I just found out this morning... Emusic has finally started to upgrade all of it's music to VBR MP3s. Most are already posted, but it will say on the album page if they are still 128k CBR.

I had a subscription a while back, but I canceled over the quality issue. If I am paying for the tracks I want better quality. It would appear that I wasn't the only one complaining and they decided to listen. They have instigated a 45 tracks a day policy since some were abusing the unlimited system with 'bots and such.

Anyway, EMusic's collection has grown since I was last here. You still can't get some of the more popular pop artists, but there is a lot of odd stuff I haven't been able to find anywhere else. There is no DRM, just unrestricted MP3s. Check out their 50 track free trial if you are so inclined.

("Bootsy" has no professional connection with Emusic... he is just very excited.)

This is great news!

ya, almost makes me want to sign up agian, with the exception of the 45songs per day rule.

I checked out the message boards on emusic and saw many people whine about the 45 song a day thing. First I can't imagine needing to get more than that at one time anyway. I usually just get one album at a time. Secondly according to one of the moderators on the BBS the limit is that you can only que 45 songs to be downloaded at one time in the emusic download manager. So when the first 45 are done you can que up 45 more.

I can't remember how long I have been signed up and I have been really happy with the service. I have found many bands I like that I wouldn't have checked out otherwise. And don't forget it's only 10.00 dollars a month that's like one album on the apple thing .

Cheers for the heads up on this one - I think I may have to join

....... But then I'll need more storage and and and

Ah, f##k it, do it anyway

This sounds pretty good.. I was thinking of getting satelite radio to increate my music diversity, but as I'm only on the road about 30 minutes a day it's not worth it..

Kinda sounds good.. their $10 a month deal is missworded.

They have $45 for three months, or $120 for a year.. This is not a monthy service, as you can't cancel after a month, you just pay per month. If you cancel before the service ends, you have to pay for the rest of the service period.

I think I may have to join

Don't sign up yet. I just did and they are having a massive SNAFU. For the past 48 hours, nothing will download for anyone. I'll keep you advised. Their message boards are jammed with complaints.

Yea, I saw that and I wasn't even signed up yet..

Uh... not "nothing." There are some problems with time outs and such, but I downloaded two albums and a couple of tracks yesterday.

It might be a good idea to wait to sign up until they shake out the new server bugs though...

(EDIT: I didn't see that about 45 song queue limit... I guess I was going off the whining in the message board. Heh. And you are correct, they do require a year long subscription for the $10 a month deal.)

Yeah I got some stuff to download too. I think the problem is their new download client is buggy and now they require you to use it.

I have now run into the "Unavailable" problem many have complained about... From the sounds of it, they are getting pounded by downloads and there are servers being moved, database problems... etc.

If anyone is thinking of attempting the trial, I would give them some time to work this out. I have downloaded several full albums, but there is much that appears to be missing now. I do like the "stash" feature...

I think the problem is their new download client is buggy and now they require you to use it.

They have a specific client? Aaaaargh. I bet they don't have one for Linux yet.

/me goes to look...

Yay! They *do* have it for Linux.

/me keeps reading...

Bah. It's a browser plugin.

/me wonders how to run this on an Alpha.

If you are having issues, we recommend that you switch your Linux flavor or OS in order to download with the EMusic Download Manager 2.0.

Hah! I wonder if they really believe that people will really do this?

/me keeps chuggin' along without EMusic.

Don't sign up yet. I just did and they are having a massive SNAFU

- Thanks for that, BUT PLEASE do post back if they ever get their poo sorted out. It still sounds like a good deal (had a quick scan of the available content and there's easily gotta be over a years worth ($120) of downloading there for me anyway

It has been working again as of last night and this morning.

Now it quit again. I thing they tried to do too many things at once (new downloader, re-encode everthing). Also I'm sure everyone keeps retrying so they are getting more traffic than usual.

I was getting good downloads last night, but today I am getting stalled downloads. Restarting the DLM gets it going again, but I lose some albums, and I have to re-request them again.

I assume everyone is replacing their old 128 with the new VBR. I didn't realize how many of my albums have disappeared since I downloaded them.

I haven't had any problems downloading as of this afternoon. Albums that I had tried before and was told were "Unavailable at this time" are back and downloading without error...

I too noticed a few albums that I had previously downloaded missing from the offerings. I am going to give them a day or two before I get too freaked out. (the missing items are pretty 'hyper-nerd' so I am almost too embarrassed to ask about them.)

I think stuff is missing while they re-encode it. Thursday All the epitaph stuff was gone but it is back now.

They should have re-encoded everything before annoucing this.

I can't find a bunch of jazz I downloaded previously:

Archie Shepp
Eric Dolphy - Looking Ahead
Art Ensemble of Chicago - Fanfare for the Warriors
Duke Ellington - Soul Call
BassDrumBone

are among some I see missing. I am glad I check the "new" page often, so I don't miss any albums.