Rhapsody Update

There is an optional update to Rhapsody that you can download by clicking Help > Check for Updates... in the Rhapsody application. There is a new splash screen and "quick start" screen when you start the program (which can thankfully be turned off). The best part? The same quick-Rhaplink functionality from the web version is here in the software! Thank you Real.

Oh, and there's also this. Very cool.

All this found via a Technorati search and eventually the blog at Plutinosoft.

And, OK, one more thing. The Rhapsody Web Services team blog. Bookmark that for sure.

Like a Cracker Jack box

While sifting through my inbox, I found a lovely little playlist I compiled of music from 2004 and 2005. This year I was really impressed with Hard-Fi, The Magic Numbers and Elbow (who actually made my top ten for the year, but that's another post entirely). My original name for this playlist was "TGIF," but it'll work on a Thursday as well.

Listen to the semi-new music playlist. (This link goes to the Rhapsody application)

# "Tied Up Too Tight (Album Version)" - Hard-fi
# "Welcome Home" - Idlewild
# "There's A Fire" - Longwave
# "Love Me Like You" - The Magic Numbers
# "Big Sur" - The Thrills
# "Shot Down" - Nine Black Alps
# "All The Money Or The Simple Life Honey" - The Dandy Warhols
# "All Night Disco Party" - Brakes
# "Paralyzed" - Bob Mould
# "Rock & Roll Queen (album version)" - The Subways
# "Teenage Kicks" - The Undertones
# "Forget Myself" - Elbow
# "The Purple Bottle" - Animal Collective

All Kinds of Happenings

In case you live under a digital rock, you might not have heard that Rhapsody has unveiled a new web site where you can use the service without the software-based player. Neat! It's gotten some press (Digital Music News, Coolfer) and is part of a larger effort by Real to make Rhapsody more accessible for a larger number of users, including those with Macs and who use the Linux operating system.

I gave it a thorough test drive today and overall, it works pretty well. Some minor analysis:

The Pros:

• The interface is basically the same from the application, just with a different color scheme


• The player uses a small pop-up window with playlist functions and volume control


• It is stunningly easy to create Rhap-links (no more emailing to yourself!)

The Cons:

• Seems to use the same amount of memory as the application (boo! hiss!)


• No access to your saved playlists, library, or saved radio stations.


• No miniplayer or 'always on top' option

Obviously, I recognize that the web version is still in beta and may very well add more features as time goes on. It's a giant step for Rhapsody and I've gotta believe it's going to win them more subscribers as people finally realize that 'renting' music is in some ways infinitely better than 'owning.'

What will it mean for blogs like mine? Hopefully an upswing in traffic, readers, contributors, new bloggers. Maybe more recognition from Real as they realize that the more people who use Rhapsody to share music means money in their pockets. I am hearing good things about a web function for Rhapsody to actually link to the service directly from a web page.

Thoughts from subscribers? Readers? Bloggers? General interested parties?