[internet] Microsoft Unveils MSN Music Beta

2004-09-02

September 2, 2004 - Microsoft has released a preview of its upcoming MSN Music online store, Microsoft's version of the Apple iTunes Music Store (also built-in to Windows Media Player 10). Tracks available for download are protected by the Digital Rights Management (DRM) scheme, and encoded in Windows Media Audio (WMA) format. Currently 500,000 tracks are available on the site, with streaming music option. The beta store is currently only available to Windows users in the United States.

http://beta.music.msn.com/

Matthew Norwood
http://www.burnfront.com

thom2002 · 2004-09-02 #2

cool, but i'll stick with iTunes store

Wingspan · 2004-09-03 #3

RealRhapsody works just fine for me.

ernande · 2004-09-03 #4

Looks like a half-hearted attempt at copying iTunes.

Wouldn't be my choice for buying music, but competition is always good and with Microsoft in the game Apple will be forced to develop an even better product.

Trance · 2004-09-03 #5

Originally posted by ernande
Looks like a half-hearted attempt at copying iTunes.

Wouldn't be my choice for buying music, but competition is always good and with Microsoft in the game Apple will be forced to develop an even better product.

Everything in this life gets better when competitions arrives, the mediocres get thrown away in the fire. This should be a nice product and like you said Fernandez, Apple will have a better iTunes later in the game.

Nutrox · 2004-09-15 #6

It's good that Microsoft has finally seen the light.. but I think it's a case of "too little too late.. too crap!", and the fact that they are only going to be dealing with the WMA format isn't a good move for them.

Next they'll be bringing out their own version of the iPod, but it will play WMA files instead of MP3... you can see that one coming a mile off... they've got the money to waste though I guess.

Personally I will be sticking with MP3/MP4, iTunes, iPod, and WinAmp... what else is needed?

AlexD · 2004-10-21 #7

I tried it.

First, I downloaded the new Windows Media Player and saw MSN Music inside it. I found an album I wanted (Tribute to the Prodigy) and clicked BUY NOW. It took me to a sign-up page, which I thought it would. But each time I tried signing up, it said there was an internal error. So I went off and came back later to that album, clicked BUY NOW, signed up, and got an error. Finally, the third time, I came back, clicked BUY NOW, signed up and got through. I made my account and purchased the album.

During each of these times, mind you, I had no "shopping cart" because I wasn't even a MEMBER yet. I didn't have any registered account until the final try.

First of all, they didn't charge me for it for two months, which I found annoying since I balance my checking accounts every day. Secondly, when it did go through, they charged me three times for a single download, an over charge of $17.

So I had to call up their customer service and get it sorted out. They had trouble tracking how many times I downloaded the album (why would I download an album more than once?). But they went out on a limb and believed my story, and I was transfered to a British woman who also believed my story and refunded me the $17.

It appeared in the back in the bank in about three days.
Jeeze.

------------------------------

The moral of the story is.... why in the hell did I buy from the MSN Store when I got WMAs? WMAs?!!! Give me MP3's you monopolistic bastards. I got my computer in 2002 and upgraded it over the years to keep it above the curve. But back then, in my ignorance, I started encoding my CD collections through Windows Media Player only to find out my entire music library is now in a format that Microsoft controls. I suppose I could, but I don't want to, delete it all and go back and reincode everything through WinAmp or something as an MP3.

But good lord...

I signed up for iTunes and have yet to buy anything, but I have a feeling it will be much easier and make more sense... and the files will be in a universal format.

webRat · 2004-10-22 #8

Converting WMAs to MP3s are easy enough. I'd be curious if anyone here actually knows the different between WMA and MP3s besides the typical anti-Microsoft rant. Even Apple's store isn't a truly universal format. It's an AAC MP3 and more recently, iTunes, by default, has been setup to rip to AAC MP4 format - You have to manually change the setting to rip MP3s.

Majority of the media players these days (that aren't supported by Apple or Microsoft) play both WMAs & Mp3s. Creative's Zen Xtra, for example. Only Apple's plays MP3/MP4s only and so far, Microsoft has not made any attempt to step into that market. I doubt they will as it's already over-saturated.

I honestly believe Microsoft is more focused on the X-Box technology than anything else. New X-Box is due out Dec 2005 I believe. Interesting that PS3 hasn't hit anywhere on the calendar yet.

Nutrox · 2004-10-22 #9

Originally posted by webRat
Interesting that PS3 hasn't hit anywhere on the calendar yet.

As far as I know it's due for release in Japan in 2005. You should do a Google for the specs of the PS3 because they are absolutely mind blowing.

Actually, there's quite a lot of PS3 news/spec info here if you fancy taking a look.

adicto · 2004-11-16 #10

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	ernande	2004-09-03 #4
	Looks like a half-hearted attempt at copying iTunes. Wouldn't be my choice for buying music, but competition is always good and with Microsoft in the game Apple will be forced to develop an even better product.

	Trance	2004-09-03 #5
	Originally posted by ernande Looks like a half-hearted attempt at copying iTunes. Wouldn't be my choice for buying music, but competition is always good and with Microsoft in the game Apple will be forced to develop an even better product. Everything in this life gets better when competitions arrives, the mediocres get thrown away in the fire. This should be a nice product and like you said Fernandez, Apple will have a better iTunes later in the game.

	Nutrox 13 Creative Assets	2004-09-15 #6
	It's good that Microsoft has finally seen the light.. but I think it's a case of "too little too late.. too crap!", and the fact that they are only going to be dealing with the WMA format isn't a good move for them. Next they'll be bringing out their own version of the iPod, but it will play WMA files instead of MP3... you can see that one coming a mile off... they've got the money to waste though I guess. Personally I will be sticking with MP3/MP4, iTunes, iPod, and WinAmp... what else is needed?

	AlexD	2004-10-21 #7
	I tried it. First, I downloaded the new Windows Media Player and saw MSN Music inside it. I found an album I wanted (Tribute to the Prodigy) and clicked BUY NOW. It took me to a sign-up page, which I thought it would. But each time I tried signing up, it said there was an internal error. So I went off and came back later to that album, clicked BUY NOW, signed up, and got an error. Finally, the third time, I came back, clicked BUY NOW, signed up and got through. I made my account and purchased the album. During each of these times, mind you, I had no "shopping cart" because I wasn't even a MEMBER yet. I didn't have any registered account until the final try. First of all, they didn't charge me for it for two months, which I found annoying since I balance my checking accounts every day. Secondly, when it did go through, they charged me three times for a single download, an over charge of $17. So I had to call up their customer service and get it sorted out. They had trouble tracking how many times I downloaded the album (why would I download an album more than once?). But they went out on a limb and believed my story, and I was transfered to a British woman who also believed my story and refunded me the $17. It appeared in the back in the bank in about three days. Jeeze. ------------------------------ The moral of the story is.... why in the hell did I buy from the MSN Store when I got WMAs? WMAs?!!! Give me MP3's you monopolistic bastards. I got my computer in 2002 and upgraded it over the years to keep it above the curve. But back then, in my ignorance, I started encoding my CD collections through Windows Media Player only to find out my entire music library is now in a format that Microsoft controls. I suppose I could, but I don't want to, delete it all and go back and reincode everything through WinAmp or something as an MP3. But good lord... I signed up for iTunes and have yet to buy anything, but I have a feeling it will be much easier and make more sense... and the files will be in a universal format.

	webRat	2004-10-22 #8
	Converting WMAs to MP3s are easy enough. I'd be curious if anyone here actually knows the different between WMA and MP3s besides the typical anti-Microsoft rant. Even Apple's store isn't a truly universal format. It's an AAC MP3 and more recently, iTunes, by default, has been setup to rip to AAC MP4 format - You have to manually change the setting to rip MP3s. Majority of the media players these days (that aren't supported by Apple or Microsoft) play both WMAs & Mp3s. Creative's Zen Xtra, for example. Only Apple's plays MP3/MP4s only and so far, Microsoft has not made any attempt to step into that market. I doubt they will as it's already over-saturated. I honestly believe Microsoft is more focused on the X-Box technology than anything else. New X-Box is due out Dec 2005 I believe. Interesting that PS3 hasn't hit anywhere on the calendar yet.

	Nutrox 13 Creative Assets	2004-10-22 #9
	Originally posted by webRat Interesting that PS3 hasn't hit anywhere on the calendar yet. As far as I know it's due for release in Japan in 2005. You should do a Google for the specs of the PS3 because they are absolutely mind blowing. Actually, there's quite a lot of PS3 news/spec info here if you fancy taking a look.

	adicto	2004-11-16 #10
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