“Indie-label executives who caught a sneak peek of Microsoft’s music download service here March 18 at the South by Southwest Music Conference give it high marks,” Reuters reports. “The software giant’s offering, the MSN Music Service, is not slated to launch until the fall, at the earliest. It will compete with already up-and-running services including Apple Computer’s iTunes Music Store and Roxio’s Napster.”
Reuters continues, “Microsoft is stressing the ease of consumer use of its system, but sources say it is no easier to use than existing offerings. ‘They seem to be implying it’s a big step forward in helping people find content, and I didn’t see that,’ says one attending label exec, who asked to remain anonymous.”
“MSN Music Service will be compatible with most portable players, including Dell DJ and Microsoft’s own Portable Media Center, which bows later this year. The exception is Apple’s iPod,” Reuters reports. “‘Generally, we just wanted people to get excited that they’re going to have other opportunities out there,’ says Christine Andrews, MSN product manager.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: “Generally, we just wanted people to get excited that they’re going to have other opportunities out there,” said Christine Andrews, MSN product manager. “Other opportunities,” as in, not Apple’s iTunes/iPod. According to The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, the term “vaporware” means, “products announced far in advance of any release (which may or may not actually take place). The term came from Atari users and was later applied by Infoworld to Microsoft’s continuous lying about Microsoft Windows.” [source] An important note: any current legit music download service that does not work with the market-dominating player, Apple’s iPod, has proven less than successful thus far.
