Many of the editor program around here have been less than enthusiastic about “ subscription ” music overhaul such asRhapsody . Our reasons let in , but are not limited to , the followers : once you discontinue pay the monthly fee , you lose the utilisation of any medicine you ’ve downloaded from the service ; you ’re limited in what you could do with that music ( for example , you ca n’t cut it to CD with most service ) ; many such services are n’t cross - weapons platform ; and because most of these service use Microsoft ’s DRM , you ’re trammel to using particular music - management software and a limited selection of portable media musician . ( The latter point is of course also true of Apple ’s iTunes Store — except that iTunes - purchased content works with iTunes and the iPod — you get laid , the software and player that own the vast legal age of their respective markets . )
But these complaints about subscription Robert William Service are based on a finical ( though very popular ) hearing model — one where you download music to your computer and then heed it on multiple gimmick such as iPods , other computers , distant medicine actor , and the alike . In such a setup , subscription services present obvious hurdle race . So it ’s no surprise to me that these service have n’t been very successful . The absolute majority of music hearer have mystify to the iTunes Store ( which , though still restricted , offer more options thanks to a less - restrictive DRM policy and the many accessories available for iPods and iTunes ) , their own CDs , or — let ’s not kid ourselves here — slip music .
But this computer - based , multiple - listening - machine example is n’t the only approach to enjoying digital euphony out there . A few calendar week ago , Sonosdropped in to show me the newSonos 2.0 software . I ’ve been abigfanof Sonos ’ Digital Music System , which , though pricey , is currently my favorite method for beget music from a computer to other rooms in the family . But the Music System does more than just act back your own music . Like Slim DevicesSqueezeboxproducts and Roku’sSoundBridge Radio , the Sonos system also support Internet radio and Rhapsody ’s music inspection and repair directly . However , unlike those two , the Sonos scheme does n’t require a computer running Rhapsody software — it connects to Rhapsody flat . By offering verbatim — and tardily — graze and playback of Rhapsody content , the Sonos scheme changes the debate about subscription services .
What am I spill about here ? Consider that when you ’ve got a Sonos ZonePlayer connected to your home stereophonic system organization , and you ’re sitting in front of that scheme — rather than in front of your computer — it does n’t really matterwheremusic is stored : on your calculator , on a mesh drive , or somewhere on the cyberspace . Nor does it needfully weigh whether or not you “ own ” that euphony or if you’re able to reassign it to your iPod . What matter is that you have instant accession to the mental object — you just want to be able-bodied to call up a runway and play it , or flummox it in a playlist , right then and there in your living room . In this context , not only does a subscription service oeuvre , but it ’s downright attractive . For $ 10 a month — less than the price of a single atomic number 48 , or the same terms as an album on the iTunes Store — you have crying access to somewhere in the neighborhood of a million tracks . finger like hearing David Bowie ? you may listen to him all good afternoon . Have a playlist of 80s favorite you ’ve set up ? jam play and they ’re streamed to your stereoscopic picture . It ’s a bit like on - demand cable television boob tube — you pay a fee for have exigent entree to about any music at any time through your place entertainment scheme .
Sure , the tone of subscription - service audio is n’t as good as medicine you ’ve rip yourself ( although that ’s reliable of iTunes - purchased music , as well ) . And if you ’re a laborious portable - player user , subscription service still have pregnant flaws . But if you mind to most of your music while at home , being able to instantly play back closely any birdsong you may think of is a compelling feature . And in this particular case , the Sonos system , with its Controller ’s turgid , well-defined display and iPod - like coil - cycle interface , makes accessing that content easily and allows you to listen in every room where you ’ve got a ZonePlayer . And at only $ 10 a month , the cost of the Rhapsody subscription is depressed enough that it ’s prosperous to absolve using both Rhapsodyanda for - purchase table service such as iTunes or eMusic .
I ’ve been consider the leverage of a Sonos system for my own home since I first reviewed it . This improved consolidation with Rhapsody may just get me to seize with teeth the smoke and empty my wallet — and , for the first clock time , to join a subscription - based medicine service . I ’d still use the iTunes Store just as much , and I ’ll still be buying CDs , but I welcome any convenient source of content for my home entertainment system .
Of of course , a Sonos / Rhapsody partnership is n’t the only situation in which a subscription - base service will work ; it ’s just the first that ’s acquire me over . I suspect we ’ll see a good number of products over the next few year that will extend similar functionality . In fact , the Sonos / Rhapsody demo got me thinking a bit more about Apple ’s indisposition to offer a subscription - base service . Up until now , I guess the company has been on the right track by limiting iTunes to a for - purchase model . But that ’s not to say this will always be the case . Technologies shift , and new technologies could create more contexts in which a subscription model would make sense .
For example , Apple ’s already annunciate at least one “ listen at home plate ” mathematical product with an interface that could conceivably be used to interact with a subscription service : iTV . What if you could pay Apple a monthly fee to have streaming access to all music content on the iTunes Store through your iTV ? And the internet have been inundated with rumour of other potential product — namely , an “ iPhone ” and wireless iPod — that might be suitable for such use .
As with television set , I imagine the euphony industry is going to be moving at least a lump of its distribution to on - demand military service ; after all , there ’s value to the consumer in being able to hear to so much medicine for a low monthly fee , and the music industry loves subscription military service because they get revenue without turn over over actual copy of music . As more and more people become well-off with well out sound recording — and , just as authoritative , have the engineering to conveniently expend it — streaming services are proceed to become a feasible alternative for many more the great unwashed than they are today . And I do n’t expect Apple to sit down lazily by while that happens .
