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RealNetworks Invests in Legitimizing Free Music
Rollie Hawk writes "Want some free music? Silly question, I know. But how about legally? That's exactly what RealNetworks is offering.
You may remember RealNetworks from about ten years ago when it was one of the leaders in audio streaming technology. After a decade of steaming becoming more widespread in both audience and medium, RealNetworks' RealPlayer has become an embarrassment to even try installing.
This, however, didn't stop them from jumping into the post-Napster song-swapping vacuum with their Rhapsody program. I can't comment on how good Rhapsody is since I've never met anyone who used it. That probably says enough right there.
In an attempt to rev-up their subscription-based music service, they are now resorting to giving away 25 songs each month. According to RealNetworks chairman and chief executive Rob Glaser, "by having a free service that is legal, it flattens the issue of 'Why use an illegal service?'"
Perhaps that logic would hold more weight if the universe of music contained only 25 songs."
Rob Glaser is part owner of the Professional Bowlers Association. They run that "extreme bowling" on ESPN 8 "The Ocho".
Nice way to invest your winnings from the dot com bubble, Robby. I guess you watch Apple's iTunes and think "that could have been us, if I wasn't a shit businessman worried about saving a sport only 50 year old men named Fred play which singlehandedly keeps polyester in fashion."
Please tell me Real is on FuckedCompany.com's all time asshat list. Maybe Rob could say "I invented spyware" like Al Gore on the Net, because in a sense, he did. Until that fucktard loaded Realplayer with phonehome code on your personal habits, hackers didn't realize the potential of trojan horses and tools like silk rope.
Way to go Robby!
We need a deck of cards with all the asshats who ran tech companies into the shitter on them. Like the army has for Iraqis. Marc Andressen could be the queen of hearts. Rob Glaser could be the joker. Lesser morons like that Pepsi exec who nearly destroyed Apple before Jobs came back should be in there.