This little AppleScript up-ends the iTunes business model.
So, is this the best way to subvert iTunes?
The free AppleScript, Advantageous, allows you to use iTunes to find the music you want but switch to Amazon’s sometimes cheaper, higher-quality and DRM-free music store to buy what you want.
Say you want the latest album from those cute serious musicians, the Jonas Brothers.
- Jonas Brothers’ album on iTunes (AAC and DRM): $9.99
- On Amazon (MP3 and DRM-free): $8.99
After installing Advantageous, just pull down iTunes Script Menu and select Buy From Amazon.
Zip on over to your Web browser and there’s your JoBro album, $1 less than what iTunes charges (though on a per-song basis, they’re the same price at 99 cents).
Amazon’s music store has been up for a while offering higher-quality MP3s without the restrictive DRM on many songs purchased via iTunes.
And another thing…
It bugs me, by the way, that iTunes won’t let me create iPhone ringtones from music that I’ve purchased from them, even though that’s built into the software. Not even for money. Whereas I can create ringtones both willy and nilly from unprotected MP3s. For this, iTunes earns a:
