Amazon MP3 Store Takes Aim at iTunes

Today, Amazon.com quietly re-targeted its missiles to point them squarely at Apple. The Internet superstore has launched a public test version of amazonmp3, its new music download service that offers MP3s compatible with every digital media player on the planet. That means you can download tracks and listen to them with iTunes and iPod just as easily as you could with Windows Media Player and, say, a Creative Zen.

The songs are also free of DRM copy protection, meaning you can freely copy them from device to device without getting tripped up by legal red tape. Unfortunately, that means the store is only offering songs from Universal and EMI, the two major labels that have gotten with the times and dropped DRM. Warner and Sony still won't set their songs free on the Internet without DRM, which means they won't be appearing on amazonmp3 any time soon. Even Universal and EMI haven't opened up their catalogs completely, further diminishing what's available on amazonmp3.

That said, we like what we see so far. Unlike iTunes, there's no flat rate for songs and albums. Songs are generally 99 cents a pop, though the top 100 songs are offered at a 10-cent discount. Just like in a music store at the mall, there's a bargain bin for albums (usually priced $8.99) that price as low as $4.99 and under. We found some excellent multi-track singles from the likes of Nirvana, Lily Allen and the Pixies for dirt-cheap.

One thing to note: While songs can be downloaded a la carte through your browser, you will need to download an amazonmp3 client program in order to download albums – but you're already used to that from using iTunes anyway.

Overall, we think we've found a new way to buy music. The selection isn't as big as we'd like it right now, but if you've already got all of your information stored with Amazon as a customer anyway, this really couldn't be any more convenient.

Related Links:

• Amazon Spins Up Digital Music Store (AOL Money & Finance)
• Five Annoying Things About iTunes' New Ringtone Service
• Wal-Mart's New Downloads Play on iPods, Zunes, Cell Phones and More

Tags: amazon, breaking+news, drm, mp3, music, top