Wal-Mart DRM-free downloads
p2pnet news | Music:- Wth Viacom’s MTV Networks and RealNetworks teaming up to offer music in a joint-venture, and LimeWire saying it’ll open an online music store as a stand-alone, also accessible from links from the P2P application with upcoming versions configured to allow users to browse and buy directly from within LimeWire, Wal-Mart is getting in on the act.
But unlike MTV and Real (who knows about LimeWire? 
) Wal-Mart’s downloads will be sans DRM.
Apple is also offering pollution free downloads on its iTunes, but as part of its standard policy of trying to gouge users any way it can, it’s charging charging a hefty premium amounting to an almost 30% boost over standard rates.
Wal-Mart, by contrast, is planning to sell its downloads at less than the going rate – @ 94 cents per.
Apple attempts to justify its price hike by saying the DRM free downloads are high quality at 256 kbps instead of 128 kbps, like ordinary iTunes tunes which cost $1 but which are poisoned by DRM (Digital Restrictions Management) consumer control technology.
However, Wal-Mart’s cheaper non-DRM downloads are also at 256 kbps and it’s selling files polluted with Microsoft’s WMA format for .88 cents.
“Also, Wal-Mart is currently offering special MP3 album pricing on hundreds of album classics such as Come Away With Me by Norah Jones, Be Here by Keith Urban and Barrio Fino en Directo by Daddy Yankee at $7.88 per album; and Slippery
When Wet by Bon Jovi and Get Rich or Die Tryin’ by 50 Cent at $5.88 per album,” it says.
It’s a start
Also See
joint-venture – MTV Networks, RealNetworks, music merger, August 21, 2007
LimeWire – Lime Wire to Enter Music Download Market With New Digital Store and Inks Deals With Music Companies, August 14, 2007
Wal-Mart – Wal-Mart Launches MP3 Music Download Tracks, August 21, 2007
pollution free downloads – iTunes DRM-free downloads, May 31, 2007
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August 21st, 2007 at 12:56 pm
Yeah this is a start, but until I see prices drop lower than a dollar a download, I will continue to go elsewhere for my files.
August 21st, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Dude, 94 cents a song is cheaper than a dollar a song; I’m not exactly sure what you mean.
But I am not happy that their store is unavailable to the Mac, since mp3 is compatible to the Mac.
August 21st, 2007 at 3:39 pm
Wal-Mart’s music downloads are shit because they only carry edited music.
August 21st, 2007 at 4:18 pm
Once again must I take Walrus Mart to tusk.
W*M flexes its corporate money-making might. The number of smaller businesses who have suffered is incalculable. Even their own employees aren’t paid sufficiently and have terrible health care options (problems which could be solved if W*M weren’t union-busters). Their response? “Who cares? We got music downloads!”
For $0.94 I expect FLAC quality, not 256k MP3.
August 22nd, 2007 at 7:14 am
They attack us with lawsuits, then expect us to buy(oops, license) from them ? Delusional would be a good description.
Note to record company PR men. Persecuting your customers is the best way to:
(a) Damage your reputation beyond repair.
(b) Lose existing and potential new customers.
(c) Encourage / promote sharing of media.
As you can see, you are doing your utmost to self-destruct, congratulations.
August 22nd, 2007 at 9:09 am
you will not only not get quality you can get if you would buy physical (”For $0.94 I expect FLAC quality, not 256k MP3.”), but you will also fund the same bastards that still terrorize little kids, single moms, senior citizens and instead of calming down now attack students massively.
http://bayimg.com/LagEDaabd
August 23rd, 2007 at 9:13 am
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/3103/mp3manez9wz0.jpg
August 25th, 2007 at 5:59 am
# sk8rpro Says:
August 21st, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Dude, 94 cents a song is cheaper than a dollar a song; I’m not exactly sure what you mean.
But I am not happy that their store is unavailable to the Mac, since mp3 is compatible to the Mac.
I MEAN that until I see 25 cents a SONG…. I will get mine elsewhere! That is what I mean!
Don’t be stupid and think that this is a bargian!
It is NOT!
If you believe that is a bargian, I have a bridge in alaska I want to sell you…cheap.