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Posted by Heather Larson Mar 3, 2007 |
Web 2.0 Gets Musical
While most people can't agree on the definition of "Web 2.0," all that really matters is that it makes life easier and more enjoyable as its early adopters try to make their fortune with unique ideas. Web 2.0 promises advances for college students, like ways to share notes and for business people as well. Then there's Web 2.0 just for fun, which offers ways for music fans to make use of the 'net like we used to do when Kazaa and Napster were still the new thing.
The Joy of MP3s Has Returned
Do you miss those days? Well, they're coming back amidst questionable legal rights. The site Soundpedia.com says it can get by streaming whole albums online because of the DMCA, or Digital Millenium Copyright Act, but I've heard otherwise from legal types.
Whether the DMCA really supports album steaming or not, Soundpedia is around for right now. It's a social networking site where users upload albums and then listen to them via a stream. So far, I've been able to stream the newest albums from Gwen Stefani, Daughtry, and Norah Jones. I think Stefani may not be worth an actual purchase but I wouldn't mind heading to my iTunes for Jones or Daughtry.
You Still Don't Get To Own These MP3s
While I can stream these all I want, I still can't transfer MP3s to my iPod so I can listen to them on the treadmill. But if Soundpedia.com can force someone like myself to both sample and purchase new music I otherwise wouldn't take the time to, then it accomplishes more than the music industry has been able to achieve with a busy person like me. I sit on the computer all day as I work and need something to listen to, so I check in with Soundpedia and hear a whole album. It's been a nice alternative lately as I've been unable to get onto the stream for some of my favorite Internet radio stations.
Find a Song Quickly With MP3Realm.org
The other site operating on what may be questionable digital rights is MP3Realm.org, another genius site from the new class of Web 2.0 sites popping up. This site helps you find a song quickly. Say you want to hear U2's Beautiful Day or Fall Out Boy's This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race. You can find the song in seconds and listen to it in its entirety.
Picking Up Where iTunes Falls Short
iTunes hasn't come close to being able to do either of these things. You can't listen to an entire album or song before you buy. The song "hooks" provided by iTunes are also atrocious. I can't tell you how many times I've listened to a "hook" on iTunes and not even been sure if it was indeed the song I heard on the radio.
One thing is for sure, I'm on the hunt for more fun Web 2.0 sites that will enrich our music listening experience online. I'll let you know as I find them, but start with Soundpedia.com and MP3Realm.org and let me know what you think.