Subscription Services have the iTunes Music Store in Their Sights

The Technology Review is offering up an article called
'Gunning for iTunes' by Eric Hellweg which details the tactics that the various music subscription services are taking up in order to topple the
iPod/iTunes Music Store
goliath. The magical cure seems to be some Microsoft technology that will allow people to put their music on MP3 players. Imagine that, you can listen to music on your MP3 player without limitations (of course, iPod owners need not apply).

The subscription services charge $10 for their basic service which doesn't allow you to burn your songs to CD's or transfer them to your MP3 player of choice, though it does give you access to hundreds of thousands of songs. If you pony up $5 more (bringing the monthly fee to $15) you will be able to transfer your songs to your MP3 player thanks to a Microsoft technology called 'Janus.'

For those of you not familiar with Roman mythology Janus is the god of doorways and portals and is often depicted as a two faced man (hmm, nice choice Microsoft Marketing). Keep in mind you still can't burn your songs to a CD, and since you don't own the music if you cancel your subscription there goes your music collection.

I'm with his Steveness on this one, people want to own their music, not rent it.