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- Intuitive interface
- Good catalog of songs
- Powerful search utility
- Only available in the U.S.
- Some software bugs
- No cross-fading or gapless playback
CNet.com is geared to technology-savvy readers, and its coverage of Rhapsody is in-depth and well balanced. PCMag.com, which caters to a similar audience, has another high-quality review that tests out new features and compares the service to other sites with DRM-free offerings. There's also a good overview at About.com: Digital Music and a short write-up on PC World.
Rhapsody, which has now absorbed Yahoo! Music Unlimited, is a music download service with a solid reputation among reviewers. It doesn't have as large a library as Napster (*est. 99¢ per track) or iTunes (*est. 99¢ per track), but reviewers say its collection is broad enough to please most music lovers. What sets Rhapsody apart is its top-rated search function; it also gets good marks for its user-friendly interface. Critics say there are still some bugs to iron out, though, and Rhapsody gets only mediocre marks for playback features.
Our Sources
1. CNET
CNet.com has the most extensive coverage of Rhapsody 4.0. There's an overall rating with a detailed breakdown, a comprehensive review and photos of the interface. Author Jasmine France says Rhapsody 4.0 "may not act as an all-encompassing media jukebox, but it does do music, and it does it extremely well."
Review: Rhapsody 4.0 Review, Jasmine France, Oct. 2006
PC Magazine gives Rhapsody another look after the company announces "pay-per-song DRM-free downloads from all four major labels" and partners with Verizon Wireless for a mobile service. Reviewers Segan and Lendino appreciate that Rhapsody lets users preview entire songs before purchasing them, but note that albums are more expensive here than at AmazonMP3. The review focuses mostly on new features noting that the "Verizon integration, though unique, isn't yet what it could be."
Review: Rhapsody (Summer 2008) Review, Jamie Lendino and Sascha Segan, June 2008
3. About.com
Site guide Mark Harris posts some useful music download site reviews on his section at About.com for digital music. The write-up on Rhapsody covers music selection, interface, availability and service limitations.
Review: RealNetworks Rhapsody: A Review of the Rhapsody Music Service, Mark Harris
This short review focuses on Rhapsody's key features: loading channels onto a compatible player, simplified downloading and the new DRM system.
Review: First Look: Rhapsody 4.0, Edward N. Albro, Oct. 2006
Music Downloads Runners Up:
5 picks by top review sites.
2 picks including: About.com, PC World…