Itunes is the distribution software used by Apple to download mp3 files to their IPod devices. Free music downloads for Itunes would therefore mean free music for MacIntosh computers only, except they also offer a Windows version for the Microsoft PC. The Microsoft world also uses its Windows Media Player to distribute mp3 and mpeg files to PDA and other similar devices to Apple's IPod.
You can freely download free tunes from the Apple Itunes website. There is website that appears like it might be the grail of free downloads, Napster it allows the registered member to listen to each song in a 2,000,000 catalogue free for five times. After listening to 10,000,000 songs or each song five times, you must take a subscription. However, the subscription fee is pretty decent so most of us can afford it. This will allow you to listen to more songs and download those you wish listen on your IPod or PDA. There is another subscription called "Napster on the Go", allows you to download your playlist and to refill your mp3 player with unlimited songs for $14.95. That's what I will call a reasonable fee.
When I hear the phrases 'music downloads' or 'mp3' I always think about hip hop, rap and rock music. Why is that? My imagination tells me that it is only young people like teenagers and student who downloads this kind of music and that all downloadable music is of this kind. And my impression is that most people think that way too. But I'll tell you one thing: I couldn't be more wrong. Itunes and similar web sites are offering all kinds of music for download.
Itunes musical selection presented on their web site covers a more traditional menu. I was able to select bagpipe, gospel, jazz and even Papuan War Chants, something I haven't been able to for four years. Perhaps Napster is more geared to pleasing the customer rather than the new wave music artist. There selections are alternative, Christian, Classical, Country, Dance/Electronic, Hip Hop, Jazz, Latin, Pop, R and B, Rock, World, New Releases, Recommends, Playlists, Napsterline, FFWD (Brand new artists), and RWND (reminiscence on music and musicians past).
Perhaps what all American websites are cautious about is breaking copyright laws. The entire free music download site scene is some variation of "listen free somewhat; but don't count on free downloads"! Perhaps Napster's legal battle has reversed the title of this article to "Don't you wish there really were free music download web sites?" |
