Adam's Awesome Anecdotes

Since the Napster software has been a bit buggy for me with my primary complaint being the lack of ability for it to correctly sync up playlists between multiple desktops (using the downloaded software), I decided to see what else is out there.  It’s primary competition for the streaming world seems to be Rhapsody.  Here are some notes from my brief foray into the Rhapsody world:

• There is no Mac / Linux client.  Fine.  Same for everybody else.
• The web interface apparently doesn’t work with Chrome.  That’s fine, again it’s the same for Napster.
• The web interface also asks me to login multiple times depending which feature I’m trying to access.  Annoying, but not a complete show stopper because normally I would be in the streaming world and not trying to learn about the software.
• When you log in on the web, you have to remember to uncheck the “it’s OK to SPAM me box” seeming each and every time.  Are you kidding me?  I said “no” once.  If you were a free service I could deal with this, but you have my credit card number, so I expect better than that!
• Rhapsody is owned by Viacom.  This is a personal issue with me, but I feel that Viacom is the devil.  In and of itself it wasn’t the nail in the coffin, but you could call it a tack maybe.
• The Windows desktop install wanted to install the Yahoo! toolbar.  Again, this is PAID software — GET A GRIP!  At this point, the software is so untrustworthy that I’m assuming I also now have spyware of some sort.
• The web and desktop clients both leave something to be desired.

So, I figured I had better double check on Napster’s web interface since I haven’t used it in a while and discovered they have a new, very slick looking BETA.  So far, I’m really liking it.  Plus they now support MP3s with some supposed iPod integration.  I definitely need to check that out.

So now it’s just a matter of do I stay with Napster’s five MP3s a month and streaming only (with possible additional purchases through Napster), or go with the Napster To Go service (not iPod compatible).  Or I could say screw it and go with Grooveshark for my streaming needs and then either iTunes or Amazon for my purchasing needs. Plenty of choices… and that’s the problem — lots of choices without a great solution.  Here’s hoping Apple’s recent acquisition of Lala results in a streaming iTunes library.  Not likely, but here’s hoping!