| Some industry experts claim that the | | | | with the player before they can work |
| increasingly wide availability of MP3 | | | | effectively and not all players have this. |
| downloads is showing signs of taking over the | | | | So, it's worth while checking out a few |
| way that we buy and listen to the music that | | | | stores first to see what will work best with |
| we love. The days of the CD may not be over | | | | their software and services before you go any |
| as such but it's certainly true that many | | | | further. |
| more consumers nowadays are using one or more | | | | |
| download services to build their music | | | | You also need to consider the format of |
| collections. | | | | tracks that are made available to you. The |
| | | | standard digital formats are MP3 and WMA but |
| After all, what could be easier? Digital | | | | there are many variations out there. Apple's |
| downloads don't clutter up your house and | | | | iTunes service, for example, works with AAC |
| they are instantly available. In many cases | | | | and Sony have developed a format called |
| they'll cost you less than going out to buy a | | | | ATRAC. If you mix and match formats then |
| CD. And, with this kind of online store at | | | | you'll end up having to convert files at some |
| your disposal you can cherry pick the tracks | | | | point which can be time consuming. This can |
| you want to download at any given time which | | | | also result in the loss of some audio quality |
| could save you even more money. So, you can, | | | | in some cases. |
| for example, simply download and pay for a | | | | |
| couple of songs that you like from an album | | | | If you're an Apple iPod Nano fan then you |
| rather than having to shell out your | | | | probably won't look much further than the |
| hard-earned cash on a full CD just to get | | | | iTunes service which is fair enough. iTunes |
| these particular tracks. | | | | are arguably one of - if not the - biggest |
| | | | online music stores out there. You do need to |
| Digital download services may be big news now | | | | be aware, however, that many other digital |
| but the concept of MP3 downloads has been | | | | download sites aren't actually iPod |
| around for a good few years. Nowadays it's | | | | compatible so you may have some problems here |
| real simple to find a fully legal service | | | | if you want to shop elsewhere as well. The |
| where you can buy and download all the music | | | | same goes for MAC computers to a certain |
| you could ever want but a few years ago you'd | | | | extent so do check on your computer's |
| probably have been restricted to doing it the | | | | compatibility as well as your player's. And, |
| illegal way via peer to peer (P2P) web sites. | | | | your operating system may restrict your |
| | | | choices as well - some download services have |
| P2P sites still exist in a grey area of the | | | | been set up to work with Windows XP and/or |
| music industry. These sites allow individuals | | | | 2000 and may not work on earlier operating |
| to basically share their own music | | | | systems. Again, check first before you commit |
| collections from their own computers at no | | | | to spending your cash. |
| minimal cost - when you sign up to the | | | | |
| service you can search for the music you want | | | | If you're looking for some ideas then you |
| and download it from a fellow user that has | | | | should take a look at the sites listed below. |
| it. In return you'll generally be expected to | | | | These will give you a general idea of how |
| share your own music as well for other users | | | | these services work, the kinds of music on |
| to access. These kinds of site aren't | | | | offer (both in terms of catalog size and |
| generally recognized as legal although some | | | | genre) and how they may work for you (you'll |
| sites such as Napster and Wippit have | | | | also find more in-depth analysis of their |
| attained legal status whilst still retaining | | | | services elsewhere on our site): |
| a P2P principle. | | | | |
| | | | - iTunes |
| As the world of digital downloads has grown, | | | | |
| however, it has seen a huge increase in the | | | | - eMusic |
| number of legal and recognized MP3 downloads | | | | |
| services. The most famous of all here is | | | | - MusicMatch |
| indubitably Apple's iTunes store but many | | | | |
| more online stores are springing up with | | | | - Napster |
| similar services on offer. There are even | | | | |
| digital downloads charts nowadays so you can | | | | - MSN Music |
| see what's hot on the net as well as in the | | | | |
| stores. | | | | - Audible |
| | | | |
| So, you may have your player equipment | | | | - Wal-Mart |
| already or you may be thinking of purchasing | | | | |
| a digital music player. Your next natural | | | | - Sony Connect |
| step is to look at your options in the | | | | |
| digital download sites that are out there to | | | | - Bleep |
| see whether you want to use them to load your | | | | |
| player with music. Bear in mind that you can | | | | - LiveDownloads |
| download as little or as much as you like | | | | |
| which is why these sites are so popular. You | | | | - Audio Lunchbox |
| can download and build massive music | | | | |
| collections or simply a couple of tracks | | | | - Yahoo! Music |
| every now and then. These stores are the | | | | |
| online equivalent of a music megastore - you | | | | - Buy Music |
| just don't have to leave the house to use | | | | |
| them! | | | | - Rhapsody |
| | | | |
| The main thing to consider before you choose | | | | - RealPlayer |
| any digital download site is player | | | | |
| compatibility. Not all players can be used | | | | One final thing - don't think that all legal |
| with all sites and their services. You'll | | | | MP3 downloads are going to cost you money. |
| probably find that most players can access | | | | You can search for all kinds of legal free |
| these stores to buy tracks but subscription | | | | downloads on the Internet - these are usually |
| services (where you pay a monthly fee to | | | | offered by sites promoting up and coming |
| access unlimited music) may not work with the | | | | bands or by artists and record labels |
| player you have or the player you plan to | | | | themselves. You won't necessarily find full |
| buy. This is generally based on the fact that | | | | albums here but you'll certainly be able to |
| these subscription services need a DRM | | | | pick up a few choice tracks! |
| (Digital Rights Management) compatibility | | | | |