Napster Going Back to Free Downloads

conq writes "BusinessWeek reports on Napster's latest move to allow the download of free music. This time the service will be supported by online ads." From the article: "With Napster's new free service, 'we'll be able to help millions of people get out of the world of 30-second clips and of having to buy individual songs,' Gorog says. 'I don't think there's anything better we could do to turn people onto the pleasures of unlimited, legal access to music.'"

Comments

Yeah but.....

[i_want_you_to_throw_]

is it going to be music worth hearing?

I'm just shaking my head here.

[Anonymous Coward]

'I don't think there's anything better we could do to turn people onto the pleasures of unlimited, legal access to music.'"

Where I come from, "unlimited" doesn't mean "five or less."

Gorog must gotten his definition of "unlimited" from the same dictionary Gates and Ballmer used to define "innovation" and "choice."

Re:Is that a backfire I hear?

[kitsunewarlock]

If by "hacking" you mean "using Windows Sound Recorder and bypassing my microphone jack with my soundcard"...

innovative plan

[fermion]

I have a grand idea. Perhaps they could find a way to transmit quality audio to a large number of people, say over a wireless or wire connection. And say they bought a bunch of recordings that were popular and people wanted to listen to and played these recordings. Then, when they had a bunch of people listening, they could have firm pay to talk to these people about products and services these firms were selling, thereby generating a revenue stream to offset the costs of the tranmision and recording and labor. And to get the listeners more involved, perhaps the listeners could choose the recording that were played.

My God, this is at least as original one click shopping. I must go out and patent it. Now none of y'all get the idea of stealing it from me!

Oh, but...

[Davus]

Does it run Linux?

Yeah! Only 60 years of music! Bogus!

[douglips]

10 million songs * 3 minutes/song = 57 years.

I demand at least 70 years of free music.

Re:Audio Hijack?

[x2A]

If you want to illegally copy music, I'm sure there are easier ways which results in higher quality recordings. Or does it just make yer feel all manly being able to get round napsters "new thing"?

Re:It works great!

[shreevatsa]

Napster indeed wants to help people "get out of the world of 30-second clips" -- see this video (3.4 M). ;)

Re:Just record your sound output for goodness sake

[RLiegh]

>Look, it's not exactly rocket surgery:

Are you saying you don't have to be a brain scientist to figure this out?

Re:It's not unlimited

[bhtooefr]

Or even once? :D

Re:Yeah! Only 60 years of music! Bogus!

[hunterx11]

I demand at least 70 years of free music.

That's okay, but the RIAA demands that you wait at least 70 years for free music.

Re:It's not unlimited

[causality]

since not a whole lot of people are going to be looking for an MP3 player if they don't have any music to put on it.

Oh, I wouldn't worry too much. That part does not seem to be the problem :-)

Re:Only in USA

[glesga_kiss]

"is currently only available in the United States."

They could be warned me before I signed up

What, before you gave them your email address? Are you mad?