I don't think this rumour is true. Larry and Sergei are famously indifferent about music, and I don't think they'd get into bed with the music industry.
Google is working on a music-related service, but I don't think it'll involve streaming or downloads.
I could definitely see Google launching an iTunes-like music service.
Amazon dropped the ball. Really their only advantage was No DRM but now that iTunes Plus is standard, that went away fast. Since their launch years ago, Amazon has done next to nothing to improve the user experience.
Microsoft is actually doing some interesting stuff with Zune, but they've really positioned it as a niche product for anti-Apple gearheads, not the mass market.
I think Google is by far the most likely company to launch a serious iTunes competitor. With all the work they've done on Android to compete with the iPhone, a music store/service would be a logical next step.
Does Amazon have to improve their user experience? Amazon.com is one of the most-used sites on the planet, and you can download any mp3 from its product's page. I use it more than I use iTunes, at this point.
it makes sense. i listen to all kinds of music within gmail chat where normal ads are not shown. also i can imagine google wanting to play music inside google wave, and this would also require them to license the music.
i've said this before but now it's really starting to become apparent: google wave is the google OS; the webOS that we've been talking about.
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[ 144 ms ] story [ 2305 ms ] threadGoogle is working on a music-related service, but I don't think it'll involve streaming or downloads.
Amazon dropped the ball. Really their only advantage was No DRM but now that iTunes Plus is standard, that went away fast. Since their launch years ago, Amazon has done next to nothing to improve the user experience.
Microsoft is actually doing some interesting stuff with Zune, but they've really positioned it as a niche product for anti-Apple gearheads, not the mass market.
I think Google is by far the most likely company to launch a serious iTunes competitor. With all the work they've done on Android to compete with the iPhone, a music store/service would be a logical next step.
i've said this before but now it's really starting to become apparent: google wave is the google OS; the webOS that we've been talking about.