Microsoft To Give Away Free Music To Get Around iTunes Lock In?
from the one-way-to-do-it dept
There's been lots of buzz about the rumored plans for a Microsoft competitor to the iPod, with news reports coming out yesterday saying it will be out in time for the holidays this year. The basic story is that Microsoft has gotten sick of waiting for any of its partners to beat the iPod and has decided to just build its own device, taking a page from their success with the Xbox. Nothing too surprising there. However, Engadget has uncovered one juicy tidbit that, if it turns out to be true, is quite interesting. In order to break the stranglehold Apple has on the downloadable music store market thanks to its own copy protection system, Microsoft's will apparently scan your iTunes and allow you to download any tracks you bought from iTunes for free on its own platform. The company, obviously, would then pay the rightsholders for the songs, but according to the article, Microsoft sees this as a worthwhile marketing expense to move people off of iTunes. If it's true, it's definitely a smart move, as there's little likelihood of any other method getting people out of iTunes lock-in. Though, it's not clear if the new songs will be just as locked-in to Microsoft's format, though that seems likely. Of course, we've wondered in the past why other companies (like ISPs) haven't done the same, agreeing to eat the costs on downloads, allowing them to be a loss leader that brings in plenty of new customers.
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loss leading with music
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Re:
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Fantastico
I just don't like the idea of having no control over what device I could use to listen to the music I download.
Not that I am big fan of Microsoft, but I am sure that they could afford to spend a little money from their huge budget to compete with Apple.
Also, I am sure that this news will be welcomed by all the artists, who should have better contracting power, given the competition between suppliers.
Good news for music buyers too. :)
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no subject silly
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Bigger Picture
Its the same game where we the consumers were forced to pay for our vinyl album music collections on tape and then cds.
There's an opportunity in the digital world to end this extortion.
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Re: Bigger Picture
If you were one of those people, I suspect your greed would move from it's hard position.
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Bigger Picture - REVISED
Its the same game where we the consumers were forced to pay for our vinyl album music collections on tape and then cds.
There's an opportunity in the digital world to end this extortion.
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as long as consumers fail to understand that buying any DRM'ed product is the equivalent of punching yourself in the balls, the mpaa/riaa and device manufacturers will keep dumping the same crap on us.
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I think you're all missing something...
The only thing that makes it illegal is the DMCA coming behind and saying you cannot decrypt (or even discuss decrypting) any copy protected works, no matter how useless and futile the copy protection is.
SO, I see absolutely no reason why M$ would have to pay the RIAA or their clients for any platform shifting media files that M$ allows its customers to download.
IE: M$ will give you the file for free, and they wont pay for it.
WHY? cause you are legally entitled to it. And if they assist you in exercising your right, they will sweep a cubic asse tonne of customers from iTMS.
This doesnt make their M$MS any less evil than iTMS (as long as its using stupid lockin DRM) its just the worlds best marketing strategy for killing iTMS. And its FREE.
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This will happen
The guys at Red vs. Blue (Roosterteeth) are pretty cool with various sites hosting their videos, but they will NOT let it be "podcast", whether it's listed on iTunes or not. Since their existence depends on MS' good graces (MS can shut them down by claiming copyright infringement) it stands to reason that MS wants them exclusively on their service. I just wonder what it'll be called. My vote is for MScast.
OK, it's a fringe observation. But sometimes you can see things clearer from outside the forest.
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Just like a gang war... who cares who wins?
The IPOD was cool... five years ago. I think Apple has gotten too complacent.
There's no reason music players should NOT have wireless/bluetooth compatibility nowadays.
Once MS and Apple put each other behind their respective eight balls, competition should make things good for us consumers.
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I think I remember my mother warning me about taking candy from strangers.
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The other benefit will be that with more competition in this space, I can see Apple possibly loosening up on their DRM. I can see that they may start to license their FairPlay technology so that others might provide ways for users to sell music for the iPods.
At least I hope it starts going that way...
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and then there was...
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icck!
The digital formats will likely change to the next best thing in 10 years anyway.. Why not use a digital format that works for everybody right now on every player out there.
Gosh, I bet Micro$oft doesn't have the money to bribe the RIAA into allowing them to sell DRM free music.
It's all a sham folks. Might as well buy your music on CD so you have it 10 years from now.
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iPod + DRM
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Re: iPod + DRM
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Never Happen
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In the old days
was a $1, one could save wear on the LP and have a copy that could go in a portable device (player or automobile)
for skip-free enjoyment. My library was my own, and
the LP still played on the stereo while the tape was out
in the car.
In the old days, no LP/turntable combination ever
crashed, frooze, or locked-up a stereo system with
an attempt by the LP distributor to prevent such a
copy from being made.
In the old days, one could go to a truck-stop and find a
rack of 8-track tapes with titles a record store would
not have on their shelves for not much more than the
cost of the blank tape. A definite pirated copy with
bad graphics or no graphics. (Don't worry RIAA, all
such copies are no longer in use.)
In the old days, I built my own mp3 library to put on
CD-R disks that would play in a portable CD player,
but despite skip-protection, would still be plagued by
the bumps in the road. But my library was my own,
the copy on the computer still played when I had a
copy on my portable device.
In these days, I bought an MP3 player that uses SD
memory cards. Drag-and-drop to the SD card, skip-free
enjoyment on the road. And still, my library is my own,
self-managed and listenable on either system.
-SeeWhy?
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Microsoft is Actually Spending Money?
However, before we start singing Microsoft's praises, the RIAA will still chime in and find some sort of argument that transfering music from one device to another, is not only not ethical but there should be an extra fee tacked on for the privledge of doing something that not only makes perfect sense but adds added convience to the customer.
Let's just hope they will make it possible to play other formats other than their sickening WMA and the traditional MP3 format. Can we say OGG anyone?
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M$ just looking for more money.
What's so free about music you already paid for?? It would be good if they were to scan your itunes songs, and offer free downloads of songs that a similar.
IE: You downloaded Aerosmith's " Jaded " with itunes, sothey offer you to download Aerosmith's " Crazy " or another song.
Other than that, it's just a scam on the consumer.
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M$ just looking for more money.
What's so free about music you already paid for?? It would be good if they were to scan your itunes songs, and offer free downloads of songs that a similar.
IE: You downloaded Aerosmith's " Jaded " with itunes, sothey offer you to download Aerosmith's " Crazy " or another song.
Other than that, it's just a scam on the consumer.
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Windows stranglehold needs breaking
Since iTunes isn't making Microsoft any money, it's locking in users. The only lock in I see is that we're being locked out from Microsoft only technology. I thank Apple for that.
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given an mp3 player
i just want to ask you some thing then if you do it i will be very glad if you can send me a mp3 player i will be very greatful
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help of music
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Declination of claim
Regards,
Bill Gates
( Head of Microsoft)
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Megaupload downloading
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