Musicmatch now offering $.99 songs to download

[Helevitia]

I was curious what you all thought?

Restrictions are:

Can only play the file on 3 simultaneous computers

Unlimited burning to CDs but you can only burn the same playlist 5 times

You can use it on a portable device but it has to have some kind of security(don't remember what it is) to play it.

Entire albums are $9.99

Thoughts?

Dave

[Marshmallowman]

Interesting, what file format?

The major thing I would be thinking about is the "3 simultaneous computers".

I may be misinterpreting, but does it mean after 3 computer upgrades your music disappears?

[Duty]

Originally posted by Marshmallowman
Interesting, what file format?

The major thing I would be thinking about is the "3 simultaneous computers".

I may be misinterpreting, but does it mean after 3 computer upgrades your music disappears?

Or is it talking about streaming?


Jeff

[PAugustin]

I guess file format is WMA :/ Does anyone know the bitrate ?

[Wulfman]

Nach der kostenlosen Hörprobe mit 64 kBit/s im MP3pro-Format können angemeldete User WMA9-kodierte Musik mit 160 kBit/s zum Track-Preis von 99 US-Cent herunterladen.
heise.de

free 64kbit mp3pro preview, 160kbit wma tracks for downloading.

mfg
wulfman

PS.: guess the translation was not really necessary.

[Helevitia]

Originally posted by Marshmallowman
Interesting, what file format?

The major thing I would be thinking about is the "3 simultaneous computers".

I may be misinterpreting, but does it mean after 3 computer upgrades your music disappears?

No, it means you can play the same music file on 3 different computers at the same time. In other words, if you have 2 or 3 computers at your house and you are using one computer and your wife is using another and maybe your son is using a third, you cna all simultaneously listen to the same file that you legally purchased. Atleast, that is how I understand it.

Dave

[Tjalfe]

so what is keeping you from converting the downloaded WMA to MP3, and hence not have to deal with the 3 simultanious computer part?

http://www.wma-mp3.com/

[stcynic]

Originally posted by tjalfe
so what is keeping you from converting the downloaded WMA to MP3, and hence not have to deal with the 3 simultanious computer part?

http://www.wma-mp3.com/

At the end of the day, I suspect it is the same thing preventing you from making 100 copies of the latetest Britaney Spears CD and giving them away on the street corner. (Well ok, besides good taste.)

[Helevitia]

Originally posted by tjalfe
so what is keeping you from converting the downloaded WMA to MP3, and hence not have to deal with the 3 simultanious computer part?

http://www.wma-mp3.com/

Well, wouldn't quality be an issue? I paid for and downloaded 1 song. I'll try to convert it tongiht and see what happens.

Dave

[Wombat]

It's going to sound pretty bad, but good luck.

[PAugustin]

Dam ! 160k WMA, they should have adopted AAC like Apple, this is the best lossy codec out there so far.
There has been blind testing of lossy codecs, and AAC came first. It manage to beat MPC and OGG.

They should offer a lossless alternative, I won't by songs that are not full CD quality !
Buying on of those WMA song would be like buying a car with flat tyres !

[Helevitia]

hmm, what is 160k WMA equivilant to in MP3 format? The reason I askk, is that I find 70% of songs at 160k MP3 acceptable and anything above that is good enough for me. EDIT: I should mention that the one song I downloaded sounds pretty damn good actually. Only a tiny bit if that tin sound I hear in compressed audio files.

BTW, I tried to convert the file with an odler version of CDEX and it crashed the program. I then installed Advanced WMA Workshop and tried it. I get the following message: Broken or DRM protected

Dave