MusicNet Offers Over 1 Mln DRM-Free Tracks

By Geoff Duncan July 25, 2007

MusicNet Offers Over 1 Mln DRM-Free Tracks

Apple may have been the first out the gate with selling DRM-free music tracks via its iTunes Plus offering—and Amazon.com quickly announcing plans to follow—but now MusicNet has announced it will offer over one million DRM-free music tracks to its partners. MusicNet—the music unit of the newly-named MediaNet Digital—is the service provider behind a number of digital music download servers that, well, that aren’t iTunes, including Yahoo Music Unlimited, Microsoft/MTV partnership URGE, AOL, Charter, iMesh, HMV, and many more.

Beginning in the third quarter of 2007, those partners will have the option of selling DRM-free music tracks from major label EMI as well as labels represented by the Digital Rights Agency (DRA), Independent Recording Industry Services (IRIS), and Digital Music Group, Inc. (DMG). And, following Apple’s lead to offer DRM-free music at higher bitrates than “standard” DRM-protected music, MusicNet will offer the DRM-free music at “higher sound quality.”

“Interoperability has been a sore spot for the digital music industry since inception and continues to grow as devices become more widely used,” said Alan McGlade, President and CEO of MediaNet Digital, in a release. “The digital music industry has been built on the appeal of the MP3 format—an open, standardized format which is usable on every digital music player, desktop computer, electronic device and gaming system. The music labels making these first million tracks available for unencrypted download will help fuel alternative mechanisms of accessing digital music giving consumers a choice in how they interact with their music.”

MusicNet’s complete catalog consists of 4.5 million tracks; the company’s unencrypted offerings will leverage the same infrastructure, giving partners a solid base to stand on if they choose to offer DRM-free music.

So far, EMI remains the only major label to embrace DRM-free distribution, although other music distributors are certainly facing pressure to do the same—and are no doubt watching EMI’s digital sales figures very closely to see if the company’s DRM-free gamble pays off.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

Smart Home

Eve MotionBlinds Upgrade Kit and Blinds Collection join the Matter lineup

The Eve MotionBlinds Upgrade Kit being installed.

Eve is a prominent name in the smart home world, with the company responsible for a variety of devices covering everything from smart plugs and security cameras to smart light switches and motion sensors. Its catalog is growing even more enticing today, with the Eve Blinds Collection and MotionBlinds Upgrade Kit gaining Matter support.

The MotionBlinds Upgrade Kit will likely appeal to more customers, as it costs just $200 and works with most existing setups. Installation is as simple as removing your shades, placing the MotionBlinds Upgrade Kit through the roller rod, then reinstalling the unit on your windows. Blinds with a roller between 1.5 inches and 2.0 inches are compatible with the upgrade kit.

Smart Home

Philips Hue lights have a rare discount, but there’s a catch

A TV with ambient backlighting from Philips Hue.

One of the cool things about Philips Hue lighting is how much freedom it gives you over creating the perfect ambiance in your home. One of the cool things about buying Philips Hue products over at Best Buy right now is how much freedom Best Buy is giving you over what you buy to save money. Right now, when you buy two or more select Philips Hue smart lighting product in Best Buy's offer builder, you can save 15%. Tap the button below to start building your own bundle and see all of the products available. While they don't include the best smart light bulbs that Philips produces, you'll be amazed by the versatility of the lightstrips. Or keep reading for an overview of some of the top picks from the bundle.

What you should purchase from the Philips Hue offer builder
The place to start with this deal is the and the if you don't already have them. These are the devices that take your movies, music, and games and syncs them to your lights.

Smart Home

Samsung’s futuristic Jet Bot AI+ robot vacuum is $400 off

The Samsung Jet Bot AI+ Robot Vacuum cleaning the floor.

For families who need a lot of help in keeping their floors spotless, the Samsung Jet Bot AI+ is an investment that you'll want to make. It's pretty expensive at its original price of $1,300, but a $400 discount from Samsung pulls it down to $900. It's still not cheap, but this futuristic robot vacuum could be the only device that you need to keep dirt, debris, and pet hair away from your sight. You're going to have to complete your purchase for it as soon as possible though, as there's no telling when the offer expires.

Why you should buy the Samsung Jet Bot AI+ robot vacuum
The Samsung Jet Bot AI+ checks all the boxes in the features that are recommended by our guide on how to choose a robot vacuum. It's equipped with powerful sensors and object recognition technology that allows it to avoid furniture when it's cleaning your floors, while LiDAR technology allows it to create accurate maps of the rooms in your home so that it can properly navigate and clean more efficiently. The robot vacuum also features a five-layer filtration system that allows it to release clean air, and when it's done, it goes back to its Clean Station where it empties its contents.