Amazon Opens DRM-free MP3 Store

By Nick Mokey September 24, 2007

While many small start-ups have tried to topple iTunes Store as the dominant digital music seller, none have had quite the heft of its latest competitor, Amazon. The Seattle-based company introduced the public beta test of its Amazon MP3 music service on Tuesday, which offers a la carte music downloads for 89 or 99 cents per song with no technical restrictions on the use of downloaded songs.

Amazon’s catalog, now at 2 million songs, remains smaller than the 6 million currently available through iTunes, but Amazon’s ace in the hole will be its complete lack of digital rights management on any of its music. Unlike Apple’s proprietary FairPlay DRM, which locks customers into using Apple portable media players in order to listen to the music they’ve paid for, Amazon’s DRM-free tracks will play on any device that handles a run-of-the-mill MP3 file.

Despite this trusting approach to rights management, Amazon has managed to hash out agreements with many major recording artists to sell their work through Amazon MP3. Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Nirvana, the Beastie Boys and Radiohead will be among the 180,000 artists initially featured.

Editors' Recommendations

Managing Editor

As Digital Trends’ Managing Editor, Nick Mokey oversees an editorial team delivering definitive reviews, enlightening…

Smart Home

Amazon Echo (3rd Gen) vs. Amazon Echo (4th Gen)

amazon echo 3rd gen vs 4th new 2

Millions of people have incorporated Alexa into their daily lives, and Amazon continues to come out with new Alexa-powered speakers. Amazon announced a new iteration of its flagship Echo speaker, the Echo 4th gen, and it's strikingly different than any of the previous Echo models. What’s the difference between the 4th-generation Amazon Echo and its predecessor, the 3rd-generation Amazon Echo? We break it down in this guide.
Design

The 3rd-generation Amazon Echo has that all too familiar cylindrical shape. The unit measures 5.9 inches tall and 3.9 inches in diameter. It weighs 27.5 ounces, and it’s covered in fabric around the outside. You can choose between charcoal, heather gray, and sandstone color options. On top of the Echo 3rd gen sit four buttons -- the volume up and down buttons, action button, and the microphone off button for when you don’t want Alexa listening. A light ring is located around the top perimeter, and it lights up in different colors to let you know what’s going on with Alexa.

Smart Home

Amazon’s Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) has a screen that moves so you don’t have to

At its annual fall event, Amazon announced new and refreshed Echo Show devices, including the Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) that can use the camera to act as a security camera.

The most impressive part of the Echo Show 10 is the intelligent movement feature. Amazon noted that while the device may be stationary, it understands that users are not. Since the Echo Show is so often depicted as being used in the kitchen, a room where customers move around a lot while cooking, the Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) is equipped with a motor that allows the screen to follow you.

Deals

Order a Ring Video Doorbell now and Amazon will throw in a free Echo Dot

Ring Video Doorbell 2

If you're keen to make your home smarter then Amazon has the deal for you this 4th of July. You can snap up a Ring Video Doorbell and get an Amazon Echo Dot entirely for free. The whole package works out at only $80, saving you $50 on the usual price. It's just one of the many great 4th of July sales we're seeing appear.

The all-new Ring Video Doorbell is super useful for so many different scenarios. If you're often working from home but not near your front door, you can check via your smartphone who's knocking. In the same way, you can be out and about at a local store or visiting friends, and receive a notification from Ring giving you a heads-up that someone's calling.