Napster Pass Review: Unlimited Streaming Music With MP3 Download Credits

Introduction

Napster Pass combines the freedom of unlimited streaming music with the benefit of a set number of MP3 downloads every month. The distinguishing feature of Napster Pass is the ability to listen to full-length tracks before using your MP3 credits. If you're on a budget and looking for a subscription service that also gives you MP3 downloads, then read our Napster Pass review to find out if its worth it.

Pros:

• Listen to tracks in full before purchasing
• Access to over 7 million songs
• Choice of prepaid cards

Cons:

• MP3 credits don't roll over to the next month
• No Mac version of Napster Download Manager

Digital Music Delivery:
Napster Pass is essentially a streaming music service with MP3 credits bolted on. If you listen to a streaming song that you'd like to download as an MP3 (for use on an iPod, MP3 player, etc.), then this can be purchased using one of your MP3 credits.

Napster Pass Options:

Subscriptions:

• $5 (1 month streaming / 5 MP3 downloads)
• $15 (3 months streaming / 15 MP3 downloads)
• $60 (1 year streaming / 60 MP3 downloads)

• $5 (1 month streaming / 5 MP3 downloads)
• $15 (3 months streaming / 15 MP3 downloads)
• $30 (6 months streaming / 30 MP3 downloads)
• $60 (1 year streaming / 60 MP3 downloads)

Website Design and Content:
Napster's 'file explorer' type interface makes navigating the website very efficient; it's uncluttered and well laid out. There's also a handy search box at the top of the screen if you're looking for something specific - you can search for artist, album, track, etc. Napster's huge 7 million+ music library represents one of the largest music libraries out there, with a good selection of genres to explore.

Previewing Songs:
The big plus with using Napster Pass is that you get to listen to full tracks before deciding to buy; there are a few 30-second clips but most are full-length. All the previews are streamed to your computer and can be controlled via a browser-embedded player that has play/pause, previous/next track, and volume control buttons.

Purchasing Music:
Buying music on Napster is very straight forward using your alloted MP3 credits. Simply click on the + icon next to your chosen track (or the MP3 icon if using the browser embedded player) to buy as an MP3 track. A confirmation message will be displayed showing your selection before you purchase the track. Once you accept, this will use one of your MP3 credits and downloading will start automatically.

Napster Download Manager:
Napster provides a free software program called, Napster Download Manager, that is designed to help you get the best out of the Napster music service and provide suitable tools for managing your digital music. It comes with its own built-in browser in order to, stream music, buy tracks, listen to radio stations and playlists. You can also use the software to rip audio CDs and burn music that you've purchased. Overall it is a useful program, but sadly its only available on the Windows platform (XP and Vista).

Automix:
Automix helps you to find other bands and artists that play the music you like. Clicking on the Automix button will generate a playlist of recommendations that you can use for music discovery.

Billboard Charts and Radio Stations:
Also featured in the Napster music service is the Billboard charts which you can consult to get the latest on the most popular music. There's also a large selection of radio stations that cover practically every genre imaginable. Both of these features are very useful for discovering new music.

Technical Details

Audio Formats:

• MP3

Bitstream rate:

• 128 kbps minimum (mostly 256 kbps)

Is it right for you?
When it comes to purchasing digital music tracks, the average service only gives you a short clip (30 seconds or so) to preview a song. At times, this can be frustrating when a song stops just as it starts to get going. The Napster Pass plan is designed for consumers who want a pay-per-click system with the advantages of listening to full-length tracks via streaming audio; this is probably Napster's biggest selling point when it comes to why you might consider their plan. The big attraction compared to a normal streaming service is the use of MP3 credits that you can use to download MP3 tracks every month - these can then be transferred to your iPod, iPhone, MP3 player, etc. The downside to this system is that any unused credits don't roll over to the next month - this seems harsh considering you've already paid. With the option of prepaid cards, Napster have also extended the flexibility of their system to cater for consumers who don't want to pay a regular subscription, or may want to purchase a music card as a gift. Finally, PC users will find Napster's Download Manager useful for accessing content and for managing their own music library - unfortunately there's no Mac software available at present. Overall, Napster has created a good option if you want a service that combines unlimited streaming music with a set number of MP3 downloads that you can keep every month.