an advance sneakpeek of the new Microsoft Music Store, courtesy of a pal. $0.99 WMA files (i believe), meant to compete with the iTunes Music Store. To use, must have a PC and be American. Since I don't, and ain't, I'm not sure what kind of limits are on the tracks you download.
On first glance, while the design is surprisingly clean, I'm not sure what this is offering that the iTMS's not. Support for chummy (WMA-wired) devices, I suppose, instead of Apple's AAC files. But the price is the same, the selection is smaller (and weak when it comes to indie, classical and jazz), and, well, Microsoft is evil.
Will this just be a repeat of the Buy.com music flop? Or does MS have big enough guns to take Apple on - without a better product?
Yes and no, say I. And thee?
Posted by Sean at September 1, 2004 4:53 PMcrash and burn...
Posted by: james at September 1, 2004 6:30 PMSay I: Suck It, Microsoft!
I am hopeful that ITMS has enough of a foothold already to hold off this charge. We shall see, though.
Posted by: Scott at September 1, 2004 7:38 PMmicrosoft's been playing catch up for ages. the launch of an online music store to compete with itunes is too little, too late. they'll make money, no doubt, but let's face it. the cooler artists/musicians/photographers that we all want to look at/listen to? they use macs. and ipods. and itunes.
good site, btw.
Posted by: ryan at September 1, 2004 11:02 PMI hate WMA, and a sucker for AAC, so it won't fly with me.
Posted by: peter at September 2, 2004 12:53 PMAs a stupid Mac user, I would say I don't care.
As an informed Mac user, I would say I hope Microsoft Music Store crashes dies quickly, so my iTunes Music Store can continue to grow without Windows to worry about.