Microsoft was a bit late to the game in the online music download market. Apple managed to grab a sizable chunk of the market with their popular music service, iTunes. However, this could very well change with the launch of MSN Music.
The new site (currently in preview, expected to be launched live with WMP 10) allows users to download music from a variety of artists for 99 cents per song, $9.90 per album. Content wise, the site does not pass the infamous Beatles test (context: neither do any others), yet a notice can be seen suggesting that the Beatles will soon be added. They claim to have licensed over 1 million songs, substantially more than other online outfits, from “major music labels, independents, and even undiscovered artists". When Apple came to the UK, they had (and still are) problems securing contracts with Independent labels. Microsoft appears to have used its significantly larger financial clout to solve these issues; The Beatles, for example, were only going online with a company that would offer them a lot of money.
To compare with iTunes; the site is intended to be used via WMP 10, but can be viewed in browsers (link below). The site appeared usable in non-IE browsers, yet had a few minor quirks, as is to be expected. The price is similar to iTunes. In terms of DRM / format efficiency, the site claims that the music can be played on 70 devices - i.e. WMA enabled devices – and is encoded at 160kbps WMA; iTunes uses 128k AAC encoding (FairPlay DRM). Microsoft have been quite generous in terms of rights, with the site reporting that the "MSN Music allows you to play your music on up to five Windows PCs, burn play lists to CD up to seven times, and transfer to an unlimited number of portable audio devices." iTunes purchased music can be played only on PC/Macs & iPods. MSN Music also has reviews, ratings, and album information in a similar fashion to iTunes. The site will have celebrity recommendations, ala iTunes, and ‘expertly’ themed playlists. All in all, the site compares very well, in some areas coming out clearly on top.
The site requires a passport account for use. Asides from hosting music, the site also offers cinema information, a variety of radio stations, and TV listings for the USA. No word on whether the site will be offering localised information when it is launched proper.
The site is slick and well designed, arguably slick enough to compete well with iTunes. It might be added, however, that it is not difficult for Microsoft to promote it's own services (e.g. IE default homepage -> msn.com) and tunnel its Windows market share elsewhere. That aside, the site will undoubtedly enjoy success in its own right. The service looks well thought through and is easily accessible. You can check it out at the link below; the site is expected to go live with the launch of Windows Media Player 10, which is expected as soon as tomorrow. If you can't wait, you can download the WMP 10 Public Preview, here.
Update : We've got aun-confirmed report that WMP 10 will ship with a high quality MP3 encoder, something that Microsoft have not done before. Read more on the forums here. Further, it would appear that the final build has leaked out of Redmond before tomorrow's official release; the final build number is 10.00.00.3646. More info and screenshots, on the forums, here.
View: MSN Music | Forum thread | The MSN Music team | About MSN Music
Screenshot: Main Page | Login (artist themed background) | Artist page | Site viewed in WMP 10
Screenshot: WMP 10 | Other music services offered by WMP
The new site (currently in preview, expected to be launched live with WMP 10) allows users to download music from a variety of artists for 99 cents per song, $9.90 per album. Content wise, the site does not pass the infamous Beatles test (context: neither do any others), yet a notice can be seen suggesting that the Beatles will soon be added. They claim to have licensed over 1 million songs, substantially more than other online outfits, from “major music labels, independents, and even undiscovered artists". When Apple came to the UK, they had (and still are) problems securing contracts with Independent labels. Microsoft appears to have used its significantly larger financial clout to solve these issues; The Beatles, for example, were only going online with a company that would offer them a lot of money.
To compare with iTunes; the site is intended to be used via WMP 10, but can be viewed in browsers (link below). The site appeared usable in non-IE browsers, yet had a few minor quirks, as is to be expected. The price is similar to iTunes. In terms of DRM / format efficiency, the site claims that the music can be played on 70 devices - i.e. WMA enabled devices – and is encoded at 160kbps WMA; iTunes uses 128k AAC encoding (FairPlay DRM). Microsoft have been quite generous in terms of rights, with the site reporting that the "MSN Music allows you to play your music on up to five Windows PCs, burn play lists to CD up to seven times, and transfer to an unlimited number of portable audio devices." iTunes purchased music can be played only on PC/Macs & iPods. MSN Music also has reviews, ratings, and album information in a similar fashion to iTunes. The site will have celebrity recommendations, ala iTunes, and ‘expertly’ themed playlists. All in all, the site compares very well, in some areas coming out clearly on top.
The site requires a passport account for use. Asides from hosting music, the site also offers cinema information, a variety of radio stations, and TV listings for the USA. No word on whether the site will be offering localised information when it is launched proper.
The site is slick and well designed, arguably slick enough to compete well with iTunes. It might be added, however, that it is not difficult for Microsoft to promote it's own services (e.g. IE default homepage -> msn.com) and tunnel its Windows market share elsewhere. That aside, the site will undoubtedly enjoy success in its own right. The service looks well thought through and is easily accessible. You can check it out at the link below; the site is expected to go live with the launch of Windows Media Player 10, which is expected as soon as tomorrow. If you can't wait, you can download the WMP 10 Public Preview, here.
Update : We've got a
View: MSN Music | Forum thread | The MSN Music team | About MSN Music Screenshot: Main Page | Login (artist themed background) | Artist page | Site viewed in WMP 10 Screenshot: WMP 10 | Other music services offered by WMP
The Sorting Office has a new flow chart style front end, which really simplifies the management of message filtering.
The Bat! 3.0 includes new Virtual Folder technology to help you organize your email even more effectively. This allows you to create lists of messages gathered as a cross-section from anywhere in your email database using a comprehensive filtering system.
The new Mail Chat feature allows you to communicate with your correspondents instantaneously using regular e-mail messages as an underlying technology. The strong point of this approach is that unlike other instant messenger programs, The Bat! mail chat doesn’t compromise the safety of your computer. Communication takes place through your trusted mail servers, and in addition the chat messages are checked by Anti-Virus and Anti-Spam filters.
The Bat! 3.0 has a Bayesian filtering plug-in as a part of the default installation. Bayesian filtering is one of the most effective spam detection algorithms available nowadays. The BayesIt! plug-in also detects URLs used in spam messages, making filtering even more efficient. First, you must train the plug-in by feeding it spam and non-spam messages, then it will do the job for you.
You are now able to connect to Microsoft Exchange Servers using The Bat! via native MAPI protocol to fetch or send messages.
The Bat! 3.0 now has a new MSI-based digitally signed installation package. You can verify the digital signature before installing The Bat! to make sure that the program comes from a trusted source and hasn’t been modified in transit. System administrators now have the ability to deploy The Bat! easily throughout their networks.
The Bat! web site
the look of the new WMP doesn't even match their own Luna
MS doesn't care about the layout/design/GUI of their programs.
eeeeeexactly.
At this point of time, MS probably sees no such incentive to release a Mac version. If they foresee some kind of profitability, they will do it in the future.
Besides, few Apple users would even consider buying music from "evil" Microsoft
MS would make more money by releasing this on the Mac.
Not as much as Apple got from supporting Windows, but more.
Just directly go to beta.music.msn.com in IE, and click on a song. It will just play right in the browser, and you can buy straight from the browser.
To use iTunes, you have to run a seperate iTunes program.
Straight from browsing to the music store
The 1st seems to make more sense for me. Luckily, that's in WMP. However, you act as though a browser is a cruical part of the computer and should be opened at all times. You're still running the music store inside a program. Unless you can get MSNmusic.exe or iTMS.exe on your desktop, it's a very invalid point...
You also receive rights to use the songs in your personal multimedia such as home DVD's and Movies.
I wonder if you can use the songs from the MSN service in other applications.
Since songs purchased from the music store would be DRM-protected, I doubt they would play in any other app. Then again, only iTunes can play the AACs purchased from iTMS.
In the future why don't you look at the point that someone was trying to make instead of making a worthless dig at Apple. We all know about your prejudice and im sure im not the only one thats sick of hearing it.
And all you are actually doing is spamming, and don't make out your only doing it in MS topics because i saw a few comments in the imac thread from you to. Please grow up and conduct yourself better.
Instead of spamming with things like "Nobody cares about a platform with 3%" or "Ill never buy a mac" why don't you lay foundation to what your saying and dispute peoples arguments with real facts or give reasons why Apple fails to live up to MS.
I use both systems by the way, i am in no way a fan boy for either. But i am willing to debate their strengths and weaknesses in a mature manner.
I'd have to assume this is the same on the PC but I haven't actually tried it.
apple's drm policies may be lax, and more in tune with peoples' oft out dated views of fairplay, but if another solution offers a better drm solution AND because of it is able to offer a larger product base (you don't think the tigher drm controls have anything to do with the likes of beatles, and other independants coming across to a fledgling service). Really, honestly, when you come to terms with reality, what percentage of people want to download a song off itunes and then put it into god knows what i'gay name' application.
the whole argument of apple supports pc, do microsoft support mac? well, do i get the same amount of 'freedom' of drm when it comes to using itunes' songs in windows apps?
my personal taste? itunes is overbloated, a horrible screen real estate waste of space, and crap at organising my music when i already have it logically organised. I understand people like it, but equally there're people that don't as well. To that end it's good that consumers are finally getting a real choice (excuse the bad pun) when it comes to where they buy their music. Choice = competition = lower prices and better service.
we're all winners.
Last edited by 25229 on 02 Sep 2004 - 12:43
Get on topic? The topic on hand is WMP10 and a Music store– it would be perfectly on topic to discuss it's competition, one of which is Apple. Don't believe me? Look at how many times Apple was mentioned in the news clipping...
shao:
Where is the dig? Mentioning you can use Apple's files in other Apps constitutes a dig?
As I mentioned even on the PC it should be no problem for any Application that wants to access the files. Here is further proof that it should work:
http://www.winamp.com/plugins/details.php?id=137828
No-one cares what music they like... it's just that people don't like other people randomly slating one of the most influential bands in the history of music (that is indisputable). It's perfectly acceptable to dislike the songs and the band, but to say that they sucked is immature and weak.
lol...
Man, are you off. Why don't you try turning off the Britany Spears and actually listen to some good quality music
Media Player Classic + ffdshow + Winamp 5 = mmm...
just because apples music store took off they want a peice of the market too. when will microsoft come up with something of there own and let the underdog apple catch up.
im not a mac user but i like apple, and im really starting to not like microsoft.
oh yeah and WMP 10 looks like one ugly peice of software- just like WMP 9.
Apple didn't invent this. They just made it in a better way.
I don't really agree on WMP9 being an ugly piece of software, but I have to say that these square buttons were something very ugly. It was not a nice design at all...
Winamp5 on the other hand has a MUCH better design, and introducing a new feature to buy songs online should not be called a new version 10...
WMP10 is very ugly though. They tried to copy apple but they failed.
copy the music to many different music devices and you've got yourself many more cd burning and computer transfer times.
Now that Microsoft is finaly trying to simplify the design of their sites, first with "msn video" and now with this music one. People are saying that they dislike this site layout.
IMHO. I like "google" simply because it works, and not because of it's layout.
BTW Let me repeat, " this is only my OPINION "
They are trying to do these loved Mac OS X buttons.... pity it looks bad like that.
Mac OS X has these nice buttons....
And NO, I am not a Mac lover, I actually own a PC with Windows XP. I'm just saying that Microsoft's graphic designers do a really really bad job.
No... it is a vast improvement. The default colour scheme is pretty poor, but if you reduce the colour levels then it looks really nice. Much better than any previous WMP version...