For one thing, people who use iTunes to store and archive their CD collection, and take care to change the audio quality to Apple Lossless, will be able to stream their collection to a wider range of products.

For Linn, where we’ve been advocating FLAC, yet supporting an unofficial version of ALAC, it means we no longer risk the wrath of Apple HQ for letting people listen to their music collections through our systems.

Out with the Old

Our previous website was conceived as an online catalogue. The structure neatly mirrored the areas of Linn’s business and the categories of products. This was ideal for people who knew Linn and knew what they were looking for.The home page was used as a podium to display the latest products and upgrades. It broadcasted: “Look at our latest offering.” It assumed knowledge of Linn, assumed that the latest offering made sense in the context of an existing understanding of our business and products.

Neil Young’s music was a soundtrack to my teenage years, especially Harvest. Inevitably, every time I was dumped by the seemingly-never-to-be-replaced love-of-my-life, ‘Man Needs a Maid’ with its heart-breaking story and dramatic orchestral backing felt like it was written for me. And ‘Needle and the Damage Done’ just had to be nailed on the guitar in order to have any kudos at all with my guitar-playing friends.