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Vote: Napster vs iTunes
It’s music download sites this week for the Wall of Fame, and as fights go they don’t get much more heavyweight than this. It’s Napster versus iTunes. But which should be bestowed with the greatest accolade of all… entrance to the Wall of Fame.
In the red corner: Napster. A bit of a rebel it shook the music industry to its core and changed the way we thought about music for ever. Devised by an 18-year-old college student, Napster launched in 1999. It combined a music search function with a file-sharing system, which effectively meant you had access to all the music on all the hard drives of computers connected to Napster. It was bit dodgy, infringing on copyright law, and the music industry had it shut down in 2001. But Napster lives on in an online music store, and it’s the legacy of the original site that makes it so great.
In the blue corner: iTunes! Proclaiming to be the daddy of online music, iTunes is like having a massive music and video warehouse in your bedroom. It originally launched in 2001 as a digital music player before it converted to an online store. It makes transferring music to your iPod easy as! And it’s this simplicity that’s led to its dominance of the online music world with over four billion songs sold!
So, who’s the music maestro? Who’s the Beethoven of online music stores? And who’s the music mooch? The Victoria Beckham of song shops? Find out Jon’s verdict here. Disagree with Judge Jon? Have your say in the poll below…
User comments (37)
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Dan10 August 2009
Why not Spotify! THis is the true next generation of online music. Fact.
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Haydon B10 August 2009
I have used Napster once or twice in the old days of it, and a soon as iTunes was on the PC I was hooked, it's clean, easy and legal and I want to keep it that was if iTunes was to close I would start buying CD's again.
Report as inappropriateblazeicehockey10 August 2009
I choose Napster. I didn't want to sell my soul to the devil! I subscribe and download anything and everything, and listen to it till I get bored of it. - 'Buying music' is a thing of the past.
Report as inappropriateCharlie Pecot10 August 2009
I like Napster better because of the pricing scheme. $5 will get you 5 songs AND free streaming for a month. There is NO free streaming on iTunes.
Report as inappropriatetardisman11 August 2009
i think even tough itunes is perfected vision of napster it will still created by napster that's why naspster won
Report as inappropriate-KyleG11 August 2009
I voted Napster, I dont like iTunes because they use DRM. I hate DRM...
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thegadgetman12 August 2009
itune is easily the most reconised and used music download site cent times and thats why i think it deserves its place the much coveted wall of fame
Report as inappropriateTheGadgetman12 August 2009
itunes is one of if not the most known and loved music download sites.its quick and easy to use and is a well recognised for its wide availability in song and that is why i think it deserves its place on the holy grail of gadgets the wall of fame[not to long is it?]
Report as inappropriateRichardUK13 August 2009
I don't mind iTunes losing to something better or more revolutionary but Napster was illegal and it didn't change the industry at all, now it is some rubbish worse than iTunes. Don't they think they should change it? I am losing faith with Jon's opinion. He gives iPhone 4 star and then an equally or less flawless cooker 5 and now this.
Report as inappropriateAlexFR14 August 2009
Living in France i can't use Napster's streaming feature, And Itunes music prices is expensive, So i started using spotify, I must say the service is very good, And it has all the new songs.
Report as inappropriateEggnog15 August 2009
1 fundamental problem with itunes. U must use an ipod hens y france are moving to ban it unless apple open it up to all mp3 players, and its a borowd concept that apple got from napster.
Report as inappropriateHentheden19 August 2009
Why isn't it spotify vs itunes?
Report as inappropriateralph1125 August 2009
itunes is the best but i have never had one :) :(
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Veronica24 September 2009
I love using iTunes but I suppose Napster was the first so it deserves to win.
Report as inappropriateipodtouch28 November 2009
i love iTunes (although I'm not gonna use it fully until christmas) and apple rules :) but napster is good so both should have won :)
Report as inappropriateGarabandal10 December 2009
i tunes is one big lag on vista! dnt Apple they care about us users? think about how much custom they are losing because of it?!
Report as inappropriateGruffdan28 January 2010
neither, they both suck
Report as inappropriateSharn10 March 2010
Definately NOT iTunes as someone just hacked it this week and charged £250 of downloads to my ccard. From reading other forums Apple have been aware of this for a long time. Please Gadget Show warn other viewers that iTunes is not secure.
Report as inappropriateGoldviper300016 March 2010
im bored and i think that xbox is better than both
Report as inappropriatePeter Fletcher19 April 2010
If you own a Sonos system then there is only one clear winner..... Napster streams instantaneously a factor overlooked on the Tv Show's review.
Report as inappropriateKieran11 May 2010
iTunes of course ^_^
Report as inappropriatemr person19 May 2010
look napster changed the way we saw music and was the original but come on itunes is brilliant itunes deserved to win and has 68% of the votes GO ITUNES!
Report as inappropriateMinimi7203 August 2010
iTunes all the way
Report as inappropriatebarry scott31 August 2010
i love napster 14.99 a month and u can download anything for free just pay 14.99 brillent itunes rubbish 79p a track no thanks
Report as inappropriatenananadi08 October 2010
I tried napster, but why run through all that stuff when on itunes you can just get going. Easy to download new versions, as well...
Report as inappropriateMax Gent21 November 2010
I have to say that I've used iTunes for many years, and it has never caused me any problems whatsoever. The easy to use functions are a easy for the basic user, and there are also more complicated elements which will thrive with the more advanced user. iTunes and iTunes store provide a much better music environment, and with being able to download videos, well, I can't complain. It's nothing short of epic. iTunes ftw!
Report as inappropriatelove_random22 February 2011
iTunes FTW!
Report as inappropriateFoxyred09 September 2011
Itunes is the best it is so easy and simple what ever your choice in music it there in seconds it belongs on wall of fame !!!!
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Jason24 October 2011
Spotify open used to be a brilliant ad-based music program, however since it has become very limited, the users free program is now more of a, sample a song, rather than a full base for music. however, since iTunes and Napster both require you to pay for the songs you download, they would both be great for a casual music downloader, however, if like me, you like to listen to a lot of music, and on mobile device as well as just your PC/MAC, Spotify Unlimited is definately the winner over both iTunes and Napster. for most people, the subscription cost per month barely scrapes the subscribers account balance, and for the experience you get for that, it is for me, an investment well made.
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