Streaming Music

[ukkafka]

I am on the point of buying an Apple.
The big drawback for me at the moment is access to a service such as Napster or Virgin Digital Music - I don't seem to able to find a service that supports the MAC

[Is it 1981?]

The two services you mention use protected Windows Media files, which iPods and Macs aren't able to play to date.

Apple has it's own service called the iTunes Store built right into iTunes that's fully Mac-compatible (well you'd hope), although tracks bought from here are in protected AAC format and are only playable via iTunes and an iPod (both on Mac + Windows).

Try giving eMusic (http://www.emusic.com) a go - all files from here are sold as standard unprotected MP3s, meaning you can play them on pretty much any player on any system you wish.

[torifile]

I think he's looking for a streaming music/subscription plan. Nothing like that exists for the Mac but if you buy and intel-based mac (and all new Macs are), you can use Parallels to use these services.

[Kickaha]

Strange that with all the streaming radio stations out there, subscription services haven't died out yet, IMO... those tend to be quite platform agnostic, and free, unlike the DRM laden subscriptions.

[Ryan]

Obligatory: It's "Mac" not "MAC".

:)

Welcome to AppleNova.

[spikeh]

He could use All Of MP3.

[Brave Ulysses]

Strange that with all the streaming radio stations out there, subscription services haven't died out yet, IMO... those tend to be quite platform agnostic, and free, unlike the DRM laden subscriptions.

Not that strange. They are used in very different manners and aren't really the same.

[julesstoop]

Or Shoutcast,
or the radio streams in iTunes.

[Kickaha]

Not that strange. They are used in very different manners and aren't really the same.

I didn't see the connection either, until I saw coworkers using the subscription systems, as, essentially, their own radio stations. The same 15-20 songs over and over again, until they were tired of them, then they'd move to another 15-20 songs. What was funny was that they were moving from selection group to selection group on about the same schedule that songs rise and fall on radio stations. (What was most amusing was that a lot of times they'd be the *same songs* as currently playing on the radio...) It occurred to me that surely they could find *some* streaming station out there that would meet their needs, and be free to boot. At the end of the day, they'd have the same number of songs to keep as with the subscription: zero.

Of course, it's not going to be right for everyone, but I still think that many subscribers would be able to save their money, and find a stream that offers a mix to their taste. They seem like they'd be totally different use patterns, but at least from what I've seen, a lot of people mold the subscriptions to act a *lot* like a radio stream.

[Brave Ulysses]

Hmm... that is a weird usage pattern.

I kind of wish there were a subscription service for the Mac. I think it would be good for me as I have pretty wide ranging musical taste and like deep catalogs. There is no way I could ever afford to be exposed to as much music as I'd like to be on iTunes.

[Kickaha]

Yup, I tend to keep about 10 or 12 streaming stations in rotation so I get a good exposure going.

[chucker]

http://www.real.com/rhapsody/ ?

[specter]

I think he's looking for a streaming music/subscription plan. Nothing like that exists for the Mac but if you buy and intel-based mac (and all new Macs are), you can use Parallels to use these services.
Agree. I think that Parallels Desktop (http://www.parallels.com/en/download/) can be a way out here. Or Boot Camp, at least.

[ukkafka]

I think he's looking for a streaming music/subscription plan. Nothing like that exists for the Mac but if you buy and intel-based mac (and all new Macs are), you can use Parallels to use these services.

Yes I am indeed.

I already have my Ipod but use it solely for audio books. But I do like to be able to choose the albums I listen to online.

[chris e boy]

I think he's looking for a streaming music/subscription plan. Nothing like that exists for the Mac but if you buy and intel-based mac (and all new Macs are), you can use Parallels to use these services.

In theory... ive had issues getting some DRM based services to work with Parallels though. Sky Anytime and Channel 4's services fail to create DRM keys on my machine, yet work great when I boot into Windows natively.