Forbes Online has posted a rather brief but mildly interesting matchup comparison between Apple's popular iTunes Music Store and Roxio's Napster. The report does however give some insight into the popularity of online music, and the number of users actually using "legal" music downloads.
I haven't given Napster a great deal of consideration, but from what I've seen of it, both the software and service could use some improvement. I'd choose iTunes over any other existing online service any day. That could change though when Microsoft enters the ring later this year, or early 2005.
I'd choose iTunes over any other existing online service any day. That could change though when Microsoft enters the ring later this year, or early 2005.
I would stick with iTunes over Napster. I am willing to bet that Napster is going to become Roxio's red-headed step child once Microsoft comes to bat. The Music industry isn't stupid. Microsoft and Apple have the ammo to actually help put huge profits back in the industry's pockets. If Apple is unprofitable at 30 Million songs, what does that say for Napster? If Napster has only sold 5 million songs at 99 cents a piece, that isn't even 5 million in revenue. Chances are, they keep 10 cents for each song they sell, which puts them at maybe $500,000 that they have easily spent on promotion. Stick a fork in them...they are done. Of course, pride will get in the way, and Roxio will keep clinging to Napster while Sony, Apple, and Microsoft slowly pound them down into an oblivion.
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I've dabbled with six of the music services, but keep coming back to Musicmatch (of all companies!) Wait... don't call me stupid, I have good reasons.
I like iTunes from a software standpoint. It's the audio format that's the problem. Use an iPod or a PC but nothing else. Granted, the point of iTunes is to sell iPods, so that makes perfect sense. However, since the iPod only supports MP3 or AAC you're pretty much restricted to using iTunes or ripping your own.
Real's music store has some of the same issues, including poor device support.
BuyMusic.com is a nightmare of different licensing terms and poor tagging. Napster is okay but its a pain to navigate.
Granted, MusicMatch is not stellar software from a music store point of view. It's not easy to get around and next to impossible just to browse. But the tracks it sell are min 160kbps WMA. The last two albums I bought were even better VBR WMA files with an average of about 160kbps. And as they are WMA files I can use them on my Zen, on my Pocket PC, on my PC, and on my wife's Muvo.
Now, if the iPod supported WMA, I'd buy one (or two) in a heartbeat and I'd gladly spend some of my music money at iTunes. But I'm not interested in putting all my eggs in Apple's basket, so to speak. Neither will I be interested in Sony's upcoming service that's designed to sell their minidisc players.
So for now, it'll be Rhapsody for PC-based streaming (and occasional CD burns) and MusicMatch for downloads.
Now, if the iPod supported WMA, I'd buy one (or two) in a heartbeat and I'd gladly spend some of my music money at iTunes.
Good point. And about hte iPod supporting WMA, I think a lot more people will purchase iPods. However, I don't see this happening since Apple stores all that meta-information in those .aac files, and it is all tied in with iTunes. I don't seem them changing their format.
Although I love the Ipod design, I prefer to use Napster instead of iTunes. I currently have a flash-based iRiver and am chomping at the bit to buy one of their harddrive-based players.
On a side note, it seems to me that iPods became more popular when they released a Windows version. I'm curious to find out the ratio of Mac vs Windows versions sold. Anybody heard?
I would also be curious to know what iPod users think is the biggest "threat" to the iPod's dominance, i.e. which device would they consider a close competitor. I use the iRiver iHP 140 and it is a sweet device, one that has a great look, a very nice UI and more features than the iPod, which led me to think that the iPod had met its match.
Right now I would say Dell's DJ is the iPod's closest threat (still by a longshot), simply because Dell has the power and scale and to undercut Apple in price. However, the biggest problem for all iPod competitors (including Dell) is that there is no good backend service to back it up. MusicMatch is probably best of the bunch, but none of them are nearly as well designed or easy to use as ITMS. I will be very interested to see what Microsoft does. While they're at it, I hope they revamp Windows Media Player. It needs serious help. :?
Another problem is that Apple's media device has become an icon. It's name is recognized the world over. No other device on the market right now shares that same quality. This is why the iPod leaves all of the media players in the dust.
Forbes: "iTunes vs. Napster"
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