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Comparing Online Music Offerings

hype7 writes "The Wall Street Journal has just posted a comparison of the three main legal music download services: Apple's iTunes Music Store, MusicMatch and Napster v2. The review covers the pros and cons of each of the services, and concludes with: "I'm sure all three services will evolve and get better, and others will enter the fray. But, for now, iTunes is the best choice on Windows.""

4 of 603 comments (clear)

  1. Um... Ogg Vorbis? by Prince_Ali · · Score: 4, Informative

    If you rip with AAC in iTunes it attaches no DRM to it at all. Also AAC > OGG.

  2. Re:10 times? by cualexander · · Score: 5, Informative

    Here's the deal with the burns. You can only burn the same playlist 10 times. So say you download 20 tracks from the music store. You can only burn those 20 in that exact same order 10 times, but if you switch the 1st and 2nd song you get 10 more burns and so on and so forth. I've also heard you can just delete the playlist and create a new one, but I'm not sure if that works or not. Anyhow heres how Steve Jobs puts it. Unlimited burning of individual tracks, 10 burns per playlist.

  3. Re:Sorry, not interested. by MooCows · · Score: 4, Informative

    You should try the Riaa Radar
    It shows you which labels are not affiliated with the RIAA, and thus are 'safe'

    --
    The path I walk alone is endlessly long.
    30 minutes by bike, 15 by bus.
  4. Re:Sorry, not interested. by worm+eater · · Score: 4, Informative

    Give me a break. The RIAA does not speak for the entire music industry, and there are plenty of great independant labels and pseudo labels (such as CD Baby) that whole-heartedly disagree with the RIAA on many levels. Even before the RIAA was suing its customers it was fucking over the artists, many of whom have become basically indentured servants to the 'big 5.' Personally, I haven't bought major label music in years, just because I think that in general it isn't innovative. Here's who I *do* buy from:
    Beta-lactam Ring
    Elevator Bath
    IDEA
    Wholly Other

    And last but not least, the best independant distributor of anything ever... Forced Exposure

    --
    Maybe partying will help...