James Fee
09-21-2004, 08:00 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.fortune.com/fortune/peterlewis/0,15704,698782-1,00.html' target='_blank'>http://www.fortune.com/fortune/peterlewis/0,15704,698782-1,00.html</a><br /><br /></div>"<i>It's just a bit bland and initially limited in range, which isn't too surprising given Microsoft's track record of releasing software that doesn't show its full potential until version 3.0. The surprising thing is that even with nearly a year and a half to scrutinize Apple's popular, market-leading iTunes Music Store and come up with a challenger, Microsoft's MSN Music arrives with a minimalist—some would say boring—interface and, in the test version I've been using, fewer choices of artists and downloadable 99-cent songs than Apple offers. Microsoft asserts that more than a million songs have been licensed, including some from the Dave Matthews Band and (yes!) Radiohead, which don't show up in the iTunes store. "We're stocking the shelves," a Microsoft spokesman said. But there are no audio books, no Billboard charts, no celebrity playlists, and no gift cards or other goodies of the sort that make other online music services more fun to use.</i>"<br /><br />As an iPod owner, I'm very happy to read that the new MSN Music store will be improved over the next few months. Frankly competition is what makes software good for the consumer and Napster/Musicmatch/Real were not pushing Apple enough to improve iTunes. What I'd like for Christmas is 192Kbps downloads and music reviews from iTunes. Thank you Santa in advance.