Online Music Services.
The next logical step after buying the Sansa m260 was to re-examine my downloading patterns. Currently I use eTomi which I paid for to right to use, but that's a bit of a loop-hole legally because that only covers software licencing and not the media content. Also, I realized that I have never bought an album online in digital format before, and because I seem to be the technological expert in my everyday life this kinda bothered me. So with Ministry and RevCo coming to town I decided I really needed to update both of those entries in my library (Ministry's 'Taste' album being the only survivor currently in the collection.)
A second reasoning for wanting to purchase music in digital format was because my new Sansa really didn't handle 'free reange' mp3s very well, often breaking up albums because or mis/poor digital labeling by the original ripper.
So, I started trying out different services:
ITunes: No. Too iPod centric.
AOL Music: No. The software was too invasive. Fuckers bury stuff in your PC without even asking, 'Their legal excuse is that by visiting the site you imply consent). Fuck that.
eMusic: Not bad, but no. Not a lot of back catalog in their selections. I'm a early 90s Alt/Metal guy at heart, and they just didn't have the selection. Good prices though. (40 tracks/$9.99 mo)
Urge: Currently evaluating, definite maybe. Good selection (Being MTVs service you'd expect they'd have more clout with labels) and a slick interface that ties in automatically with Windows MediaPlayer 11. They have a pretty indepth subscription/download policy. They use the .WMA format with Windows Digital Registry software, which basically means that anything you download as part of the monthly subscription fee ($15) you can keep and listen to as long as you have a subscription, lose that and your mp3s (well, WMA's actually) stop working. So if you dig something you have to remember to purchase the album/tracks or risk losing them later. Nice to try the music on before buying, I'm just not sure I like the double whammy of renting AND buying the same music.
MSN Music: No. Hated interface.
Yahoo! Music: Dunno. HEading there next. Perfectly, I'd like the format of eMusic with the selection of Urge.
Wonder when Google will join the party? I tend to like everything the do over the competition.
The next logical step after buying the Sansa m260 was to re-examine my downloading patterns. Currently I use eTomi which I paid for to right to use, but that's a bit of a loop-hole legally because that only covers software licencing and not the media content. Also, I realized that I have never bought an album online in digital format before, and because I seem to be the technological expert in my everyday life this kinda bothered me. So with Ministry and RevCo coming to town I decided I really needed to update both of those entries in my library (Ministry's 'Taste' album being the only survivor currently in the collection.)
A second reasoning for wanting to purchase music in digital format was because my new Sansa really didn't handle 'free reange' mp3s very well, often breaking up albums because or mis/poor digital labeling by the original ripper.
So, I started trying out different services:
ITunes: No. Too iPod centric.
AOL Music: No. The software was too invasive. Fuckers bury stuff in your PC without even asking, 'Their legal excuse is that by visiting the site you imply consent). Fuck that.
eMusic: Not bad, but no. Not a lot of back catalog in their selections. I'm a early 90s Alt/Metal guy at heart, and they just didn't have the selection. Good prices though. (40 tracks/$9.99 mo)
Urge: Currently evaluating, definite maybe. Good selection (Being MTVs service you'd expect they'd have more clout with labels) and a slick interface that ties in automatically with Windows MediaPlayer 11. They have a pretty indepth subscription/download policy. They use the .WMA format with Windows Digital Registry software, which basically means that anything you download as part of the monthly subscription fee ($15) you can keep and listen to as long as you have a subscription, lose that and your mp3s (well, WMA's actually) stop working. So if you dig something you have to remember to purchase the album/tracks or risk losing them later. Nice to try the music on before buying, I'm just not sure I like the double whammy of renting AND buying the same music.
MSN Music: No. Hated interface.
Yahoo! Music: Dunno. HEading there next. Perfectly, I'd like the format of eMusic with the selection of Urge.
Wonder when Google will join the party? I tend to like everything the do over the competition.