Microsoft MSN music store modeled after iTunes
updated 09:00 am EDT, Thu September 16, 2004
Microsoft\'s \"iTunes store\"
David Pogue has a look at in the latest edition of The New York Times, noting that Microsoft looked to Apple's implementation for guidance: "The Microsoft music store (in beta at music.msn.com) couldn't look more like Apple's iTunes music store (itunes.com) if you ran it through a copying machine. 'Apple set the bar very high,' a Microsoft manger admitted. 'We're trying to match that. We told our developers, 'Look at how Apple does it.'" [free registration required]
"Microsoft is running a simple multimillion-dollar experiment to force an answer to this question: If all other variables are equal (price, selection, features), which music system do people like better: Apple's or Microsoft's? At the moment, it's not a completely valid test, because MSN Music is not, in fact, ready to compete head-on with Apple's store," lacking a long list of Apple's convenience features--many of which Microsoft says that it will eventually add. The article notes that Microsoft's music store has a few unique features, such as live playback of radio station music (whereas Apple offers only a listing of songs) and unique/exclusive albums, but offers differing personal music rights for certain songs, causing much confusion.
Lawsuit
09/16, 09:11am reply
Like that wasn't an invitation to sue Microsoft, admiting they copied iTMS, lol.
Why don't they just join the crowd and become a iTMS partner.
ronjamin
Baninated
Joined: May 2002
duh
09/16, 09:27am reply
what, ms would actually come up with something innovative? original? what in their history would make anyone ever think that? if someone doesn't lead the way they pretty much sit there twiddling their thumbs waiting for the next big thing to rip off.
nat
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2002
um,
09/16, 09:59am reply
that is sooooo original of M$ to copy innovation once again.
GK
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2001
microsoft playbook
09/16, 10:04am reply
Yup. Microsoft playbook page 1: Copy Apple!
kw14
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Radio
09/16, 10:27am reply
So MSN Music does radio..
So what is that "Radio" button in iTunes for?
Tengu
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2004
It will never be the same
09/16, 11:28am reply
Unless they build the music store into the player, the experience will always be very clunky. iTunes is so great because they built the browser into iTunes specifically to work with their site.
Roehlstation
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
MS
09/16, 11:56am reply
Microsoft does what it has always done : copy Apple. What should you expect from MS after all ?
HeatherEcsedi
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 2001
Not the same
09/16, 12:36pm reply
I've said this before. The MSN Music store is nothing like the iTunes Music Store. What scares me is that people believe it is the same. This either means there's a bunch of people who don't know how to use iTMS, or don't realise how great it does things. The MSN Music store is clunky, visually stale and behaviourally incompetent. (Mind you, there are plenty of other things that MS have done that could be evaluated with the same conclusions.)
vickys-box
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2004
IE and Netscape
09/16, 12:50pm reply
IE and Netscape Navigator = MS Music and iTunes
De Ja Vue
suhail
Senior User
Joined: Nov 1999
Unbelievable
09/16, 01:41pm reply
Didn't MS initially claim that their music store and it's design was not influenced by the iTunes Music store?
"Apple set the bar very high," a Microsoft manger admitted. "We're trying to match that. We told our developers, 'Look at how Apple does it.'"
Un-friggin-believable
Also, Pogue erred. There are several albums on iTunes that you have to buy in their entirety.
Toyin
Mac Elite
Joined: Nov 2000