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Napster challenges iTunes by opening its own MP3 store

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

May 20, 2008, 12:01 PM

With six million tracks accrued in its library, Napster's new online retail venture boasts the largest selection of MP3s of any retailer to date, taking a bold step by marketing itself to iPod and iPhone users.

Songs will be made available at 99 cents, with albums generally retailing for $9.95. Encoding is promised to be at a bitrate of 256 kbps, which should be music to many listeners' ears already. While Napster To Go subscriptions would be still encapsulated in DRM, all download sales will be in DRM-free MP3.

Napster's move is no doubt in response to Apple's continued success with iTunes, and the overall move away from DRM in general. The site still struggles to find its own niche in an increasingly crowded market -- and one that is increasingly dominated by Apple.

Because Apple does not allow others to use its FairPlay DRM technologies, up until recently only iTunes was compatible with the iPod. However, with MP3 making a resurgence, online music retailers are using the technology as their ticket to get on-board the ubiquitous device.

"Music fans have spoken and it's clear they need the convenience, ease of use and broad interoperability of the DRM-free MP3 format," CEO Chris Gorog said in a statement.

When tracks are purchased via Napster's Web-based store application, the service will automatically sync the tracks to the default iTunes library. That user may still need to use iTunes to sync the music to the player, the company said.

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By Banquo

posted May 21, 2008 - 11:06 AM

Would someone please just drive a stake through Napster's heart already?

Score: 0

By Hollywood__

posted May 20, 2008 - 8:32 PM

MP3 stores ...... does anyone still pay for music?

Score: 0

By BrokenHALO

posted May 20, 2008 - 7:00 PM

I will support any DRM-free music service. I got screwed a long time ago with iTunes music purchases. Never again.

Does anyone know of a good M4P to MP3 converter?

Score: 0

By DudeBoyz

posted May 20, 2008 - 7:35 PM

Bonk Encoder seems to do it all:

http://fileforum.betanew...il/BonkEnc/1031921845/1

http://www.bonkenc.org/

The dude is pretty awesome too.

Score: 0

By auiotour

posted May 20, 2008 - 2:38 PM

How is it everyone always claims the ipod is only capable with itunes. That's simply not true. I have used media monkey, windows media player, and a few other programs on my mac that I did not like. Even programs like lala.com can sync from web to ipod. Tunebite used for m4a, m4v ripping can also sync to your ipod.

The days of not being capable ended years ago.

Score: 0

By J3r

posted May 20, 2008 - 6:57 PM

I have to agree with you there... Now even WinAMP is able to sync with an ipod.

Score: 0

By DudeBoyz

posted May 20, 2008 - 5:19 PM

I like the MP3 players that just show up as FAT32 drives on your system so you can drag and drop. Way cool.

Score: 0

By Hollywood__

posted May 20, 2008 - 8:31 PM

The iPod does that if you use SharePod and not the bloated iTunes software.

Score: 0

By telagraham

edited May 20, 2008 - 1:33 PM

iTunes is terrible. It's like inviting someone into your house who wants to take over and move everything you've got right where you want it, and force you to do things his way. I have my music how I like it, and I don't want Apple telling me what format to use or how to put it on my MP3 player. Let smart people handle their own music, and leave the automatic "take over your computer" programs for people who don't know how to do it themselves.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

edited May 20, 2008 - 3:02 PM

Heh...

So what you're saying is;

iTunes: The AOL of online music stores.

*grin*

Score: 0

By DudeBoyz

posted May 20, 2008 - 1:09 PM

Amazon.com already has this nailed. Buying single tracks is about as easy as it gets. Only downside is that if you want to buy the whole album at once, which usually saves you some money, you have to download and use their buffering program.

Me? I choose to pay extra and get all the singles individually cause I simply do not want to have to install ANYTHING to get my DRM free MP3's. It's worth it to me on principle alone. No garbage iTunes crap for this dude...

Just got Army of Anyone and Filter's new release, Anthems for the Damned. They are VBR MP3 and sound fantastic. Great cover art too, but I do wish the lyrics were included.

Still, I think Amazon sets the bar...

Score: 0

By carpal

edited May 20, 2008 - 1:15 PM

why are some people so dead set against installing itunes? what's the big deal? and the guy who won't install amazon's music downloading program for the full albums? what's up with that? why is it such a horror to install utilities on your computer?

Score: 0

By DudeBoyz

edited May 20, 2008 - 1:47 PM

It's my gaming rig, really, and I don't want to install QUICK TIME in order to install ITUNES. Not only that, but the tags in iTunes seems to freak out some other tags in other apps. I don't want to have it check streaming radios, showing me an online store, being non-customizable (Foobar is golden, and Spider Player ain't bad).

Look - I have owned 2 Macs. An emac and a 24" iMac, both with OS X. On that operating system, their stuff runs ok. But on the PC, it's just bloated junk.

BTW, I no longer own either Mac. I'd never want to own one again. Apple is turning into a huge "in your face, you must buy this" kinda company, and it permeates their operating system. Plus, I think the changes in 10.5's interface suck, and I hate, read HATE their new keyboards. Plus, iPod's don't have user changeable batteries.

Yeah, they make cool stuff - for somebody else. :)

I am not crazy, just thinkin' how cool it is to not have tons of crap loaded up at startup, apps that kinda gets in the way, etc.

The simpler the better.

I swear - Amazon.com purchases of MP3 singles is FANTASTIC. I use my browser and NOTHING else is needed.

Score: 0

By TF123

posted May 20, 2008 - 8:22 PM

You can disable radio streams and the store. It's highly customizable. I think you need to do a little research.

Score: 0

By DudeBoyz

posted May 21, 2008 - 5:14 PM

I know how to use iTunes - I had it on both macs. I just flat out don't dig it. It's bloated, busy and not as flexible as I'd like.

Foobar is a great player, and there are tons of other apps out there to handle MP3's with that don't insist on installing Quicktime and don't use so many resources and add crap to your Windows Startup stuff (which you can disable with MSCONFIG).

iTunes is just not that awesome for me. Seriously.

Score: 0

By TF123

posted May 21, 2008 - 11:02 PM

Well, as long as you know that most of your complaints were complete bulls***, why don't you avoid using them and sounding like an idiot.

Score: 0

By DudeBoyz

posted May 23, 2008 - 5:14 AM

No need to be all harsh. My complaints, as a former 2 machine Mac owner, are very valid to me. iTunes on Windows is even worse.

No need to attack me for expressing a legit, experienced opinion.

Score: 0

By ctk

posted May 20, 2008 - 12:46 PM

this is not going to work, not for the more savvy people who get music. i already get mp3 tracks from napster. i pay the monthly rate and i download the tracks that i like. because my mp3 player does not recognize drm'ed wma files, i un-drm them then convert them over to mp3. how many people who are in my position do the exact same thing? i'm thinking more than the riaa would like.

before anyone here says that i'm stealing or promoting piracy, think again. nothing that i un-drm goes into any shared folder in a p2p program. anyone who would try to spin removing a restrictive format for the convienience of porting it around in a player of my choice and not the industry's probably has a huge hard on FOR the industry anyway and won't be swayed in their opinion.

Score: 0

By bousozoku

posted May 20, 2008 - 12:22 PM

This is the same Roxio that became Napster to take over the world, right?

Until everyone has a complete selection of DRM-free music to sell, most aren't going to be making a lot of money.

Personally, 99 cents is still to much for a less than perfect quality track, so I'll still buy the CD.

Score: 0

By cryptowiz

edited May 20, 2008 - 11:32 PM

I agree with bousozoku. I'm happy to buy CD's (they're cheap) and rip them in the format I want... lossless for my home stereo server and high quality mp3 for portable usage.

Score: 0

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