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DIGITAL MUSIC LINKS
DIGITAL MUSIC PLAYER SOFTWARE •
FILE SHARING SOFTWARE
DIGITAL MUSIC
SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES •
DIGITAL MUSIC STORES
DIGITAL MUSIC PLAYER
SOFTWARE
These free players can be used to listen to CDs, MP3 files,
and various other audio file formats.
Certain players are also required to hear music streamed from music subscription
services.
I Tunes
Windows Media Player
Real Player
PEER-TO-PEER (P2P)
FILE SHARING SOFTWARE
This software enables users to access the global Gnutella
network and share files.
The World Future Fund does not in any way endorse the use of any of these
services for any activity that might lead to the violation of legal copyrights
File Sharing Software Reviews
Kazaa
Lime Wire
Soulseek
BIT TORRENT
The latest innovation in file sharing software is Bit Torrent,
which enables huge files be downloaded far faster via multiple streams.
Bit
Torrent
Azureus Java BitTorrent Client
Bit Torrent Search Engines
The Pirate
Bay
DIGITAL MUSIC
SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES
Yahoo! Music Unlimited Beta
This unlimited download service is available for $4.99 per month or $59.88 for
an entire year.
Subscription downloads can be stored in most compatible portable music players,
except the Apple iPod.
Subscription downloads cannot be burned onto a CD. Subscribers can
purchase burnable downloads for $0.79 apiece.
These downloads can be burned onto a CD. Subscribers must have Microsoft
Windows XP or 2000 software in order to use the Yahoo! Music Engine for
downloads.
Real Rhapsody
Download the Real Rhapsody player software for free and get a free 14-day trial.
A subscription price of $14.99 per month for the next three months begins at end
of the trial period. Buying a subscription enables the unlimited download
of songs to your PC from Rhapsody's database. Songs can then be downloaded to
most portable music players (except the Apple iPod). Owners of portable music
players may also subscribe to
Rhapsody-To-Go. Rhapsody-To-Go enables subscribers to download and use
the Rhapsody software on their portable music players. Rhapsody only works
with the following operating systems: Windows XP, Me, 2000 or 98 SE.
Napster
Using Napster requires downloading the Napster software and paying a
subscription price of $9.95 per month. A Napster subscription buys unlimited
downloads of songs to your PC only. Subscribers who want to load songs
onto a portable player can purchase individual songs via Napster Light for $0.99
apiece. This price is in addition to the $9.95 subscription fee per month.
Subscribers who want to load an unlimited number of songs onto their portable
players must subscribe to
Napster To Go for $14.95 per month. A
Napster To Go
subscription has all of the benefits of a regular Napster subscription in
addition to allowing the unlimited transfer of songs to a portable player.
Subscribers to Napster to Go can currently get three months free.
Subscribers to all Napster services get access to 50+ channels of Napster Radio.
Music downloads from Napster are compatible with most portable music players,
but not Apple iPod. The Napster software is only compatible with
Windows XP/2000. Users must also be running
Internet Explorer 5.1 or higher and Windows Media Player 7.1 or higher.
DIGITAL MUSIC STORES
iTunes
Songs can be bought individually for $0.99 apiece. Songs downloaded from
iTunes can only be played on an Apple iPod or on computers, including PCs, which
have the iTunes software.
Yahoo! Music
Unlimited Beta or
Yahoo! Music
Engine
There are two ways to purchase burnable music online using Yahoo! The first is
via the Yahoo! Music Unlimited Beta subscription service.
This unlimited download service is available for a $4.99 per month or $59.88 for
an entire year.
Subscription downloads can be stored in most compatible portable music players,
except the Apple iPod. They cannot be burned onto a CD.
Subscribers can purchase burnable downloads for $0.79 apiece. These
downloads can be burned onto a CD.
The second way to purchase music is with the Yahoo! Music Engine. Download the
free engine and buy songs for $0.99 apiece
Songs purchased via the Yahoo! Music Engine can be burned onto a CD or stored
in most portable music players, except Apple iPod.
Subscribers must have Microsoft Windows XP or 2000 software in order to use
the Yahoo! Music for downloads.
Real Music
Store
Individual songs can be purchased and downloaded for $0.99 apiece. Entire CDs
can be downloaded for $9.99. Purchase of songs requires download of the free
Real Player 10. The Real Player is compatible with most newer Mac and PC
operating systems. Purchased songs/CDs can be burned onto CD or loaded onto
compatible music file players, including the Apple iPod. Real Player.
MSN Music
Songs are available for purchase for $0.99 apiece. Buyers are required to
download the Microsoft Music Assistant software to download the music.
Purchased music downloads are compatible with most portable music players, but
not Apple iPod.
Napster
The digital music store at Napster is called Napster Light. Napster light is a
store linked to Napster's subscription service. Access to Napster Light
requires downloading the Napster software and subscribing to Napster for the
normal monthly price of $9.95. Songs can then be purchased from Napster
Light and downloaded for $0.99 apiece, entire CDs from $6.95 apiece. Music
purchased and downloaded via Napster Light is compatible with most portable
music players, but not Apple iPod. Music downloads from Napster are
compatible with most portable music players, but not Apple iPod. The Napster
software is only compatible with Windows
XP/2000. Users must also be running Internet Explorer 5.1 or higher and
Windows Media Player 7.1 or higher.
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