Napster is "free" again.

Ghoulish Delight · 05-02-2006, 08:31 AM

Saw a plane towing a banner at Coachella declaring that Napster is once again free. So I checked it out.

It's sort of free. You can now sign up and get a free account, without a credit card. You can download songs for free. But you can only listen to the song 5 times. On the 6th time, it plays a 30 second clip and offers you the option of buying the song for 99 cents or subscribing to Napsters monthly service which gives you unlimited downloads.

Meh.

scaeagles · 05-02-2006, 08:35 AM

I am in full support of the protection of intellectual property and copyrights and was always in full support of the music industry in regards to their legal wranglings with Napster. I actually think that is incredibly reasonable and am surprised that the music industry went with a "try it before you buy it" approach.

Ghoulish Delight · 05-02-2006, 08:37 AM

Oh, I don't think it's unreasonable...it just doesn't excite me that much.

scaeagles · 05-02-2006, 08:40 AM

Ahh....got it.

Cadaverous Pallor · 05-02-2006, 11:48 AM

Napster should have ceased to be when it lost the case ages ago. This is just pathetic

Ghoulish Delight · 05-02-2006, 12:35 PM

Eh, I don't think it's pathetic. They seem to be making money, and it is an interesting concept. It makes it the only legit service that allows you to hear full songs before you pay a dime. I do see the value in it, I just know I won't end up using it.

Prudence · 05-02-2006, 04:35 PM

But the point of Napster was to thumb one's nose at The Man. Now that they apparently operate with The Man's blessing, they are per se pathetic. Do we have to revoke your counter-culture permit?

Ghoulish Delight · 05-02-2006, 04:38 PM

The Man's still pretty ticked at the $1/song model. Which makes it an even better way to thumb one's nose at the Man as now there's a perfectly legal way to annoy them.

Cadaverous Pallor · 05-02-2006, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Eh, I don't think it's pathetic.

The pathetic part is the humongous banner we saw which said "Napster is free again, go crazy". Attempting to make it sound like the old days seems like they're grasping at straws.

You're right about the Man not liking the one buck model...we'll see how long that holds up.

Prudence · 05-02-2006, 07:43 PM

Well, it thwarts the portion of The Man that produces music, but it's a-okay by The Man of Law and Justice. So, partial redemption.

05-02-2006, 08:31 AM	#1
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Napster is "free" again. Saw a plane towing a banner at Coachella declaring that Napster is once again free. So I checked it out. It's sort of free. You can now sign up and get a free account, without a credit card. You can download songs for free. But you can only listen to the song 5 times. On the 6th time, it plays a 30 second clip and offers you the option of buying the song for 99 cents or subscribing to Napsters monthly service which gives you unlimited downloads. Meh. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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05-02-2006, 08:35 AM	#2
scaeagles I LIKE! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,819	I am in full support of the protection of intellectual property and copyrights and was always in full support of the music industry in regards to their legal wranglings with Napster. I actually think that is incredibly reasonable and am surprised that the music industry went with a "try it before you buy it" approach.
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05-02-2006, 08:37 AM	#3
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Oh, I don't think it's unreasonable...it just doesn't excite me that much. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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05-02-2006, 08:40 AM	#4
scaeagles I LIKE! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,819	Ahh....got it.
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05-02-2006, 11:48 AM	#5
Cadaverous Pallor ohhhh baby Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Parental Bliss Posts: 12,364	Napster should have ceased to be when it lost the case ages ago. This is just pathetic __________________ The second star to the right shines in the night for you
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05-02-2006, 12:35 PM	#6
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Eh, I don't think it's pathetic. They seem to be making money, and it is an interesting concept. It makes it the only legit service that allows you to hear full songs before you pay a dime. I do see the value in it, I just know I won't end up using it. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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05-02-2006, 04:35 PM	#7
Prudence Beelzeboobs, Esq. Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Gavel - I haz it Posts: 6,287	But the point of Napster was to thumb one's nose at The Man. Now that they apparently operate with The Man's blessing, they are per se pathetic. Do we have to revoke your counter-culture permit? __________________ traguna macoities tracorum satis de
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05-02-2006, 04:38 PM	#8
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	The Man's still pretty ticked at the $1/song model. Which makes it an even better way to thumb one's nose at the Man as now there's a perfectly legal way to annoy them. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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05-02-2006, 07:43 PM	#10
Prudence Beelzeboobs, Esq. Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Gavel - I haz it Posts: 6,287	Well, it thwarts the portion of The Man that produces music, but it's a-okay by The Man of Law and Justice. So, partial redemption. __________________ traguna macoities tracorum satis de
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