Real’s Rhapsody now for Mac and Linux
Earlier today, Real Networks made their Rhapsody music service accessible to Mac and Linux users via non-IE, non-PC browsers. Read some coverage at Marketwatch and ipodnn.com.
Previously, Rhapsody susbscribers could only access their playlists, radio stations, and downloaded music through the company’s PC-only Jukebox software. Now, exisiting subscribers and new users can access the Rhapsody databanks via the browser. They can fire up streams and manage downloads after a simple login. The service works with Safari, Firefox, and IE.
This opens up the subscription service to a whole new audience. Before today, there were no subscription services available to Mac and Linux users. The other big services, Napster and Yahoo Music, are PC-only. Real’s Rhapsody, with 1.3 million subscribers, is the largest subscription service, and by far the most influential. The company offers streaming of personalized playlists, professionally programmed streaming radio, full song downloads, and the ability to transfer music to mobile phones, PSPs, and compatible players. There are around 70 devices that are Rhapsody-compatible right now, (the iPod is not one of them).
