Napster rolls out all-MP3 download store

By ALEX VEIGA, AP Business Writer, Technology / Internet

Chris Gorog, Napster's Chairman and Chief Executive displays electronic devices at the Napster headquarters in Los Angeles on Monday, May 19, 2008. Napster Inc. begins selling MP3s Tuesday, a move the online music service hopes will lure iPod users and turn around Napster's sliding fortunes. The company is the latest to make the switch to the unrestricted file format, which makes it music tracks compatible with virtually any music player or other device. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

(AP) -- Napster Inc. begins selling MP3s Tuesday, a move the online music service hopes will lure iPod users and turn around Napster's sliding fortunes.

Content from The Associated Press expires 15 days after original publication date. For more information about The Associated Press, please visit www.ap.org .

ť Next Article in Technology - Internet: Microsoft-Yahoo talks driven by specter of Icahn, Google

would you recommend this story?

User Rating

1.8 out of 5 after 5 total votes

not at all
1
2
3
4
5
highly

Leave a Comment or

Flag

Posted by ShadowRam 05/20/08 09:58

Rank: 5/5 after 1 vote

Flag

Posted by Glis 05/20/08 13:13

Not rated yet.

I've had a napster subscription for at least 3 years now. I like the service just the way it is. If they start 'selling' tracks I can only imagine it's going to be less 'free' content, and more 'buy now'. What mp3 player doesn't do DRM anymore?

My only complaint about DRM is that it's buggy. DRM has done little to reduce piracy by being buggy and a pain in the rear. If it worked like it was supposed to, invisable and fast, there would be a lot less 'analog copies' floating around.

Flag

Posted by lowbatteries 05/22/08 03:05

Rank: 5/5 after 1 vote

itunes doesn't have mp3s, they just have drm-free AAC files. Also, they WERE more expensive, now all music on itunes is 99˘, drm or not.

@Glis - you are right about DRM, even if you have money in your hand its still more user friendly to steal music online than buy it online.