Section 14.2. Online Music Stores: All Versions | Windows Vista: The Missing Manual

14.2. Online Music Stores: All Versions

Right from within Media Player, you can search or browse for millions of pop songs, classical pieces, and even comedy excerptsand then buy them or rent them. (You can pay $1 per song to own it, or about $15 per month to download as many songs as you want, with the understanding that they'll all go poof! if you ever stop paying the fee.)

At first, the Online Store tab features Urge, which is MTV's music store. But with a little effort, you can also access Napster, eMusic, XM Satellite Radio, and other music and movie stores.

Note: Two stores you can't get to from here are iTunes and Zune Marketplace. You have to get to those using the software that came with your iPod or Zune, as noted at the beginning of this chapter.

To look over your options, open the Urge menu and then choose Browse All Online Stores. Now Media Player window ducks into a phone booth and becomes a Web browser, filled with company logos. Anything you buy gets gulped right into your Library, ready for burning to a CD or syncing with an audio player, if the store's copy-protection scheme allows it.

The stores fall into three categories:

Deliciously integrated . Some of the online stores, like Urge, are well integrated with Media Player. Once you sign up, the store gets its own icon in the Navigation tree. You can drag songs right out of its lists into a playlist or a Burn list, and you can use Media Player's Search box to search the entire store.
Web-page-type stores . Other stores, like Music Giants, show up as Web sites right within Media Player's main window. They're not built into the Navigation tree, but at least you don't need to switch to a Web browser to see them.
Not-at-all integrated stores . A few stores, like Napster, require you to download and install a separate program.

Tip: If you think you'll be visiting a store again, open its tab menu (click the

button where it once said Urge) and then choose "Add current service to menu." Next time, youll be able to jump to it without having to choose "Browse all Online Stores" first.

14.2.1.

14.2.1.1. Restrictions

Songs from most online stores are copy-protectedgently. For example, the $1-a-song sites generally permit you to play the songs on up to five computers at once, and to burn a playlist containing the songs 10 times.

The $15-a-month rental (subscription) plans generally don't let you burn CDs at all.

14.2.2. Internet Radio

The 21st century's twist on listening to the radio as you work is listening without a radio. Media Player itself can tune in to hundreds of Internet-based radio stations all over the world, which may turn out to be the most convenient music source of all. They're free, they play 24 hours a day, and their music collections make yours look like a drop in the bucket.

For radio, use the rightmost tab (the Online Stores tab). Click the button; from the menu, choose Media Guide.

Media Guide is a window onto www.windowsmedia.com. It's a sort of promotional/news site that plugs new movies, songs, and videos, displays movie trailers and music videos , and so on.

And it lists radio stations. See Figure 14-9 for details.

Figure 14-9. Top: In the list at the right side of Media Guide, click Internet Radio .
Bottom: Click through the music genres to find what you're up for. Click a station that looks interesting, and then click the little Play button beneath its listing. (The higher the number in the Speed column, the better the sound quality. Note, though, that 128 Kbps is generally too rich for dial-up modems, and may sputter.) Wait for your PC to connect to the Internet site, and then let the music begin!

Note: Unfortunately, there's no easy way to capture Internet broadcasts or save them onto your hard drive.