Postkiwi

Well it has finally actually happened. Apple has pulled off the opening of its Australian iStore. If you don’t believe me check out the web site. Prices are reasonable - $1.69 a song, $3.39 a music video, $5.07 an EP, and $16.99 a full album.

The iTunes Store runs from the iTunes software, not from the internet like HMV and Sanity. It took me a while to work out how to change the settings from USA to Australia. I tried the “Account” feature but found no joy there. Finally I found the “Choose Country” option down the bottom of the page. And there it was - Australia.

There’s nothing on the iTunes store to specifically tell us we’re in Australia. But a look at the content gives it away. The featured albums at the top include Paul Mac, Evermore, Spiderbait, Missy Higgins and Bernard Fanning (of Powderfinger). There’s a free download of the single, “Shadowland” by up and coming band Youthgroup.

Sony BMG is yet to join the iStore party in Australia. I wonder what they’re holding out for.

We recently upgraded to the video version of iTunes on the family computer and promptly tried out all the quicktime videos on the hard drive. I don’t think iTunes was designed to cope with the number of videos we now have in the library. iT stalls every time we open up. Not good. However the earlier version is still working on the laptop.