Has anybody else had a chance to try this program/service yet? I found a couple of albums on there that I was looking forward to grabbing, so I decided to give it a shot and see what it's all about. The pricing is certainly right, the download speeds are non-existent if you don't want them to be (because the service also offers streaming from Google's servers) and if you install their music client you can download your stuff to your computers to your hearts content.

Basically it works like this:

Using Google Play (formerly the Android Marketplace): Find music you like and buy it.

Using Google Music: Your music will be played from Google's cloud music server every time you look it up on your phone, or sign into a PC using your Google account. If you so choose, you can also download this content permanently. You have a two strike system, UNLESS you install the Google Music client on your PC. Then it is unlimited downloads.

Uploading your existing music: You have the option of uploading any music you have to Google Music's cloud service using your Google account. From what I've seen, there are no limitations. This means that any music you own you can now steam off of your Google Music account from anywhere on any device with internet access. Very cool. I now no longer have to worry about storage issues or memory card upgrades on my smart phone and I could theoretically stop buying iPods if I wanted to.

Here's an example of my account (with many uploads in progress):

So... anybody tried this yet?

Edited March 15, 201214 yr by unr3al

I see you're a heavy metal lover *brofist*

Anyways I love the ideas, seems really nice, I'll get it tomorrow. Thanks for sharing!

No problem. Yeah, that isn't even the beginning of my collection. Any band I seriously like I try and get all of their albums if possible. I finished doing that recently with Lamb of God, Soundgarden, Mercenary, Amon Amarth, DevilDriver, Shadows Fall, Dimmu Borgir (except 'For All Tid' since that's hard to find), etc. I'm working on As I Lay Dying, Fear Factory, In Flames and Mnemic right now. I'm closing the gap on most of them. I try to buy from record stores if I can, but it's getting harder and harder to find what I need. That's the price I pay for not listening to Cold Play and U2 like any other mainstream "rocker". (I do in fact listen to Coldplay and U2 btw. lol)

*EDIT*

Oh also, as far as selection is concerned: Google Music is a brand new service (literally a couple of weeks old) so their selection isn't as large as iTunes, but the only way to change that is to buy stuff from them. I don't dislike Apple, but I want serious competition, and it looks like Google is in a position to put some pressure on them. Right now, all of the record labels are screwing Google big time because now with the success of iTunes, they all want more money for a contract with Google. Warner Brothers Records in particular doesn't want to go along with the program at all. They want more money. Every other major label (Sony BMG, EMI, Universal, Polygram) has finally joined in.

Edited March 15, 201214 yr by unr3al

Google Music is US only :(

Google Play is just the Android Market but renamed.

I'm sure they'll expand it in the near future. The problem is giving the record companies enough money to be satisfied (and they all want a lot...). You can always try and use a proxy in the meantime. :whistling:

iTunes Match & iCloud <3