This whole story seems weird. How exactly is this, "bucking the iTunes method of selling music online"? The music through gBox appears to be sold the same way all other music is sold online. The only difference is that Universal is buying ads to promote an online music store no one has ever heard of before. If Universal were to buy ads directing people to iTunes, it wouldn't change the way iTunes music was sold.
Another weird part, "Songs at gBox cost 99 cents each. For the Universal songs that are part of the test, gBox will offer an MP3 version free of copy-protection technology known as digital-rights management, or DRM. A DRM-enabled version will be available at the same price." Offering DRM or DRM-free songs at the same price. Only Universal could come up with that business model.
And the whole, "we don't want to confuse Macintosh users by letting them buy the songs" probably has more to do with "we want to screw over Apple until they see the light".
I've the feeling, though, that Universal is going to sell a miserably low number of DRM-free songs and decide their test proved that there is no market for DRM free songs. (where all it will really prove is that there is no market for yet another crappy online music store trying to find a gimmick instead of creating a lush user experience.)
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This whole story seems weird. How exactly is this, "bucking the iTunes method of selling music online"? The music through gBox appears to be sold the same way all other music is sold online. The only difference is that Universal is buying ads to promote an online music store no one has ever heard of before. If Universal were to buy ads directing people to iTunes, it wouldn't change the way iTunes music was sold.
Another weird part, "Songs at gBox cost 99 cents each. For the Universal songs that are part of the test, gBox will offer an MP3 version free of copy-protection technology known as digital-rights management, or DRM. A DRM-enabled version will be available at the same price." Offering DRM or DRM-free songs at the same price. Only Universal could come up with that business model.
And the whole, "we don't want to confuse Macintosh users by letting them buy the songs" probably has more to do with "we want to screw over Apple until they see the light".
My thoughts EXACTLY.
I've the feeling, though, that Universal is going to sell a miserably low number of DRM-free songs and decide their test proved that there is no market for DRM free songs.
(where all it will really prove is that there is no market for yet another crappy online music store trying to find a gimmick instead of creating a lush user experience.)