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Would someone buy Microsoft a new box of crayons. It's time for them to start drawing new plans on how to compete with Apple.

I have the urge to take a zune. Be back in a few...

Clone Avenger...

It looks like the only way Microsft can beat Apple's music strategy would be to get their allies in Washington... y'know, the ones who negated the DoJ anti-trust case... to launch an airstrike on One Infinite Loop. That'll stop those drugged-out, godless hippies!

MDN Magic Word: RUN, Apple RUN!

Macworld.co.uk also reports that The partners are reported to be working with Verizon Communications and Vodafone to offer a mobile version of the service.

I'm wondering: if Vodafone get the deal to run Apples' iPhone in europe, won't the MTV/Real deal cause a conflict of interests for Vodafone and Apple..?

"This effectively ends Urge’s relationship with Microsoft (as if anybody cared).

The pairing of MTV's service that nobody used with Real's outfit that hardly anybody uses is, according to the WSJ report, "a bid to create a stronger competitor to Apple Inc.'s market-dominating iTunes Store.""

This is so funny!! And it was not even MDN that used these words.

Hmmm, MDN, you did not add those words ("that nobody used" ) did you??

en

Just think - if they had gone MP3 (DRM-free), 99c (or less) and provided purchasing from a Mac browser in the beginning things might have gone differently.

"Apple Inc.'s market-dominating iTunes Store."

Says who? How do these analysts/bloggers/writers get it so wrong?

It was Microsoft's Zune Marketplace that took Urge down. Urge had no answer for WMA format tracks you can squirt.

Hey Apple iTunes Store, look over your shoulder. You're next.

Your potential. Our passion.™

Well, well, well. I told you so.

@Bartsimpsonhead

no, it is not a conflict of interest, as the 4 people who will use the mobile version of the music service will not be iPhone users....

"The pairing of MTV's service that nobody used with Real's outfit that hardly anybody uses is,…"

Talk about mating dinasaurs! They don't even realize the meteor has already struck the planet.

"Urge". "Squirt". "Zune"
- Marketing GENIUS!

Zune Tang have you ever thought of a career in politics ? Great Spin.

I hear George has just lost his spinner.

Alas poor Urge I knew thee well; at least until my 20 free MP3's trial offer expired.

They do import nicely into iTunes though...
Bwahaha!

@ shen

You are of course right.

I'm imagine Zune Tang will be one of those people using the iTunes rip-off service, on his iPhone rip-off Prada phone (paid for by the ol' M$ payola, allegedly...)

MTV + MICROSOFT = Zombies

Do people still associate MTV with music? I thought the "M" stopped standing for "music" long ago. (It now stands for "moron".)

Seriously, though -- I don't think MTV is necessarily the music mega-brand some claim it to be.

MTV will merge its digital music store Urge with RealNetworks' Rhapsody music subscription service in a joint venture called Rhapsody America, executives said on a conference call.

Verizon Wireless, a venture of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ - News) and Vodafone Group Plc (LSE:VOD.L - News; NYSE:VOD - News), will become the exclusive wireless distributor for the joint venture's digital content.

"The collaboration of these three companies is like a perfect storm," Van Toffler, president of MTV Networks Music said on the call.

http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/070821/viacom_mtv_realnetworks.html?.v=6

More like a howling gale, or gaff, but I counted four companies so maybe gaff is standard performance.

I'd go for a breath of fresh air, the simplicity of iTunes is a breeze, that's why the others have got the wind up.

RealNetworks has one good thing going for it, the ability to extract funds from other market players. IIRC they got approaching $2bn from Microsoft, now $230m from MTV, I'm sure there were others too. No wonder they can afford to keep on losing money.

does anyone even think of mtv as music
i wish mtv would just go away and die

Next one up for the blood on the carpet treatment is GBox - Universal and Sony BMG. Will the get traction ? or will they end up in the crapper ? It'll be fun watching.

Next one up for the blood on the carpet treatment is GBox - Universal and Sony BMG. Will the get traction ? or will they end up in the crapper - ALONG WITH THE ZUNE

It'll be fun watching

Let's be clear, MTV knows how to throw a party, but at the end of the day there is more to music than a buck, girls gone wild, and all those queers with microphones. The mirror cracked decades ago.

Apple thrives because it's doing its best to get out of its own way.

Hey MDN - sorry about the paring/pairing rant. I thought that was the fault of the editors at the WSJ, not you, so that's why I brought it up.

MTV is completely irrelevant today when it comes to music. Now they are just another TV channel targeted at 15 year olds with low IQs.

This quote is priceless…

"The notion of combining with these two marketing behemoths is very, very exciting from our standpoint," said Rob Glaser"

Just replace the word behemoths with dinosaurs.

'Seriously, though -- I don't think MTV is necessarily the music mega-brand some claim it to be.'

'MTV is completely irrelevant today when it comes to music. Now they are just another TV channel targeted at 15 year olds with low IQs.'

Agreed! It could even be argued that it was never really about music, but one thing's for sure: MTV, Rolling Stone, et. al., have become nothing more than lifestyle media, and yes, channels for the perpetuation of retarded fifteen year old sexuality. Apple seems to be one of the only companies that knows 'it's about the music', and this is the open secret that has given them success in my opinion, as far as iTS goes anyway.

MTV is still under the delusion that they are hot. They are simply an aging brand.

Look at mtv's target demographic in public. Tell me what color of earbuds they're wearing.

But then MTV isn't a music service--hasn't been for a long time. It's not a music brand. It's just a TV network. Only the execs making these deals (but none of their target demographic) can even imagine a time when MTV was about music.

The hotest brand in MUSIC is, of course, "iPod".

this really made my day ......... to funny



http://www.urge.com/answers/index.jhtml

Your Kung fu is truly stronger than anyone one elses !!!

I wish the real Zune Tang would come back. This loser isn't funny. Get off the boards with your lame a** sh**!!

Over 70 % of the MP3 players in the market are iPods. Urge was iPod-incompatible.

How the hell did they think they'd be profitable??