Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Remember where you heard it first ...

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  • Paul Capewell,

    Restart the iTunes app to find New Zealand in the country options at the bottom of the main iTunes Store page.

    Its all a bit empty at the mo, with a lot of placeholders. Also, a fair few references to the US iTunes store, making me think that its not quite finished.

    Now if only I could suss out being able to buy NZ music online easily...

    Manchester • Since Nov 2006 • 62 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    I had to stick my iTunes prefs file in the Trash and then put it back after launch (after cancelling the setup dialogue). Seeing it now ...

    Some of the promo banners are clearly from Australia: 'Homebake 06' doesn't mean quite the same in Australia as it does here ...

    No sign of the Fat Freddy's Drop only-on-iTunes live EP. I gather that the Freddys are the only NZ band big (and independent) enough to negotiate directly with iTunes.

    The others will turn up over the next few days and weeks as the aggregator agreements come online.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Paul Capewell,

    How annoying... Ah well, good stuff. Have a browse.

    Manchester • Since Nov 2006 • 62 posts Report

  • Matt Perot,

    This is awesome news. The pricing available at the Apple New Zealand Store is also nothing to shake a stick at -- Macbooks, Macbook Pros, and iPods are around 10% cheaper than at Bond & Bond or Renaissance, and finally there is an education discount of a further 5% or so just like there is overseas. Excellent!

    Deutschland • Since Nov 2006 • 13 posts Report

  • JP Hansen,

    On my PC I had to sign in and change my country at that point from Australia (from a previous Quicktime Pro purchase) to New Zealand to enable the NZ store.

    Yeah, kinda empty on the front page. $3.60 for a music video. Not bad, I really hope that a bunch of archival NZ music videos get uploaded in due course. Though if memory serves me correctly I think a number of those old clips may be partially owned by TVNZ who originally filmed them (I'm thinking early DD Smash etc).

    And what local TV shows are going to be the first up there? I see Bro'Town is (officially) all over YouTube. Are US & Canada's ITMS the only territories currently selling TV shows?

    Off to see if Prince's Erotic City is available. I've wanted that for the longest time...

    Waitakere • Since Nov 2006 • 206 posts Report

  • Paul Capewell,

    JP: pretty sure TV shows are a fair way off. Old NZ music videos would indeed be lovely though. The Flying Nun DVDs almost aren't enough!

    Manchester • Since Nov 2006 • 62 posts Report

  • ed hayes,

    Looks like they are adding to it/updating it on the fly. Placeholders have gone and there is more content being added...

    auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 8 posts Report

  • Nigel Caughey,

    Very nice, though no itunes gift cards yet :(.

    Really nice how the reviews & ratings carry over from the other stores, kind of makes you feel part of the Apple world really :).

    Paihia • Since Nov 2006 • 14 posts Report

  • JP Hansen,

    Ack. My credit card's over its limit - will have to wait until I get paid tomorrow to buy my first track (Erotic City is avaialble, thankfully).

    Having a browse and notice that Split Enz' "Corroboree" is available. Pity they didn't restore the proper Waiata title. ;-) Also I see that the 2 Enz rarities discs only available in the Silver & Gold box sets aren't available.

    I don't know about others' putrchasing habits, but I'll dare say most of my purchases (at least initially) will be non-album tracks (or tracks only available in compilations / box sets like Princes Erotic City) and rarities. If it's easily available on disc at a reasonable price, then I'd probably prefer the CD.

    Also looking forward to when the labels upload their b-sides (I know that all over Bic Runga's messageboard are requests for her b-sides, some of the Tom Bailey remixes and her non-album tracks are amazing).

    Waitakere • Since Nov 2006 • 206 posts Report

  • mikeforbes,

    Its a pity that itunes.co.nz isn't working.

    also, I wonder when we're going to see some decent price comparisons with apple products.

    13" 2ghz macbook in NZ - $2499 NZD

    13" 2ghz macbook in US - $1893 NZD

    Hmm, wonder how i'll be buying my next apple product..

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3 posts Report

  • matthewbuchanan,

    Curious. As a previous user of Renaissance's online store, I have just been sent an email, which includes the following:

    We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support, and advise you that as of today the Renaissance Apple online store is no longer available.

    For your future Apple needs, we have a number of New Zealand-based Authorised Resellers, including some with excellent online stores. These include:

    www.totallymac.com (full Apple range and complementary products)
    www.macwarehouse.co.nz (full Apple range & complementary products)

    Nowhere in the email does it mention that New Zealand now has an official Apple Online Store.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 163 posts Report

  • JP Hansen,

    Hmm. No Dave Dobbyn, Crowded House, Tim Finn, Neil Finn, Hello Sailor, Dragon, Bic Runga, Brooke Fraser yet.

    iTunes got some uploadin' to do!

    Waitakere • Since Nov 2006 • 206 posts Report

  • hudsie,

    And the reason is thus... the prices on the Apple on-line store are way cheaper than we have been obliged to pay up until now. I have just bought an i-mac on the new site, for $200 cheaper than at Magnum Mac. And it should arrive tomorrow, with free delivery. NICE

    Since Nov 2006 • 19 posts Report

  • pftqg,

    mikeforbes:

    You seem to be forgetting GST, which makes it ~$2200. Also keep in mind that if you buy it in the US you'll be paying sales tax, and that likely if you have mailed to you in NZD you'll pay GST as well.

    Having recently done this (being the sender) shipping with insurance is going to suck a good chunk of the difference too.

    (I'll also note that model is actually cheaper in Canada - NZD$1840 vs NZD$1887, oddly enough.)

    Sydney, Australia • Since Dec 2006 • 2 posts Report

  • Damian Christie,

    Yeah the first link I clicked on in the apple store didn't work... not a great look for a launch, especially for something on the front page...

    http://www.apple.com/nz/ipodhifi/

    They don't have any Bic Runga on the i-tunes store? I've got heaps on my computer, maybe i could sell them some of my tunes at $1.79 a pop...

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report

  • Matt Perot,

    13" 2ghz macbook in NZ - $2499 NZD
    13" 2ghz macbook in US - $1893 NZD
    Hmm, wonder how i'll be buying my next apple product..

    You forgot to factor in sales tax.

    13" 2ghz Macbook in NZ -- $2499.00 NZD (including GST of $277.66)
    13" 2ghz Macbook in NZ -- $2221.34 NZD (excluding GST)

    $2221.34 compares relatively favourably with the USD price of $1893 (which excludes sales tax) once you factor in free shipping and the currency hedging that is part and parcel of any international business.

    I'd obviously probably still purchase in the USA if I happened to be traveling there, but for now I'm very happy that ONE of the many middlemen have been removed and prices have come down slightly.

    Deutschland • Since Nov 2006 • 13 posts Report

  • Michael Keating,

    Seems the iTunes landing/opening page is the same for NZ and Australia. Therefore if a product is to make in on to the most valuable iTunes real estate it must be released on the same label with same artwork etc in both Aust and NZ. As if it were one territory.
    The NZ independants' catalog then can not be promoted on that page, only made available in the store.
    Unfortunately the vast majority of sales come from the opening page.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1 posts Report

  • mikeforbes,

    Oops.

    yes, sales tax.

    That thing ;)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3 posts Report

  • Gary Hutchings,

    Apple resellers have said they intend to reduce prices to meet the new price points of the apple store,

    All NZ Reseller pricing is changing today as well, to be in line with the NZ Apple store.

    xxxxx
    an apple reseller

    wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 108 posts Report

  • mikeforbes,

    Interestingly, US sales tax is determined by what state you live in, so it's quite hard to properly compare prices.

    You get an estimate of $71.45 when you checkout, which is still pretty awesome.

    Using that example brings our US total back to $1996.59 NZD (inc sales tax and shipping)

    compared to purchasing in NZ (ex GST) $2221.34 NZD

    If you were already visiting the US (or had some good buddies over there to help you out) then it makes perfect sense.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3 posts Report

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    from what I posted in teh other thread:

    I gotta say the 'local sounds' splash screen is naff.
    It looks like a recruitment ad for the Young Nats circa 1990.
    So where is all the local content - 12 albums?
    Step up to the plate local record companies.
    How ironic that one of the first local albums for downloads is by those anti-commerical guys the Mint Chicks.

    The Craps tables at the B… • Since Nov 2006 • 188 posts Report

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    Hold tight though, you should see a bunch of local content going up....

    The Craps tables at the B… • Since Nov 2006 • 188 posts Report

  • Jeremy Matthews,

    I just bought some iTunes exclusive The Flaming Lips EP, it had [CLEAN] beside all the track names but I couldn't find find another copy that was [EXPLICIT]. It's not censored either :D

    I'm really happy with the speed that the tracks download, go to love akamai. I have had better quality music videos for the same file size though.

    Christchurch, New Zealand… • Since Nov 2006 • 29 posts Report

  • JP Hansen,

    They don't have any Bic Runga on the i-tunes store? I've got heaps on my computer, maybe i could sell them some of my tunes at $1.79 a pop...

    Well, I noticed I can get to the (new) Brooke Fraser tracks via the promo box at the top of the store, but not via the iTunes search. So there may well be lots of Bic Runga loaded but just not yet findable via the non-functioing search box.

    I notice Brooke Fraser is also available via the Australian ITMS, even though it's not been released on CD over there as yet (which also backs up the quote earlier in the thread about the front page being shared with Australia).

    No doubt more local stuff is being integrated/uploaded presently, but you'd think that would have been done before launch date.

    Waitakere • Since Nov 2006 • 206 posts Report

  • JP Hansen,

    Dang. Russell, can we get an edit function for these discussions please !

    Waitakere • Since Nov 2006 • 206 posts Report

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