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Real Launches Music Download Service

Posted by michael on from the music-wants-to-be-expensive dept.

fupeg writes "Spurred on by Apple's success, as well as their own purchase of listen.com, Real Networks announced their own online music service, dubbed RealOne Rhapsody. Here is the press release. They're offering songs at $0.79 per song, but with a $9.99/month subscription. The first two months are free. The press release says that 2/3 of their 300,000 song catalog is available for CD burning, while everything is available for 'on-demand' listening."

20 of 497 comments (clear)

  1. Ummm..... by LupidStupy · · Score: 5, Funny

    Thank GOD for newsgroups.

  2. MOD PARENT DOWN by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    I'm sick and tired of this Anonymous Coward racking up the karma by cutting-and-pasting the text of the article. Furthermore, I hope Taco would do the sensible thing and simply remove AC postings altogether. They're a blight upon Slashdot.

  3. Wow, that's by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    unReal.

  4. Pay money for music? by Monkeyman334 · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm suprised Real Networks is selling music, you can get it for free, from Real.com. Just look very hard for the link, it's right next to the free real player download link... really...

    PS, Real Networks can burn in hell.

  5. Marketing drivel by pixelpusher220 · · Score: 4, Funny

    from the article:

    "we believe this is a great offer to consumers who are now realizing the power of online music services"

    That's it, the consumer is just now realizing the power of online music. Sheesh.

    --
    People in cars cause accidents....accidents in cars cause people :-D
  6. you are missing the point by appleLaserWriter · · Score: 1, Funny

    These songs are *REAL*

  7. possible competition? by killermal · · Score: 3, Funny

    Kazza is offering songs at $0.00 per song, with a $0.00/month subscription.

  8. Re:The Real link....get it? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    "that David Bowie guy"

    are we a linkin park fan?

  9. Re:Not so awesome. by hawkbug · · Score: 5, Funny

    $16 plus $10 equals $36? No wonder I flunked math...

  10. Marconi invents new music delivery system by jason99si · · Score: 4, Funny

    Guglielmo Marconi has released a new system for music delivery, its called "Radio". Unfortunately, it doesn't provide the ability to select a particular song, but it does provide the ability to choose genre.

    The reduced functionality vs. Real's new system comes at a reduced price, FREE. And all songs are available for downloading and burning, all within a user's fair use rights.

    User adoption is still up in the air, and Nikola Telsa is challening the patent.

    1. Re:Marconi invents new music delivery system by veddermatic · · Score: 4, Funny

      Unfortunately, it doesn't provide the ability to select a particular song, but it does provide the ability to choose genre.

      Yup, your choices are:

      ClearChannel Alterna-Rock songs 1 - 15
      ClearChannel Alterna-Rock songs 5 - 20
      Infinity Radio Alterna-Rock songs 3-8, 14-20
      ClearChannel Pop songs 1-6
      Infinity Radio Pop songs 1-6
      ClearChannel Country songs 1 - 10
      Infinity Country songs 1 - 10

      The lack of being able to hear anythgin remotely different / interesting n the radio, along with $17.00 CDs of bands taht all sound the same that are overplayed to death is what is killing the RIAA. Oh wait, I forgot, it's piracy.

      --
      Department of Homeland Security: Removing the rights real patriots fought and died for since 2001
  11. Re:The Real link....get it? by Verteiron · · Score: 4, Funny

    That aside, Real's player software is so nasty it can physically drive the air from your body. If I wanted to undergo "the RealOne Player Experience", I'd just hit myself in the head with a wifflebat repeatedly and save myself the download time...

    --
    End of lesson. You may press the button.
  12. Re:Not so awesome. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Um, Justin Timberlake?

  13. Radio Shack of Media Players by victorvodka · · Score: 2, Funny

    I've been around the block a few times when it comes to media players, and the Real brand leaves me cold. Every time I think about Real, my mind is once again filled with the idea of having to go to their website, re-enter all my bogus information, and get the latest version of their player. (They're like the Radio Shack of media players!) I'd be afraid to join a Real subscription service - since they'd probably change the file format of the download on a weekly basis, necessitating constant player updates. In this respect, they're much worse than Microsoft.

    --

    The flag just makes more sense than the constitution. - Judas Gutenberg

  14. Copying Apple by ProfessionalCookie · · Score: 3, Funny

    Just 'cause they're using wma and a much worse pricing mechanism doesn't mean they didn't copy apple!

    After all, it is called Rhapsody.

    *tee hee*

  15. My bad... by shepd · · Score: 2, Funny

    I didn't edit the second line that well, let's try again:

    1 track @ Apple - $.99 + $1,000 (for a computer to download the songs) = $1000.99

    That's better!

    --
    If you could be told what you can see or read, then it follows that you could be told what to say or think - BoC
  16. Much Worse by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Yes, Real is actually using Windows Media to rent-a-sell music (compounded monthly rental fee AND a per song fee). Sounds quality is going to suck. However, masochistics will enjoy the fee scheme.

  17. Oh yeah, sign me up!!!! by Anita+Coney · · Score: 3, Funny

    I get to pay per song, I get to burn some of them, I get to pay a monthly subscription, AND I get Real's quality and un-intrusive software! Sign me up dude, I'm there!

    --
    If someone says he and his monkey have nothing to hide, they almost certainly do.
  18. that's a little dramatic... by msouth · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...most people just call it sighing. :)

    --
    Liberty uber alles.
  19. Oh God! Not another Real product! by exp(pi*sqrt(163)) · · Score: 2, Funny

    I can just imagine. I'm browsing for music and play a track. I decide I don't want it. A window pops up: "Are you sure you don't want to buy this?". I say Yes. Another window pops up: "Are you really sure you don't want to buy this?". I click Yes. "Well scroll down to the bottom of this window and click on the really hard to see checkbox to agree that you definitely don't want us to draw money from your account to pay for it". I click on it. An hour later a window pops up: "Are you sure you don't want to get the track?". A bit later I kick up winamp. A Real window pops up going: "We at Real networks can see you like playing music. Would you like us to uninstall all of your other music apps and make Real the default and install spyware all over your hard drive and BTW do you want to buy that track?"

    --
    Doesn't it make you feel good to know that our freedoms are protected by politicans, lawyers and journalists.