Get Better Gear!

Premier Sponsors

Other World Computing

TechRestore

Top 5 Free Apps

Release Date: August 05, 2009
Genre: Games
Release Date: May 22, 2009
Genre: Games
Release Date: August 29, 2009
Genre: Games
Release Date: March 27, 2009
Release Date: August 07, 2009

iTunes New Music Releases

Release Date: September 29, 2009
Genre: Rock
Release Date: September 20, 2009
Release Date: September 15, 2009
Release Date: August 25, 2009
Genre: Rock
Release Date: August 25, 2009

Top 5 Paid Apps

Release Date: April 22, 2009
StickWars $0.99
Release Date: March 31, 2009
Genre: Games
Bloons $0.99
Release Date: April 05, 2009
Genre: Games

Discover New Music

  • An Evening with George Shearing & Mel Torm�

    • 10 out of 10
    • Mel Torm� & George Shearing
    • Of the three men who taught me how to sing, the last was Mel Torme. Apparently, Mel Torme is a joke to anyone more than a decade older than me, a living parody of a Vegas crooner. But I stumbled on th
  • Now Here Is Nowhere

    • 10 out of 10
    • Secret Machines
    • The Secret Machines' inaugural album, Now Here is Nowhere is both old and new in its sonic assault. The trio's surprisingly big sound evokes Pink Floyd (without ever sounding like any Pink

  • Hello

    • 8 out of 10
    • Poe
    • Poe rocked my world with "Angry Johnny" (I want to kill you/I want to blow you/Away) and "Trigger Happy Jack" (Trigger Happy Jack/ You're gonna blow/But I'm gonna get off/Before you go), as powe

  • Suspended Animation

    • 8 out of 10
    • Fantomas
    • Mike Patton may well be one of the hardest working men in showbiz these days, and his latest with Fantômas underscores just about how far out he is willing to travel.

      Suspended Animation

  • 2112

    • 10 out of 10
    • Rush
    • We all know it, right? Well, ya just gotta have it. 2112 finally showed Rush out on their own, doing their own thing, and doing it well, IMHO.

Reader Specials

Visit Deals On The Web for the best deals on all consumer electronics, iPods, and more!

News

Napster Faults Microsoft for Shortcomings

Digital music subscription service Napster has failed to take any market share away from Apple and its iTunes Music Store (iTMS), and is looking at Microsoft and MP3 player manufacturers as the source of the problem. According to Reuters, it cites Microsoft's inability to develop a system that can compete with Apple as a significant issue.

Chris Gorog, Napster's Chairman and CEO, commented "There is no question that their execution has been less than brilliant over the last 12 months."

Microsoft and the companies that make MP3 players that use its Digital Rights Management (DRM) software have a harder time coordinating hardware, software, and services than Apple. The iPod maker handles all components, and has been able to produce a product that, at least so far, consumers prefer.

Mr. Gorog, however, thinks Apple's days are numbered, and that the digital music landscape will be very different in the next 12 to 24 months. He feels that Microsoft's Windows Media format will take over, thanks to new digital music players that Sony and Samsung have yet to release.

Companies like Napster and RealNetworks also feel that subscription-based music services are what consumers really want. Apple, and its near 80 percent market share say otherwise. Apple's iTMS lets users purchase, download, and keep the music they want for US$0.99 per song. Napster and RealNetworks charge a monthly fee for the music users listen to.

Post Your Comments

  Remember Me  Forgot your password?

Not a member? Register now. You can post comments without logging in, but they'll show up as a "guest" post.

Commenting is not available in this section entry.