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Real Adds New Fee to Subscriptions RealNetworks is attempting to encourage its premium users to sign up for a yearly plan by adding a "handling fee" to its SuperPass and Internet radio services when paid on a monthly basis. The new fee will be extended to all Real offerings by the end of the year, according to the company. The
If you drop your subscription, all of the music you’ve downloaded ceases to function.In other words, with a subscription service, you’re renting music, not buying it. So, for example, you could join Napster To Go tomorrow, pay $180 to maintain your subscription during the next year, and during that time, download tens of thousands of music tracks. But if you cancel your subscription next year, all of that music will stop working. It will stop working on your computer, and it will stop working on your little Napster-compatible portable player. (And thus even while you are subscribed, you need to frequently re-sync your player to your network-connected PC, even if you haven’t downloaded more music, just so your player’s DRM software can check the status of your subscription.) And if you want to use your music in a non-DRM context, like by creating a standard audio CD, you still need to pay $.99 per track, which is in addition to your regular subscription fees. The music you download via subscription can only be used in a DRM context.
This is an article which looks at the alternatives for networking your home to use all the media you have with any computer, or audio or video device in your house. Here is part of the story…At these prices, a roll your own thing built around a low-cost PC becomes quite tempting. Start with a $200 Linux box from Wal-Mart, the Microtel PC with an AMD Sempr0n 2200+. Throw out the CD-ROM and replace it with a double layer DVD drive ($99). Add your choice of disk drives, since it has two open 5.25-inch bays and a 3.5-inch bay, plus four USB 2.0 ports. If a no-name box from Wal-Mart makes you a little uncomfortable, you can get your hands on an entry-level Mac Mini for $499, add a couple of drives through its USB and/or Firewire ports, and set up file sharing. It's not the prettiest answer, but you get a Mac to play out of the bargain.The Inquirer
But the release late last year of new copy-protection software from Microsoft may begin to change that. The software frees subscribers to move their rented tracks from their computers to certain portable music players. The system works by essentially putting a timer on the tracks loaded on the player. Every time the user connects the player to the PC and the music service, the player automatically checks whether the user's subscription is still in effect. Songs stop playing if the subscription has lapsed. If the user doesn't regularly sync up the player with the service, the songs go dead as well. RealNetworks, MusicNow and MusicNet, which distributes its service through brands like America Online and Cdigix, all have plans to launch portable subscription services this year or early 2006 at the latest. Napster LLC and F.Y.E., another MusicNet distributor, began offering portable subscriptions late last year through the Windows Media Player software, code named Janus. Napster plans to turn up the heat on Apple with a $30 million advertising campaign debuting during Sunday's Super Bowl to promote a re-launch of its portable subscription service, dubbed Napster To Go. Napster's service is $14.95 a month - about $5 more than a non-portable subscription. F.Y.E's service is also $14.95.Read More at this AP Story.
The announcement will be made next week at the Linspire Desktop Summit, where a new VOIP company, SwitchVox, will also be launched. Robertson's other venture, SIPphone, will also introduce a $39 device designed to facilitate Internet calling.
I am not a big fan of Walmart as I think they destroy small business's but they want to sell CD's for under $10.00 and still make money. The RIAA is not happy but they want to calm the giant as they supposedly account for 20% of the music sales in the US. I am pretty amazed by this statistic
Apparently BMI is pretty proud that they have been paying record royalties to their artist. This is at the same time that the RIAA and others are complaining that P2P is costing them Billions. Bunch of hypocrites [Techdirt] Even more amazing links and contradictions. [Arstechnica]