Napster MP3 store to rival iTunes store with 6 million DRM-free tracks

Now what will I do with my 200GB of iTunes content?!

Napster is far too cheesy of a company to give my money too. DRM hasn't affected me today. I have my iPods and soon I'll have an Apple TV. But clearly Apple is going to move to DRM free tracks. They already do it with EMI music. Hell Apple will probably have a tool/feature that strips all DRM from existing songs once they can.

I stopped using iTunes when Amazon started the MP3 download store. I still use the iTMS to look up or sample music, but always head to Amazon to purchase.

Now that Napster has decided to join the DRM Free club, I'll gladly use both Amazon and Napster.

If you can't compete on something substantial you might as well compete with buzzwords! If you are using iTunes, you are probably using an iPod. Now I get the whole "down with DRM" thing, but if you're in the iPod/iTunes user base then it really is meaningless. It's all about...(say it with me) EASE OF USE! I honestly could not give a rip whether or not I have DRM as long as Apple continues to support my purchase and if I really need to get rid of the DRM, I burn it to a CD!

BTW Down with DRM and all that, but also down with dicks who steal.

I think there's a third way.

What if Apple just closed iTMS and instead had a direct portal within iTunes to Amazon?

If Apple basically breaks even on iTMS anyway and it's basically a lead-in to sell more iPods, iPhones and computers -- it's the integration with iTunes that makes it compelling.

They could just as easily integrate with another service, too. Heck, iTMS could be a skin for Amazon if they wanted it to. I'm sure Amazon wouldn't mind at all ;)

Apple still sells more hardware. Amazon makes more money. Music Companies still lose more control and customers get DRM-free music. Everybody (but the record companies) wins.

Trying to determine what is going on at Napster's site is a joke. Since I clearly don't get how their model works and what programs they actually offer, perhaps they should hire someone to explain it on their site. All I see is subscription.

@Matt Lu

I DRM free my itunes music tracks by the usual method. Piece of cake and NO monthly fee.

Totally useless - again. They never learn. We can't keep paying $10 for each album. It just doesn't work anymore, and it's forcing people to download illegally. I'd much rather pay up to $100 a month to download as much music as I want. It's about time they give us subscription based limitless music downloads so we can finally go legal and still experience the ease of use we're used to.

Seems to me the music labels are taking a big risk in allowing companies other than Apple to sell music without DRM. Smells like a restraint of trade violation and/or conspiracy violation to me.

And where is the Mac version of this software?

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We're sorry, Napster is not currently compatible with your operating system.

Napster is currently only compatible with Windows Vista/XP/2000.

Windows 95/98/ME/NT and the Mac OS are not supported at this time.
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Yea, that's what I thought.