P2P-Zone - Review of the "New" Napster

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Review of the "New" Napster

http://www.mp3newswire.net/stories/2002/paynapster.html

Quote:

Just been beta-testing the new Napster.

What's remarkable about the new Napster is how similar it feels to the old one. This is still very much a file sharing technology. The best things about Napster - browsing through a real person's music collection, sending them messages and recommending them new music - are still there.

But so are the disadvantages - broken tracks, cancelled transfers - and a complete inability to stream or preview tracks. Now we know why Napster doesn't intend to get a performance royalty license... this is a download-only service. The downside of this is that if a user downloads one song under the mistaken impression it is something else (how many songs are there called 'The Power of Love') they will have depleted one of their allotted download slots. There is the option, however, to cancel a download mid stream without depleting your download count. What was I saying about not needing a performance royalty license?....

There's more if you follow the link.

For an ex-Napster lover like me the preview was interesting but unsurprising. The general impression of 'too little too late' that has been characteristic to the record industry's latest offerings is still there. A comparision to existing free alternatives like WinMX does not give much hope to Napster even if this particular beta tester was somewhat positive about it (which is understandable when you get personally involved in beta testing and perhaps come to know the people who are trying to make the concept/software work).

Of course we must not forget that Napster as it is today is effectively just a brand name belonging to Bertelsmann. There is nothing revolutionary or thrilling about Napster anymore - all we have is one of the big five RIAA members trying to turn the fond memories of mp3 revolution into a cashflow. Probably they don't even dream making it a success among the more savvy mp3 traders but target it to the less evolved 'consumers' to whom the brand name without the original experience might still do the trick. I seriously doubt that it will work. The controversial brand name is enough to raise curiosity but with all those ridiculous limitations effectively eliminating the genuine Napster experience there will be no community to share files.

- tg ;)

So what happens if you pay for 10 downloads and when you get on all you can find is Cher or Barbara Streisand...can you get a refund? Or if there is simply not enough people to actually download off. I guess they make you sign a waiver huh?

My problem with the service is the files itself. Are they encoded with quality = NO Are you positive the file will be complete = NO Can you keep the files forever and burn them = NO

Will this service fail = YES:ND:

The new Napster is a shell of what it one was with the restraints being put on it as it now enters an era of business and a shot at making money on this severely stripped down business model.

Like Tankgirl said, they are most likely going to be able to target the less evolved in mp3 trading and are banking on the brand name to sell to them who have heard of napster but may never have used it in its heyday. For the millions and millions of those who have been downloading mp3's and other media files thru the other free p2p offerings out there, its very unlikely that napster will attract these users.