love something like this but I would rather the keyboard had a way to attach to the screen. More like a netbook with a detachable screen.

    I am sure Apple will charge and arm and a leg for this device so I wont be getting one anytime soon regardless.

  4. These additional features for albums would be part of the iTunes music store. They have absolutely nothing to do with a tablet. The entire article is conflated nonsense.

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