http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
http://www.publish.com/article2/0,1895,1962246,00.asp
looks like the demise of iTunes...

]]>May 15th 2006 9:35AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/Aug 21st 2007 2:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
Wondering if there will be any eventual integration with the 360?]]>May 15th 2006 9:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/May 15th 2006 9:44AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/May 15th 2006 9:48AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
Um... but it is shiny. Good for them.]]>May 15th 2006 9:49AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
However, it may be the first WiMP-based store to be moderately successful. And Apple really should add a subscription service to iTunes.]]>May 15th 2006 9:50AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
Mind you, I'm obviously Apple slanted, which makes me correct.

(I'm not kidding).]]>May 15th 2006 9:52AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
DS]]>May 15th 2006 9:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://reviews.cnet.com/MTV_Urge/4505-9240_7-31864344-2.html?tag=nav

Read the Cnet Review...there is lots that differentiates WMP 11 and the Urge integration. It seems like Urge does offer some coo new things. Also WMP 11 looks kick ass. I've always thought WMP was better and more robust than Itunes...but WMP 11 is leaps beyond any media player.

And remember WMP works with Windows Media Center...and therefor Xbox 360.

To number 4 who said
"While a number of people want subscriptions, the vast majority are not going that route."

That's only because the market leader Itunes...doesn't give their customers that option. But I assure you if Itunes had subscription service...everyone would take advantage of it. This is another case of "if it's not on Ipod/Itunes than it must suck"


]]>May 15th 2006 9:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
Does it offer podcast?
What really seperates it from the others?
What's with that hudge play button, am I blind?

]]>May 15th 2006 9:56AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
but bob, seriously, "looks like the demise of iTunes"? uh, no. to beat iTunes, you have to beat the iPod and vise-versa. no one piece of software OR hardware will do that. now i wouldn't be in the least surprised if Windows & Mtv team up to launch a player, but they've got a long, crowded hill to climb.]]>May 15th 2006 9:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
The only thing that Itunes is good for is this. Once i buy the song and load it onto my ipod, I don't ever have to worry about the song again. Meaning I don't have to run to my computer every 30 days to renew my subscription license. I know it won't kill me and it's only 5 mins. But the point is that I don't have to and my music still works on my player.

I guess if you plan on listening to more than 30 + new songs each month then it's worth it.



]]>May 15th 2006 10:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/May 15th 2006 10:08AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/May 15th 2006 10:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/May 15th 2006 10:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
Read #11's comments...that's the view of the typical american consumer and the reason subscription services for music will not over take itunes. ]]>May 15th 2006 10:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
Someone who can write that code will surely make a tidy fee.

Think of all those iPods in need on an update...

]]>May 15th 2006 10:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
The player got good reviews and i'm sure it will do ok for everyone without an ipod. I mean the new iriver and toshiba players are badass and atleast they get this good interface to go along with them.

If they get this to work with ipods, then that will be cool. I'm sure a hack will come out.]]>May 15th 2006 10:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
blah blah blah

never goona be as good, popular or cool as iPod and iTunes. period]]>May 15th 2006 10:26AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
Ummm ... who doesn't have an iPod these days?]]>May 15th 2006 10:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/DRM protected music file. Be it apple, microsoft and
whatnot. Fortunately my taste in music offers me a lot
of non drm alternatives. juno.co.uk - beatport.com - playwordandsound.net - traxsource.com to name a few. I feel sorry for those who get their kicks with shitty pop :-)

Who gets the problems with DRM, yup the ones who buy the music legally. Pirates have no problems. Use some sort of watermarking that can link a file to a person, but dont ever limit the use for the person that legally bought the music.

my 02]]>May 15th 2006 10:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/May 15th 2006 10:35AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
Or VH1 where I can learn about Biggie and Tupac over and over (like anyone cared... ever)

But I seriously think MTV could have found someone to configure IIS for them and the Media Player 9/10 Encoder.

This is just the marrage of crap to Janus DRM. They just might have something though with America's music tastes. Idiots dialing up with AOL and downloading the latest track from "Talentless Whore", and loading it onto the cheapest 64MB DAP from Wal-mart. Why? because they can't wait a month to hear that song played every 15 minutes on a TV ad.

For this to be anything but dead on arrival will be ridiculious(which is what we are now in america so it might work). Microsoft will have to make it the default thing to come up in WMP11 for Vista & XP for it to make ANY money at all.]]>May 15th 2006 10:35AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/May 15th 2006 10:40AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/May 15th 2006 10:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
Get satellite radio, doesn't matter which one. Pick stations that offer real music, not the overprocessed crap that gets thrown out on top 40. Find bands you like. Buy their CDs. Check their websites first if they have them, buy direct. Rip CD to your favorite codec. Put on your favorite player.

Download-only music is just stupid. Anyone who pays for music that you can't do whatever you want with is just paying for obsolesence.]]>May 15th 2006 10:44AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
Besides... are people that shallow that they don't listen to the GOOD songs that bands make and only listen to the top 40 songs? If you are then you are missing out on 90% of the good music. Most bands write "RADIO SONGS" that don't really reflect the band but reflect the top 40 crap that kids listen to just to get a fan base.

Apple sucks... I can't believe how blind Apple followers are... open your mind... other companies make good stuff too... just because there is no Apple logo on it doesn't mean that it sucks...

I have a few MP3 players (bought over time) and none of them are iPods... but then again... I bet you Apple idiots dont know what and MP3 player is... just to let you know... the iPod IS an MP3 player... not the other way around.]]>May 15th 2006 10:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
Building yet another download-only music service that offers yet another mind-numbing DRM "solution" is idiotic. MS just seems to be grasping at straws, chasing down markets that it already missed the boat on. It's chasing Apple for online music, it's chasing Google for search, etc. Maybe they should build a goddamn OS that's worth a damn, but I digress.

URGE is only good in one aspect and that is giving people another option. But it's still silly. Find bands you like, buy their CDs, rip the stuff and put it on whatever player you choose.

Why do people have to be so damn evangelical. You're not going to change anyone's opinion by saying things like "Apple Sucks" or "stupid MS fanboy", in fact using the term fanboy tends to invalidate your argument entirely.]]>May 15th 2006 10:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
I suppose the thundering sound of failure when this falls flat will be another nail in the coffin for limited usage subscription services.]]>May 15th 2006 10:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
go into an Apple Store with an open mind, pretend u know nothing then let them show what you can do with all their products the moment you get them home]]>May 15th 2006 10:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
I love your enthusiasm for music but you're asking way too much from a consumer. The reason why services like iTunes are so popular is because they solve three issues:

1) The ease in which people can FIND music.

2) Instant gratification.

3) Integration of services and player.


To ask consumer to be actively involved in their purchasing habits the way you are suggesting is unrealistic. It's not that I dont' think that would be an ideal way to deal with things-- but it's just that. An ideal.]]>May 15th 2006 11:01AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
Plus the interface is clearly much better than WMP10, and the 'browsing by art' is surely more attractive for most users.

Neither of these affect me, I like spreadsheet-style music libraries and I don't buy enough new music to make a subscription model worthwhile so I'm happy enough with iTunes.

BUT: what is all this grumbling about DRM, wrt to iTunes? It's so easy to circumvent that any argument against it just makes you seem really lazy and / or a bit stupid. Yes of course it would be better without it, but then you wouldn't have any content. At least with iTunes you have a pretty nice DRM (compared to PlaysForSure - charging 50% more to put it onto a portable device, and cannot burn onto CDs at all), and you can get around it so easily it may as well not exist.

As for buying CDs - what is this, OldGrumpyMen.com? This is Engadget, for Christ's sake - digital distribution is the present, it's convenient, cheap, better for the environment, no browsing in stinking shops, no surly shop assistants...sometimes I wonder.]]>May 15th 2006 11:01AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
Toyota doesn't develop a car to be the "demise of Honda". The market can support them both.

Grow up.]]>May 15th 2006 11:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
Personally I would much rather have bands make songs that they WANT to make... now you have the producers/lables out there looking at the iTunes and Napster stats saying... oh... X CRAPPY TRENDY TOP 40 SONG sold the best... so lets make 10 more of X CRAPPY TRENY TOP 40 SONGS...

NO THANKS!!! Get entire CDs!!! I don't care how convenient it is to download a single song... you are missing the point... it isn't about convience... it is about QUALITY... Pretty soon there wont be any difference in music... all the bands will be selling out trying to make music that sells... not good music.]]>May 15th 2006 11:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/May 15th 2006 11:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
Oh and I don't want to try to defend Microsoft but they tend to do almost everything they do better than most other companies... you gave your search example of them trying to catch up to google, yahoo, etc... I use MSN search because the results on it ARE more relevant to what I search for... Google has a terrible stanglehold on the search market... their search doesn't really return what you are searching for... it returns crap they they want to show you... Try some simple searches in both MSN and Google and I bet you will most often find what you are looking for with MSN first.

Don't get me wrong... I use google daily but it all goes to show the difference between perception and reality... there are TONS of better/cheaper MP3 players on the market... but any iPod owner wouldn't believe that... there are better search engines than google but most poeple dont know that... this may be a better service than iTunes but then again people don't care about what it better anymore... they just care about how cool they look using it... or how trendy the things are that they use.]]>May 15th 2006 11:21AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
Gates up : Jobs Down! Long live MS!

Oh yea, any DRM sucks - buy CDs you fuckwits!]]>May 15th 2006 11:26AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
Enough said.]]>May 15th 2006 11:28AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/May 15th 2006 11:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
Jobs, if you're reading this - if I ever see you, I'm gonna take your white earphones and wrap em round your neck for turning the world into Apples drones devoted to your second rate regime armed only with second rate devices!

Gates up : Jobs Down!]]>May 15th 2006 11:35AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
I'm not sure I understand your direct link, that not buying much music = buying crap pop music. Not that I have a bias against pop music, by the way, that would be silly by definition.

Precisely because so much music is derivative, poorly-produced and full of zero talent no-hopers, I don't want a subscription. I also find that the vast majority of albums contain over 50% of filler. For the few that only 'work' if you have the whole album, or that contain more than 3 good songs, I'll buy the album from iTunes for cheaper than I can get it in the shops, with less hassle and easier to find - explain why this is a bad thing again?

The only person I agree with here is #33, Eric, who decries the quality of digital downloads - we want better quality!

PS: as for MSN search being better than Google, that is simply outrageous - any number of independent, qualitative, methodical trials have shown Google to be more efficient and accurate.]]>May 15th 2006 11:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/]]>May 15th 2006 11:40AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
Google is best for community based answers to questionsa and problems (google groups) but personally I have had problems finding things with googles web search... me personally... not a survey of people who like google....

As for the music... take something like Finger Eleven and their newest ablum... There are 2 songs on the album that are slow and "trendy" songs... they don't even come close to resembling the album as a whole... but those are the songs that hit the radio and are probably the most popular songs on iTunes from Finger Eleven... I really don't like those songs... they don't represent the bands other music, which is great... what happened to discovering music by listening to the other tracks on a CD? If you really LISTEN to music you can't make a I like this or I don't like this decision on a little audio byte sample of the song... you need to pop the CD in your car and listen to the whole thing... most of the time you will find yourself listening to the less popular music because it is better!

It sucks that things like iTunes just promote trendy and flood the music scene with CRAP.]]>May 15th 2006 11:49AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
Get up out of your chair, drive over to Target, and buy the damn CD. You'll get something with art, maybe some lyrics. You can take the hard plastic disk that comes with it to, you know, play those sames songs you'd buy from iTMS or Urge, but then, when you wanna go outside, you can eject the sucker and take it to your car! It'll sound better, and you'll get some songs that the artists took the time to write but some dick at the record company didn't wanna make in to a single.

Its great! Really! Try it!]]>May 15th 2006 12:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.mygigabeat.com/2006/05/windows-media-player-11-available-now.html, go download it and try it before making any irrelavant comments.

I've tried it and it works great. I think people will be suprised at how good it actually works. It's not a cluncky MS application.
]]>May 15th 2006 12:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/May 15th 2006 12:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
To those who can't get over the thought of "renting" music, it's only $15 a month. That's not much. Subscribing to URGE doesn't mean you can't buy a song on iTunes, or on URGE, or buy the CD. It augments what you've already got. After listening to something on Rhapsody for a while, I either buy the CD or move on.

Services like these are great for discovering and keeping up with music. (Judging from the many who think most albums are 90% filler, there's a lot of good music out there to be discovered. If you're listening to filler, you're listening to the wrong bands. It's that simple.) For active music purchasers -- and that's really who this service is for, let's be honest here -- I don't think this service is a substitute for buying music (CDs, vinyl).

eMusic is still the best out there, unless URGE is mind-blowing. No, eMusic doesn't have major label catalog, but it makes up for that with (a) MP3 format, (b) a great and growing roster of labels and (c) the best value. For those who aren't turned off by a music store that lacks Top 40 names, it can't be beat.

As for actually buying a song at URGE, no thanks. I'd rather rent the whole bunch. I don't mind renting DRM'd songs, but I'm not going to purchase one.]]>May 15th 2006 12:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
Online music stores propogates just as much good music as people are willing to listen to. They have playlists, suggested similar tracks, recommended music, guides to genres and artists...Surely some responsibility lies with the user?

Why are you so against it as a concept? There are no differences between an album from an online music store and an album from a store, except the ridiculously-easily circumvented DRM (at least in the case of iTunes) and the low bitrate.

But the advantages are numerous: convenience, recommendations, cost, environmental impact, choice...

I have tried all the major MP3 players, and have found the integration between iTunes and iPod the nicest to use for my needs. The iPod has one of the best sound qualities (as long as you invest in decent headphones). Its design is pleasing to me. Its interface is the easiest to use, and it does everything I want it to do. What MP3 player is better, and why? I am interested as I only want to buy the best and will upgrade if you offer compelling reasons. BTW, other codecs don't interest me, I consider AAC to be adequate.

]]>May 15th 2006 12:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/
When Steve Jobs says you don't need anything other than AAC and Mp3, claims that PowerPC is better than Intel chips then later replaces those chips with said Intel chips, Apple fans go nuts and accept this limitation and contradiction with joy.

When Sony releases a poorly built/ill equipped/overly expensive so called next generation machine, Sony fans go nuts and claim Kutaragi? is a genius.

The list goes on. Why don't you people just wake up and actually become good consumers. Don't buy products just because everyone else buys them, and certainly don't become a loyal brand whore.

Also, I believe buying a CD or an LP is much better than downloading a song. Remember when that guy with 10K worth of iTunes music got his HDD fried, what did Apple do. They told him to screw off. If you are going to pay for something, atleast pay for a real item, not bits of data.]]>May 15th 2006 12:34PM