Napster (pay service)
| Website | www |
|---|---|
Napster, commonly known as “Napster 2.0”,
History
 Napster 5.0 beta | |
| Developer(s) | Napster, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Stable release | 4.6.3.4
/ August 31, 2010 |
| Preview release | 5.0
/ 2012 |
Media player | |
| License | DRM-free MP3, WMA |
| Website | Napster.com |
As a Roxio subsidiary
In 2002, Roxio bought the assets of the original Napster at its bankruptcy auction and acquired PressPlay in May 2003 for $40 million.[5] After integrating the services, Roxio launched a revamped Napster in October 2003, whereby users were able to download songs a-la-carte or pay for a monthly unlimited download and streaming media service.[6][7] Users were also able to share playlists and browse other users' libraries.[8]
Napster MP3 player
Soon after launching the revamped Napster, Roxio partnered with Korean electronics maker Samsung to create a Napster-branded MP3 player. The player, named Samsung Napster YP-910 came with a 20GB hard disk that ran for ten hours on a lithium-polymer battery. It used a special version of Napster software and drivers to transfer DRM-protected files to the built-in hard disk.[9]
Free Napster
In May 2006, Napster launched Free Napster, a free, advertising-supported Web-based music player that enabled users to stream full-length versions of all the songs in Napster's catalog of over 8 million tracks three times each, without downloading any software or making any service commitment.[10][11] Visitors could also purchase DRM-free MP3 downloads. It was discontinued in March 2010.[12]
As a Best Buy company
In September 2008, after introducing its Insignia line of portable media players, Best Buy acquired Napster for $121 million. At that time, Napster was incurring significant losses due to new competition and had approximately 760,000 subscribers.[13][14][15] In January 2010, after losing subscribers, the CEO position, held by Chris Gorog, was eliminated.[16]
Purchase by Rhapsody
In 2011, the company was acquired by Rhapsody, which rebranded the combined application as
See also
- Windows Media Player
- Streaming media
- DRM
- Online music store
- MusicStation
- Comparison of media players
References
- ^ Napster: Napster Management.
- ^ "Napster Homepage". Napster. Archived from the original on December 25, 2003.
- ^ a b Viksnins, Rebecca (October 8, 2004). "Napster 2.0 Review". CNET.
- ^ "Porno company offers to buy Napster". CNET. CNET Networks. September 12, 2002.
- ^ "Roxio Buys Pressplay, Napster Lives". Wired. May 19, 2003.
{{cite magazine}}: Unknown parameter|agency=ignored (help) - ^ "Roxio Sets Date for Napster Launch". The Wall Street Journal. October 9, 2003.
- ^ "Roxio Reveals Details Of Retooled Napster". Billboard. October 10, 2003.
- ^ Viksnins, Rebecca (October 9, 2003). "Napster 2.0". CNET.
- ^ Wiley, M. (October 9, 2003). "Samsung Napster YP-910GS". IGN.
- ^ "Napster Available For Download". Forbes. September 19, 2006.
- ^ Chmielewski, Dawn (September 19, 2006). "Napster Hires UBS to Explore a Possible Sale". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Greenfield, Rebecca (December 1, 2011). "Napster's Seven Lives Are Finished". The Atlantic.
- ^ "Best Buy To Acquire Napster". TechCrunch. September 15, 2008.
- ^ Skillings, Jon (September 15, 2008). "Best Buy nabs Napster for $121 million". CNET.
- ^ HANSELL, SAUL (September 15, 2008). "Best Buy Bails Out Failing Napster". The New York Times.
- All Things D.
- ^ Popper, Ben (June 14, 2016). "Rhapsody rebrands itself as Napster because ¯\_(ツ)_/¯". The Verge.
- ^ BISHOP, TODD (June 14, 2016). "Rhapsody will rebrand as Napster, creating 'one global brand' for longtime music service". GeekWire.
