>From: Geoff Chapman [EMAIL PROTECTED] >To: vision impaired persons list [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >==== In the News ==== > > Microsoft, MTV Launch URGE Service > > by Paul Thurrott, >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >Two years after Apple Computer's iTunes began its domination of the >online music service market, Microsoft and its partners have finally >mounted a compelling challenge. Today, MTV Networks' URGE service >debuts alongside Windows Media Player (WMP) 11, the latest version of >Microsoft's media player software for Windows XP. Together, the two >products offer an integrated music experience that goes beyond what >Apple offers with iTunes. What the Microsoft camp is missing, of >course, is a viable answer to the iPod. > >MTV, however, says that URGE isn't designed to unseat Apple. Instead, >the company is simply trying to create an Internet identity so it can >reach its users in new and exciting ways. "It's not about beating Apple >[or] Rhapsody," says MTV Chief Digital Officer Jason Hirschhorn, who >notes that the key differentiator for URGE is that it includes a wealth >of strong editorial content, by which users can find out about new >music. "We've got the experts in music here from MTV doing programming >across a whole bunch of genres." > >URGE offers users access to 18 music genres, which are subdivided into >400 sub-genres. Users who subscribe to one of URGE's All Access >subscriptions--$99 to $149 a year--get access to over 500 hand-built >playlists and the ability to create automatic playlists that match their >tastes. "If you like Coldplay, it's going to give you Coldplay and 20 >other artists like Coldplay," Hirschhorn says. The service also offers >over 130 radio-like music streams and access to video content from >MTV's networks, including MTV, VH1, and CMT. > >Another interesting feature is the deep integration with WMP 11. URGE >uses the WMP 11 browser metaphor so you can actually browse and search >through its over 2 million songs as if they were sitting on your hard >drive. Subscribers can drag and drop between the URGE service and the >PC, and create playlists that consist of music both on their system and >on URGE. > >As for the iPod, MTV notes that while Apple has sold tens of millions >of the devices, the market for digital media players is still in its >early stages. And promising new entries from Creative Technology, >iriver, and Samsung are more tightly integrated with WMP 11 because >they were co-developed with Microsoft. Also, WMP 11 and URGE are >compatible with a new generation of Windows Mobile-based cell phones, >which many see as the future of portable music. To date, iTunes is >compatible only with a single poorly received Motorola model. > >URGE is available only in the United States for now, though >international versions will be available soon. My review of WMP 11 is >posted on the SuperSite for Windows. I'll be reviewing URGE soon. >http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=2A8F7:26A44
Regards Steve Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Skype: steve1963 MSN Messenger: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ PC-Audio List Help, Guidelines, Archives and more... http://www.pc-audio.org To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This list is a service of MosenExplosion.com. To see what other lists we offer, visit us on the web at http://www.MosenExplosion.com
