Monday, May 15, 2006
URGE would be cool if...
I downloaded one of the leaked copies of Windows Media Player 11 so that I could take a peek at URGE, the new music download service from Microsoft and MTV (and VH1 and CMT).
After spending a few minutes with it, it is definitely slicker than I expected. The search results, for example, change as you type. So as I typed "possum dixon" into the search box, WMP11 kept refining my results. That's kind of cool.
It also features several purchase options from buying songs for $.99 up to an all-you-can-eat download plan for $14.95. Plus, because it is MTV, you can watch music videos for songs for free (at least, I think they're free. I watched "Dancing Shoes" from Arctic Monkeys and wasn't prompted for payment). In a nutshell, if you've used iTunes, you know what to expect from WMP11 and URGE.
The big problem, though, is that URGE doesn't support iPods (not a surprise considering who built it). So unless you own one of the three compatible players (or unless you want to ditch your iPod and buy one so you can try URGE... OK, stop laughing.), you can't use it.
It makes me wonder why MSFT and MTV would waste... er, spend so much money building something that a relatively small number of people can use. It's not like they're adding some killer app that people will be willing to switch for.
I downloaded one of the leaked copies of Windows Media Player 11 so that I could take a peek at URGE, the new music download service from Microsoft and MTV (and VH1 and CMT).
After spending a few minutes with it, it is definitely slicker than I expected. The search results, for example, change as you type. So as I typed "possum dixon" into the search box, WMP11 kept refining my results. That's kind of cool.
It also features several purchase options from buying songs for $.99 up to an all-you-can-eat download plan for $14.95. Plus, because it is MTV, you can watch music videos for songs for free (at least, I think they're free. I watched "Dancing Shoes" from Arctic Monkeys and wasn't prompted for payment). In a nutshell, if you've used iTunes, you know what to expect from WMP11 and URGE.
The big problem, though, is that URGE doesn't support iPods (not a surprise considering who built it). So unless you own one of the three compatible players (or unless you want to ditch your iPod and buy one so you can try URGE... OK, stop laughing.), you can't use it.
It makes me wonder why MSFT and MTV would waste... er, spend so much money building something that a relatively small number of people can use. It's not like they're adding some killer app that people will be willing to switch for.
¶ 5:11 PM 
About Shawn Morton
Experienced web product manager, social media strategist, professional blogger and speaker, startup entrepreneur & father of 4.
View complete bio.
View complete bio.
Recent Blog Posts 
Calacanis is still a hypocrite NBC hates viral marketing Why do I need desktop search? MySpace trashed on SNL Adding pictures to Gmail contacts Got my Google Co-op feed working Learning to use Google Co-op Pre-ordered a DS Lite today Mr. T on Conan Nintendo just stole the show!Blog Archive
June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008