Sony Connect Launches

[MacRumors]

Sony launched their music download service today -- "Connect".

The service, however, appears to be built around supporting Sony's own MiniDisc format, which has not seen significant commercial success over the past several years. Sony is expected to introduce high capacity MiniDisc devices later this year.

While songs are similarly priced to the rest of the industry ($.99/song), Sony will be using the ATRAC song format, making it incompatible with most MP3 players and the iPod.

[ZildjianKX]

If you're a crazy mac-zealot, vote "negative"... J/K.

Anyone know anything about the DRM that will be used (or is it security by obscurity)... or the bitrates of the music?

[MorganX]

Weak, very weak. This isn't even a real effort.

[Daschund]

So, they're launching a music download service that works only with new players and new discs? Doesn't look very promising to me...

"Hey, look! Get your songs here for .99 and then buy a new MiniDisc player and some new discs, otherwise you won't be able to listen to your song!"

[PlaceofDis]

the only way people are going to use this is if they have a minidisc player because of the ATRAC format, which sucks anyways because the compression is so high that you lose a lot of quality, i dont thing this service will last if it keeps this format, iTunes works because of the popularity of the iPod, but the minidiscs are not all that popular as far as i know

oh yeah i forgot, the minidiscs wont work with macs - big surprise and the new connect service says this:

We're sorry.

We know you are interested in using the Connect music store. Unfortunately SonicStage only works on Windows 98SE and above.

We have no immediate plans to support other operating systems at this time. However, we believe this is an important user base and we hope to support it in the future.

Thank you for your interest.

big surprise there too right?

[JereIC]

Originally Posted by ZildjianKX

If you're a crazy mac-zealot, vote "negative"... J/K.

Anyone know anything about the DRM that will be used (or is it security by obscurity)... or the bitrates of the music?

I believe the DRM is called "MagicGate". It's pretty standard restrictions, unlimited copying to players, five burns to audio CD, five to MP3 CD (which I guess would be without restrictions), and sharing between three computers. The format is ATRAC, and is encoded at 132 kbs. I don't know how the auido quality compares to AAC or WMA (that is, does 132 kbs sound better or worse than 128 kbs AAC).

My major beef is that Sony, being a record company itself, doesn't try to cut music prices and drum up business. Since they make pretty much total profit from the sales, they could stand to reduce their price down to 75c or even 49c and sell a lot more music, which would drive up demand for their high capacity media players, and might convince the other record companies to slash their royalties as well.

[germ war]

In a sink-or-swim scenario, Sony has chosen "sink". This looks like pretty poor planning on their behalf.

[greg75]

While songs are similarly priced to the rest of the industry ($.99/song), Sony will be using the ATRAC song format, making it incompatible with most MP3 players and the iPod.

If Sony had used AAC instead of ATRAC it would not have made any difference. The underlying format doesn't matter once you lock it up with DRM. Since Apple refuses to license FairPlay, there's no way Sony could have made their service iPod compatible (Sony selling MP3 without DRM is not very realistic).

[dongmin]

Originally Posted by PlaceofDis

the only way people are going to use this is if they have a minidisc player because of the ATRAC format, which sucks anyways because the compression is so high that you lose a lot of quality, i dont thing this service will last if it keeps this format, iTunes works because of the popularity of the iPod, but the minidiscs are not all that popular as far as i know.

The Minidisc has its advantages. Their players DO support multiple formats, including mp3 and wma, and not just ATRAC. Minidisc also has WAY better battery life than most mp3 players, including one model that claims 58 hours of playback. And minidisc is skip-free.

The downsides are that the ATRAC format is not that great, definitely worse than AAC 128kbps. And if you end up listening to mp3s and wmas, the minidisc can't hold that much. Finally, sony products usually carry a premium.

Can't figure out what the music service is gonna do for Sony's bottom line. Do they really think that the music service will somehow popularize the ATRAC format? What are those people smoking?

[dongmin]

Originally Posted by JereIC

My major beef is that Sony, being a record company itself, doesn't try to cut music prices and drum up business. Since they make pretty much total profit from the sales, they could stand to reduce their price down to 75c or even 49c and sell a lot more music, which would drive up demand for their high capacity media players, and might convince the other record companies to slash their royalties as well.

What is your beef exactly? It's not like Sony has a monopoly in any of the markets. They should be free to leverage their existing assets to promote new products. After all, isn't that what Apple does with its ipods and iTMS? I invite Sony to lower their prices. Maybe, although unlikely, it'll spur a market-wide reduction in download prices.

[iBot]

Sometimes, Sony just loves its technology to death.

[macridah]

Sony must be crazy if they think they could come into this game so late, and with a proprietory format.

[coolfactor]

Originally Posted by Daschund

So, they're launching a music download service that works only with new players and new discs? Doesn't look very promising to me...

"Hey, look! Get your songs here for .99 and then buy a new MiniDisc player and some new discs, otherwise you won't be able to listen to your song!"

How is this any different than Apple's strategy?

[acidrock]

What are they planning to sell? Old Mariah Carey records? lol j/k

[acidrock]

Originally Posted by coolfactor

How is this any different than Apple's strategy?

well for starters you don't have to have an iPod or disks to play them!

[Quixcube]

Originally Posted by coolfactor

How is this any different than Apple's strategy?

*clap* *clap* *clap* Thank you.

The only difference is that Apple did it first, and that Apple has a rabidly faithful user base with which to drum up initial interest. Once the ball got rolling it rolled.

[bertagert]

Yeah, I don't see it being successful in the USA. The iPod has the crown for now and for the next few years. They should have used WMA instead if they wanted to play the game.

[Trowaman]

Originally Posted by Quixcube

*clap* *clap* *clap* Thank you.

The only difference is that Apple did it first, and that Apple has a rabidly faithful user base with which to drum up initial interest. Once the ball got rolling it rolled.

eh, we do what we can . . .

[gensor]

Originally Posted by coolfactor

How is this any different than Apple's strategy?

Yes, everyone wants a mini.

[bertagert]

Originally Posted by gensor

Yes, everyone wants a mini.

Actually, mini disc are hugh in japan and other areas just like the ipod is here in the usa and europe.

[J-Squire]

Originally Posted by acidrock

well for starters you don't have to have an iPod or disks to play them!

Well this raises the question - can u play these ATRAC songs on your PC like iTunes? If so, then this is the exact same model as Apple, as you have to buy an iPod if you want to take your music with you.

[mac15]

iPods are the rage down here, even my computer illiterate mates want em

[jxyama]

Originally Posted by dongmin

And minidisc is skip-free.

The downsides are that the ATRAC format is not that great, definitely worse than AAC 128kbps. And if you end up listening to mp3s and wmas, the minidisc can't hold that much. Finally, sony products usually carry a premium.

MD is not skip free. it's very hard, much harder than CD for sure, but it's not skip free. it's a spinning optical disc read by laser - it will skip just like a CD if shaken enough.

i also believe ATRAC is not as bad as you make it sound. i have over 500 MD recorded, some of them using MDLP2, and they are just fine. i don't see obvious evidence that they are any worse than AAC for most music.

that said, as much as i like sony, they are definitely well on their way to failure. if anyone wants to beat iTMS, the first thing they need to do is beat iPod. make a sick arse portable player everybody wants - then you will be able to sell them music to fill those players. players are much more expensive than music - if you can sell the player, you will be able to sell the music. if you can't sell the player, offering music will not sell the player any better.

[sushi]

Originally Posted by Daschund

So, they're launching a music download service that works only with new players and new discs? Doesn't look very promising to me...

"Hey, look! Get your songs here for .99 and then buy a new MiniDisc player and some new discs, otherwise you won't be able to listen to your song!"

The new system will work with current MD Players as well. The new format brings about more storage space but is not required for this service to work.

This is outstanding for those who own and use a Minidisc system which is very popular here in Japan.

Sushi

[acidrock]

Originally Posted by J-Squire

Well this raises the question - can u play these ATRAC songs on your PC like iTunes? If so, then this is the exact same model as Apple, as you have to buy an iPod if you want to take your music with you.

um... no you can burn them to Cd