ipod

02/10/2005, 6:05pm, EST

Thursday, February 10th

Napster hopes to steal market from iTunes

Napster has revealed an aggressive marketing campaign against Apple's iPod as part of its plans for a full launch of the Napster To Go portable subscription service later this quarter. The service is one of the first services enabled by Microsoft's Janus technology, which allows music files bought via subscription services to be transferred from a PC to a portable device. According to Napster CEO Chris Gorog, his company is betting heavily that the monthly 'all you can eat' subscription model will win customers over the download strategy currently pursued by iTunes. Gorog believes the best way to market the new service is to emphasise its advantages over iTunes. He's particularly keen to highlight iTunes' iPod-only compatibility. "We're going to be communicating to people that it's stupid to buy an iPod."

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Sydney Tsai

nothing stupid.

02/10, 6:21pm, EST

It's stupid to support windows-only renting service...
and...allows music files bought via subscription services to be transferred from a PC to a portable device? it's so 2002...

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shmoolie

stupid to buy an iPod?

02/10, 6:24pm, EST

Napster must be desperate if they think that they are going to convince anyone that it's "stupid to buy an iPod". Apple's already sold millions of them and it's the hottest gadget on the market.

Not only that but you CAN play music from any service on an iPod - just export it as an mp3 via iTunes first. If it can be converted to an mp3 (which is an open standard) then it can be played on a iPod.

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slboett

Not gonna happen...

02/10, 6:29pm, EST

I just saw the latest SoundScan numbers - they are at the bottom of the shitpile - even after those lame SuperBowl commercials...
Give it up, nOObs.

SB

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JohnnyFive

Stupid say, stupid do.

02/10, 6:42pm, EST

Last I checked, iTunes is the only music store that's compatible with both Windows and Mac. Can Napster boast the same thing in terms of compatibility? I think not. Why hasn't anyone else launched a music store that's Mac compatible? Why hasn't Microsoft updated WMA for Mac? I know, I know: we're too small a market for them. Well then, likewise, WMA-only stores and WMA players are too small a market for iTunes/iPod.

So there. Don't be so hypocritical Napster et al. Quit proselytizing about compatibility already. We've heard it all before.

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Daveecee

Too bad that...

02/10, 6:45pm, EST

Too bad that you have to keep your subscription with Napster open to play the music.

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ryanjensen

Re: stupid to buy an iPod

02/10, 6:46pm, EST

The article notes correctly that the iPod is the only player compatible with iTunes (without hacks) -- not that the iPod can only play protected AAC. Ever try using music purchased through iTunes to fill up a Dell DJ?

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scarpatti

Great marketing plan...

02/10, 6:47pm, EST

Wow, brilliant marketing plan..."you're all idiots, now buy my product." Must've missed the "You must insult your customer" marketing class in college.

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I.P. Freely

Here is an IDEA

02/10, 6:56pm, EST

Why don't they SELL THEIR product instead of bad mouthing other products. Espicially when their logic is so fucking warped that it makes no fucking sense.

Desperate time calls for desperate measures, I guess.

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jonbwfc1

It's a good idea but..

02/10, 7:01pm, EST

"Why don't they SELL THEIR product instead of bad mouthing other products."
That would be because their product has nothing at all to recommend it over the competition. I doubt anyone ever sold much on the line 'we've got everything the other guys got... only it's not as good'.

What these guys banging on about WMA and compatability don't seem to get .. well ONE OF the things they don't get is that they have to have a USP. The USP for the iTMS is the iPod. It's that simple. The USP for Napster is er.. is er.. Oh yeah, if you stop paying us, we take your music away! No hold on, that's not right..

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ibulldog

free advertising for iPod

02/10, 7:04pm, EST

Not that Apple needs it, but think of the further attention the iPod is going to receive. This is one area where you don't necessarily want to battle Apple, mind you--in their marketing of the iPod.

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