A year after it seemed to disappear, the controversial legal peer-to-peer download service Qtrax is back - with a deal allowing it to distribute Warner Music's entire music catalogue free of charge.
Qtrax uses an ad-supported delivery model that "easily and accurately" directs revenue back to artists and rights holders, and relies on Windows Media DRM.
Qtrax is still making big claims - promising a "colourful and diverse" catalogue of high-quality digital music files that will "eventually" number "in the millions".
No iPod action
Like illegal P2P downloads, Qtrax users download and install a client to search for and download music files.
Unlike Torrents clients though, all Qtrax files are encoded with DRM that means you can't copy them to your mates or load them on to your iPod. However, they should work on all Windows Mobile devices "in the near future".
Files can only be played back through the Qtrax player, which includes ads and sponsorship that covers the licensing price of the track. The player must be connected to the internet to play songs.
Firefox with extra ads
The player is built on the open-soure Mozilla platform, has brower, genre and playlist features - and will be able to play back files bought using iTunes.
President and CEO of Qtrax Allan Klepfisz says, "The Qtrax platform incorporates a unique legal peer-to-peer experience that we strongly believe will compete favorably with illegal sites and will prove the ad supported model to be a viable and valuable alternative in the future monetizing of free music."
At the moment, Qtrax is only available to US users. Somehow we can't see the rest of the world crying too hard.
Your comments (7) Click to add a new comment
lopaka
February 12th
7. I think a free and legal service such as Qtrax, on a global level can be a real threat to apples' itunes. Av mentions what a pain drm is, that did not stop millions from using i-tunes before. What you have to realize is just at about the same point Qtrax is coming out with a drm model, apple are taking steps to stay in the game, and therefor are offering a drm free option, for an extra price. I don't think that is a coincidence. The beauty of it is, that Qtrax are already working on a drm free model for the future. Apple will probably allow for their Ipods to ingest Qtrax songs in the future. That will help keep them in the game
Alert a moderator
qurious
February 12th
6. The world is sick of DRM....? Of course they are- if you are PAYING for the track! If you can get on and DL the song for free, why do you need to share it with your mates? In fact, you can- from looking at the application, you can see that there is a social network built into the site, which allows you to send playlists, etc to your mates. Then when they log in, they can DL the same FREE songs. These songs are going to be free... and not streaming- downloadable.. you don't think this will be an eye opener to anyone who makes Windows Media Devices, currently????
Alert a moderator
harrythedog
February 12th
5. From what ive read theres no adverts when you play the music. Just advert banners on the website thats used to search for the files..
Just like the ads that appear on this fine website and other freebies such as google,yahoo,hotmail,myspace etc
Alert a moderator
avi
February 12th
4. Not if it has adverts. Don't forget that TV is shifting toward on demand because people would prefer to pay and watch a program when they want it, rather than endure nearly 20 minutes of extremely irritating adverts (unless you're a C3 woman with hard stools).
79 Pence with iTunes buys you a DRM free 256K AAC and Qtrax plays DRM'd music via their player with adverts. iTunes is probably the best media player going and it offers a million times more. It will take a very good idea to unseat it IMO and this is a **** one.
Alert a moderator
lopaka
February 12th
3. I think the whole world is looking for a free alternative to itunes. Why would I buy from itunes when I can get it for free, and legally from Qtrax? I won't expect mark harris to have any answers to that question.
Alert a moderator
harrythedog
February 11th
2. These free websites that have adverts on them...I dunno...very annoying
Alert a moderator
Tell us what you think
You need to Log in or register to post comments