| iPod music downloads can be a very positive | | | | available in their database. You can also |
| experience if you know the rules of the game. | | | | search the related iPod or music download |
| With the enormous number of "unlimited music | | | | forums for info on the site. If others are |
| downloads" sites on the Internet, you can be | | | | satisfied with their service, chances you |
| overwhelmed or confused as to which one is | | | | will be too. |
| right for you. I'll outline 3 primary things | | | | |
| to consider as a minimum while you make up | | | | My account with one of the sites requires you |
| your mind about them. | | | | to download a free utility which will search |
| | | | for songs based on the title or the artist's |
| Scam Sites | | | | name. The search results sometimes include |
| | | | several hundred results. Naturally a number |
| The first and foremost thing to consider is | | | | of the results are the same song, but there |
| whether the site you're at is just there to | | | | is a star rating system indicating the |
| take your money. Sad to say, but in the real | | | | quality of each file. The majority of the |
| world, there are a huge number of scam sites | | | | files are mp3 format but some are in WMA |
| on the Internet. In the case of iPod music | | | | format. |
| downloads, you may want to do your homework | | | | |
| and thoroughly research a site before you | | | | Price |
| reach for your credit card. | | | | |
| | | | Your options for quality iPod music downloads |
| One site in particular is very attractive and | | | | are numerous. But if the site passed the |
| shows they offer movies, games, TV shows, | | | | first two tests above then you should |
| almost anything you want. But when you click | | | | consider the long term cost. Prominent sites |
| the "Register" link to sign up, a credit card | | | | like Yahoo and MSN can be very expensive. For |
| selection page appears showing a grayed out | | | | instance a Yahoo music account will cost |
| disclaimer on the bottom. If you left click | | | | around $70 per year and MSN charges about a |
| and drag to highlight the paragraph you'll | | | | dollar per song. So your typical "unlimited |
| find out they DO NOT host iPod downloads of | | | | music downloads" site is a bargain, since |
| any sort! In fact they're only selling you, | | | | they mostly offer a lifetime membership in |
| for $37, a list of other sites that DO offer | | | | the 35 to $50 range. |
| a download service. | | | | |
| | | | In Summary |
| The disclaimer reads as follows, | | | | |
| | | | As with anything in life, if it looks too |
| "Disclaimer: This website is a database (ie: | | | | good to be true a lot of times it is. But in |
| an index) to other websites that host | | | | this case, the nominal fee for joining one of |
| downloads. This website does not facilitate | | | | these unlimited music download services can |
| in the download process in any way. This | | | | be well worth it. Because, the real fact is |
| website is not affiliated with, nor has | | | | many of them use a P2P file sharing utility |
| control over any of the websites it links to | | | | similar to the one I was required to |
| ..." | | | | download. |
| | | | |
| It seems to me you can get what they have to | | | | The iPod music download services that use it |
| offer for free using a Google or Yahoo! | | | | are basically charging you the same price as |
| search for iPod music downloads like I did. | | | | the utility's owner. So effectively, you're |
| So it's best to thoroughly research the site | | | | getting their customer service for free. Some |
| you're interested in before you spend your | | | | of them offer additional free software |
| money. A Google search with the site's name | | | | incentives, game downloads, and movie and |
| and the word scam would be a good place to | | | | video downloads included in the membership |
| start. | | | | fee. |
| | | | |
| Quantity of Music/Video Files | | | | Most of the services I looked at also include |
| | | | free iPod music conversion software. I'm |
| The top download sites have millions of | | | | happy with my account and I download several |
| multi-media files; movies, videos, games, | | | | tunes everyday. But I did my homework and |
| songs. The ones I use claim to have access to | | | | researched the sites for authenticity, file |
| about 100 million files. Be certain to look | | | | quantity, customer satisfaction and price |
| on each site for the number of download files | | | | before I spent my money. |