In case you missed this great news...
Last week Real launched the beta Helix-powered Rhapsody.com,
a Web-based
version of the award-winning music service that offers
consumers a free
and legal way to find and play full length songs from all
the major
music labels. Any US-based consumer can stream up to 25
songs/mo, via
the new Rhapsody.com beta site. Rhapsody.com enables
consumers to
experience Rhapsody without first downloading a PC jukebox
application,
and for the first time makes Rhapsody available to Linux and
Mac users.
Real also introduced its new Rhapsody Web Services
initiative, which
will enable Web sites to access Rhapsody music services via
the web. Web
portals, community sites, music sites, and other web sites
wanting to
integrate music services into their web experience can now
access
services such as song playback and editorial content, from
the Rhapsody
service.
For consumers, Rhapsody.com is a web destination that
enables your
favorite browser (IE, Firefox, or Safari) to instantly find,
listen, and
share up to 25 full tracks (from 1.4M+ songs) per month, for
free.
Consumers also get free, unlimited access to 25
commercial-free radio
stations. Further, subscribers to premium tiers of Rhapsody,
including
Rhapsody Unlimited ($9.99/mo) and Rhapsody To Go
($14.99/mo), can access
their accounts via the new Rhapsody.com and access an
unlimited amount
of music.
Rhapsody.com makes many of Rhapsody’s most popular features
available on
Windows and, for the first time, Linux and Macintosh PCs.
The new
web-based service does not require consumers to download
additional
jukebox software, and there is no credit card registration
required to
begin using the service. Unlike illegal P2P sites, the music
industry is
compensated for each song played via Rhapsody.com
The new Rhapsody Web Services initiative will enable
websites to
integrate Rhapsody music services. Tools for Web sites to
create links,
called “Rhaplinks,” to individual music tracks, full albums,
and radio
stations that can be integrated into their Web sites and
that enable
immediate playback from Rhapsody.com;
* XML feeds, including RSS, of Rhapsody editorial
information about
music, which third party Web sites can integrate directly
into their
sites -- such as new releases, top 10 tracks, and top 10
albums.
* A blog for developers to participate in the future roadmap
and
development of the Rhapsody Web Services initiative.
More information can be found at http://www.rhaps
ody.com/webservices.
Initial companies supporting Rhapsody.com and the Rhapsody
Web Services
initiative include Comcast, RollingStone.com, and MSN.
Specific
implementations include:
• Comcast became the first service provider to launch a new
Web-based
Rhapsody radio service. The Comcast Rhapsody Web Radio
service is
currently available to Comcast’s 8.1M broadband customers.
The service
further complements Comcast’s online music offering, which
also
includes: Rhapsody Radio PLUS, Rhapsody Unlimited, and
Rhapsody To Go.
Comcast Rhapsody Radio provides 50 commercial-free,
genre-based stations
(www.comcast.net/music).
RollingStone.com, the official online presence for pop
culture icon
Rolling Stone, has integrated Rhapsody web services
technology
throughout its site. The new site, http://www.RollingStone.c
om, enables
visitors to sample full length free tracks in Rhapsody and
view music
videos along with the magazine’s archive of groundbreaking
music news
coverage, feature articles, interviews, photos, movie/album
reviews and
in-depth political reporting.
In the coming weeks, Rhapsody.com will be available within
Microsoft’s
WiMP 10, and in the coming months, MSN will be using
Rhapsody Web
Services to integrate Rhapsody into its MSN Search, MSN
Messenger and
MSN Music services.
For more information, visit http://www.rhapsody.com.
Kevin
--
Kevin Foreman,
GM,
RealNetworks, Inc.
T: 206-674-2244
E: kevinf real.com
www.helixcommunity.org
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