Napster

[Marmora Man]

Does anyne know about this technology - I remember the name from a few years back as being the oirganisation that enable swapping of copyright music material.

I heard last night that for ?12.95 a month it is possible to subscribe to Napster and have instant download / access to over 6m tracks to your PC and via that to a household music system.

The technology sounds interesting - but not sure what hardawre I'd need to actually transmit the music from the PC and ten around the house / into specific rooms. As I was told it's possible for teeenagers to be accessing pop music in bedroom while parents listen to 60's rock and teenage musician listen to Vanessa Mae violins.

Any clues anyone?

[SeanMacGabhann]

Morning MM

I've gone through the whole gamut with Napster - back in the original outlaw days (when you could get tracks long impossible to get on CD as people uploaded vinyl conversions) to the current legit version. I went for the subscription model and I don't know about 6 million tracks but it's pretty exhaustive. I haven't got any hi-tec solution to playing the music - a simple pair of phonos to jack cable from the laptop to the amplifier does the job

Quality is absolutely fine for checking albums out, listening to stuff you had forgotten about or general background music - but it's no replacement for a proper copy.

I do like being able to tee up a couple of dozen songs on the playlist and then forget about it

I wasn't aware of the multistreaming aspect - I might check it out later and get back to you. I suspect there are people better qualified than I to help with any hardware setup, but I'm happy to help if I can

[cdonline]

People are paying to download music? That's a novel idea.

[ruffers]

Lookie here for a review of various different methods of sending your music about the house - http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/09/05/roundup_music_streamers/ - we've got Squeezeboxes of different incarnations.

I don't get involved with Napster though. Last.fm but that's more radio, have a look.

[ratty]

I have a roku soundbridge and it is ace! Google it!

[Shu.Kurimu.Sensei]

CDonline,

Trent appears to echo your sentiments, Slipknot dude too... :))

http://torrentfreak.com/nine-inch-nails-frontman-was-a-member-of-oink-071031/

http://torrentfreak.com/slipknot-frontman-says-record-labels-cause-piracy-080910/

And has released a fair bit of material for free lately, both online and leaving new material in usb thumb drives in club toilets etc too...

[david_carnell]

Sooo....should one be feeling nefarious and looking to download music for nowt where would one hypothetically look?

When I was a younger man, WinMX was the thing to use but I have no idea if it still is. I once looked (and, god help me, tried) at Kazaa and the thing nearly took over my computer with pop-ups and adverts and icons all over the bloody place.

Secondly, if, hypothetically, someone was to download this stuff is it possible to then put it onto one's ipod or iphone or do they only accept files from itunes?

[ruffers]

If one is to (perish the thought..) pay for music I'd be recommending www.emusic.co.uk . Not so much of the top ten in the hit parade pop pickers, but electronic, indie and obscure malarkay ahoy!

There's usually a 50 tracks free when you sign up as well if you have a look.

[SeanMacGabhann]

OMG David Carnell - just the mention of Kazaa has resurrected long-buried memories/nightmares. It pretty much ruined 2 pcs of mine

These days I only ever use online freebies if the track definitely isn't available anywhere else. Or if the artist in questions says they aren't bothered.

So, when I am consumed by the need to hear Shep Pettibone's 12" mix of the Psychedlic Furs track; Shock, I use....

Soulseek

[Keef]

Limewire is okay, there is spyware on there, but It's easily spotted. I basically use it to try a couple of tracks out before I spend oz money on the album, which I always will if I like the tunes.