Microsoft Prepares Alternative To Apple iTunes

bmarklein writes "According to CNET, Microsoft is working on a version of its DRM software that supports expiration of files on portable devices. Combined with a subscription service like Pressplay (soon to become Napster) that allows unlimited "tethered" downloads, you'll be able to fill up your high-capacity player with new music for a flat monthly fee. Of course it will expire once you stop paying the sub fee, but which do you think is the better deal: $7500 to fill a 30GB player (7500 songs at $1 each) with iTunes Music Store, or $120 a year with the ability to swap in new music whenever you want? How much is it worth to you to "own" the bits?"

Comments

Re:$10 for every song ever created!

[g4dget]

Unless you encode to the exact format of WMA that you're playing or a lossless format, you will lose quality

So high-fidelity nuts pay Microsoft's subscription fee. That's the same kind of people who get suckered out of thousands of dollars for special amplifiers, extra-thick copper wiring, or odd speakers.

This is because each format has it's own sonic priorities

Oh, goodie, sonic the hedgehog does signal processing.

Even if the loss of quality from re-encoding mattered, the effect can be reduced by re-encoding at a somewhat higher quality.

So, you either end up with a copy the same quality as the WMA (which is not perfect compared to a CD) or worse.

Yeah, or worse: you might end up with an mp3 of a teenage boy band or Britney Spears or Celine Dion. And that's something you can't fix with a quality setting, unfortunately. No, I take that back: encoding that at 32 kbps might, in fact, improve it.

Re:Typical

[nagora]

SURELY it is an abuse of their position (illegal?) just to muscle into other markets by way of financial attrition?

Nothing in George W. Bush's America is illegal to the rich. He made that pretty clear via the Microsoft Vs DOJ case as soon as he had seized control from President Gore.

TWW

Music industry is already dead

[dbc001]

Only a sucker would pay for any of these services - whether it's Microsoft's, Apple's, or Pressplay or Napster. The music industry is already as dead as the painting or sculpture industries.

I've never heard of the equivalent of "record labels" for painting or sculpture. That's because nobody cares! In those industries we have galleries, which are basically the same as concerts. But for the most part, painting and sculpture are things that people do for fun. That's what music will be - something you do for fun. Those of you who are actually supporting services like the ones mentioned above are:

1. Supporting DRM and other oppressive DMCA-like technologies
2. Supporting the oppressive and ruthless music industry which is already doomed
3. Wasting your money when it could be used to really support artists by going to live shows
4. Demonstrating to both Politicians and corporations that data can be "rented" instead of sold

Think again before you support these services. As far as I'm concerned, even talking about them without mentioning the above points only serves to add to the hype, and will only make the transition to a new paradigm even more painful than it will already be.

-dbc