Welcome back to Part II of Rhapsody Music Downloads! I hope you took an opportunity to enjoy the first week of your two-week trial. Must have been a joy to stream and download online music by the truckloads. Now...you did take the liberty to utilize the free trial, didn't you??
In my last article, I summarized the history surrounding the service which allows you to download and/or stream tens of 1000's of songs quickly with superior quality (at 160Kbps WMA, you can't go wrong...). Also covered were some of the elegant features in the new Rhapsody 3 version.
This article will be more practical in scope, covering the experience you may expect when encountering the fully-featured service. For more information, though, you may read the full Rhapsody music downloads review here.
If you compare the software to that of Napster or iTunes, you will find that for some reason the Rhapsody Music Downloads software takes a bit longer to download. The interface, as I've stated, is magnificent, although it looks less "current" than that of Napster or iTunes.
You will find that the songs are quite easy to find even though you will generally have an additional screen or two to click through compared with Napster and iTunes in order to get to your favorite song.
I.e., whereas Napster lists the most popular songs first, then conveniently lists the catalog underneath, the interface associated with the Rhapsody music downloads service will first list the five most popular songs on the first page. If, for example, your favorite hit doesn't show up there, you just click on "more", and more tracks list, which will list more of the popular songs.
How about albums? The list of albums, not to mention single releases, will portray on a window to the left of the popular track list.
With Rhapsody music downloads, the track selection is not present immediately on the same page that the album list is on. You'll have to click on the album cover or name in order to check out the track selection before you stream or download online music.
iTunes and Napster on the other hand will not only list the albums but it immediately lists the songs available for downloading online music on each album. And... they both also maintain the option of clicking on the album in order to navigate its track content.
The Rhapsody music downloads service does make up for this though. Unlike Napster, where you'll have to click to an extra page if you don't find your favorite album, all album, singles and even compilation albums where your favorite artists' songs may abound, come all on one page - the first page you arrive when you type in the artist's name.
Also as for Napster, when you actually come to the next page (by clicking on "more"), the releases are arranged in a haphazard fashion that makes finding what you want a bit more difficult before you download online music.
The situation is even more of a challenge with iTunes which does not immediately spoon-feed you with all album releases in its list.
So in short, Rhapsody wins bigtime with album/single release navigation; Napster and iTunes win slightly with track navigation. Oh... with the Rhapsody music downloads service, you'll also find tracks on the album that aren't available for download.
Looking for artists similar to the one you typed in? Rhapsody provides this conveniently on the right of the screen. You'll also find influential artists to your searched artist, and also followers (artists that your searched artist influenced). Spin-offs and precursors to the artist, if any, are listed too. No other digital music downloads service entertains these options.
For example, Napster will only list similar artists, whereas iTunes won't even go that far (I suppose they can get away with it though - at least for now).
I discussed Rhapsody's "My Library" search tool in my last article. But how elegant is the music store search tool? Is it better than iTunes? Napster? Wal-mart (yes, they offer downloads as well)?
I'll cover these, as well as how the Rhapsody music downloads service can be the cheapest for you out of all the legitimate digital music services (spending pennies on the dollar), and other odds and ends in a future article.
So, stay tuned. While you're waiting, don't forget to read the full Rhapsody music downloads review here.
Copyright © 2005. D.G. Rajakaruna
Discover the most up-to-date strategies involved in downloading today's music. Find out how you can download safely without thinning your wallet.
Check out:
Congratulations! Your singing has become amazing, and it's time the... Read More
Every searching artist wants to get there. It's that magical... Read More
New York born singer songwriter Michael Alan, who records with... Read More
Rap music originated as a cross-cultural product. Most of its... Read More
Way back in November I found myself at the Casby... Read More
A lot of new age piano music consists of repeating... Read More
The press have reported this week that silent disco's are... Read More
Before the internet, unsigned music artists couldnt make a living,... Read More
Pop/Rock Recording Artist Amber, who has scored seven #1 Billboard... Read More
Many piano students spend much time learning how to play... Read More
In many years of arranging jazz bands for all sorts... Read More
It's no secret that virtually everyone loves music in some... Read More
In the last article, the creation of a theme, its... Read More
Having taught the guitar for many years, I see the... Read More
Eric Clapton performs his slow-handed magic on his. Even with... Read More
Lately, I haven't been using my guitar pick all that... Read More
Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of Sketchandtravel.com and Bookpleasures.com is delighted... Read More
Ideally each page of your website should serve a specific... Read More
Michael Jackson was born Michael Joseph Jackson on August 29,... Read More
Are you a perfectionist? Does every note have to sound... Read More
Imagine asking a beginning writer to write a short story... Read More
There are many things to consider when buying a new... Read More
Propelled into fame as one of the Beatles, along with... Read More
For the self-promoting independent artist, the idea of taking on... Read More
I bet your wondering all about the Micheal Jackson Trail.... Read More
I was thinking today about THE most dangerous enemy of... Read More
Playing in front of a congregation each Sunday is no... Read More
There are essentially two ways to learn piano - note... Read More
Music courses are a great way to learn about virtually... Read More
I was 17 at the time (the Beatles era), and... Read More
For most of us, making any major purchase, such as... Read More
The 'trois Gnossiennes' (1890) is a set of dance-like pieces... Read More
The Solid-bodied Corvette (not to be confused with the Corvette... Read More
The music of Rush influences and inspires, at least that's... Read More
July 6, 1973 Birmingham EnglandSteven: Has it been difficult for... Read More
It's no secret that virtually everyone loves music in some... Read More
Every day musical instruments enrich the lives of people around... Read More
They're everywhere, and not only are they everywhere, they look... Read More
Music is the art of arranging sounds in periodic time... Read More
When I first started playing the piano I wanted to... Read More
Are you confused by the various types of music file... Read More
The new competition package available for the BMW M3 is... Read More
New York born singer songwriter Michael Alan, who records with... Read More
How is it that a little white boy from Kansas... Read More
It may surprise many to find that the hobby of... Read More
What is "Episcopal" music?We often hear people express concern about... Read More
1. Don't try and make something happen. Trying blocks the... Read More
Do you know what a didgeridoo is? There are so... Read More
CORRECT PRACTICE IS INDISPENSABLE!Your success or failure at the keyboard... Read More
Meet the 12 Major Notes:1. C (do)2. C# - Db... Read More
Music & MP3 Music & MP3 |