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