Is Rhapsody Music Downloads Service Getting A Good Rhap?


Try Emusic FREE for 14 days, keep the 25 Free songs even if you decide not to continue.

Rhapsody music, from RealNetworks is one of several reputable legal digital services for legal music downloads. In order to download online music or hear songs from them you have to pay for them first. In Rhapsody's case, the cost is $9.99 per month after a 14 day free trial (the cost may reduced if you purchase it quarterly). Along with Rhapsody, these also include iTunes, Musicnet, Musicnow, wal-mart downloads, and the newly revived Napster.

The Rhapsody music service consists of over 1.2 million music downloads tracks in its catalog, thanks to nitching deals with all five label giants and over 500 independent labels.

Its fully-featured jukebox that makes Rhapsody music downloads searches a snap and importing tunes from, let's say, a CD easy. Other elegant features include the ability to incorporate different files such as MP3, WMA, AAC (M4A), and RealAudio to your main Library. And you can mix these files in the library any way you like and develop different playlists after you import tracks and/or stream or download online music.

I'm very sure that the Rhapsody music downloads service will only improve with time.

So how did it all start?

Well, we need to rewind the clock some four years ago...

During that time iTunes did not exist, and Napster's outlawed ancestor had reached its demise a few months prior. Nonetheless, there was... drumroll... Rhapsody.

While part of listen.com, the Rhapsody music downloads service was launched in December 2001. It wasn't until July, however, that songs from all major labels became part of its diverse catalog. RealNetworks acquired listen.com in August 2003. After thus changing the name to RealRhapsody, the service regained its classic title, "Rhapsody".

Downloading the software is fairly straight forward. Be advised, however, that this software is not Mac compatible. The music downloads and streamed tracks from Rhapsody are compatible with Windows Media devices which, of course, are only found on Windows PC's and compatible portable devices.

The interface consists of your simple Play, Stop, etc. functions on the upper left-hand corner of your screen. Next to this is track information including: the title, the artist, and the album. A brief bio plays to the right of the track interface.

So how do you search for your favorite artist or song? Easy... just type it in the Search bar and press "Go". Once you have found your song, you usually can INSTANTLY play it without downloading it - i.e., you can stream it. In some cases, you can automatically download online music while you listen to the stream. Note: sometimes when you press play, a "!" will appear in a triangle meaning that the stream is unavailable. In this case, you need to press the "+" sign. This adds the track to your Library where you can access it from there and add it to your playlist in the form of music downloads.

That said, the streams are of such excellent quality it seems the song is already downloaded on your computer.

If you don't want the song to be played immediately (such as if you're in the middle of listening to another song) you can just press the "+" sign to the left of the song title. Again, this will automatically store the song to the main library. In order to bring it to the playlist, you will have to open up the Library first and then drag the song to your playlist, much the same as how you would do with any other digital music downloads service.

If your library is large, don't worry. The library search tool is similar to that of iTunes - very easy to find your tune or artist in order to stream or download online music.

OK. So these are some of the handy-dandy features of Rhapsody. But do they contribute to a pleasant experience for music downloads fans?

Stay tuned for my next article...

http://www.download-latest-online-music.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Didiom Partners with CD Baby to Offer 2 Million DRM-Free Music ...
PR Web (press release), WA - Oct 6, 2008
Didiom and CD Baby joined forces to allow music fans to sample, buy, and download music from CD Baby artists through Didiom's newly redesigned mobile music ...


Sydney Morning Herald

Nokia launches 'iPod killer' with free music downloads
This is London, UK - Oct 3, 2008
Nokia has unveiled a new mobile phone and music download store to take on Apple's iPhone. The firm will offer unlimited music downloads for a year on ...
Nokia Tube and RIM BlackBerry Storm: touchscreen’s to rival iPhone Phones Review
Internet & Technology Investor's Business Daily (subscription)
all 634 news articles


Vodafone offers MusicStation and DRM-free music downloads
Telecom Paper (subscription), Netherlands - Sep 22, 2008
Vodafone has introduced Vodafone MusicStation for its customers in New Zealand. Vodafone MusicStation is an unlimited music downloads service which enables ...


Dan-O Offers Free Music Downloads to Introduce New CD Release
MarketWatch - Sep 8, 2008
GARRISON, NY, Sept 08, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Pop/Rock Singer/Songwriter Dan-O is offering free music downloads on his website DanoSongs.com to ...


BBC News

MySpace Offers Free Music Downloads -- with Ads
NewsFactor Network, CA - Sep 25, 2008
By Patricia Resende Free music is available to MySpace users -- with ads. Or they can buy music free of digital rights management on MySpace Music. ...
MySpace opens music store DM News
MySpace Music To Debut With Blue Chip Sponsors MediaPost Publications
McDonald's and Toyota among first sponsors of MySpace Music Brand Republic
Marketing Vox News - Seeking Alpha
all 862 news articles


Unlimited and DRM-free music downloads
NetGuide, New Zealand - Sep 15, 2008
Vodafone has launched what it calls “two significant advances in the way New Zealanders can access the music they love”. Vodafone MusicStation is an ...


Small Scottish enterprise set to launch free music downloads
Irish Independent, Ireland - Sep 11, 2008
“We are confident Kerchoonz is still the best solution to free music downloads available,” says Ian Morrow – who has produced star acts such as Wet Wet Wet ...


ITProPortal

Sony Ericsson's Walkman Phone Range To Offer Free Music Downloads
ITProPortal, UK - Sep 9, 2008
To many, Sony's Walkman is synonymous with the sound of music and it is not surprising that rumours have surfaced about Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications ...


DailyTech

Microsoft Taps Europe for Search R&D
BusinessWeek - Oct 6, 2008
The tickets enter users into the running for prizes such as free music downloads, air miles and video games. Ballmer's European trip includes stops in ...
Microsoft limits new search reward program to IE Computerworld
Microsoft Adds More Perks to Live Search Wired News
Microsoft's Live Search lures users with new rewards TG Daily
all 156 news articles


Microsoft’s New Pay-Per-Click Plan
New York Times Blogs, NY - 2 hours ago
Pile up enough of them, and you can buy free music downloads, gadgets, even frequent-flier miles. (Limited to the first 1 million people who sign up. ...

Free-Music-Downloads - Google News

Free Music Download Sites (Home Page) |   Free MP3 Downloads  |   RSS Feed  |   Artists  |   Music Resources  |   Music Downloads