Legal Alternatives to File-sharing
Regardless of how wide-spread file-sharing is, it is illegal and violates the University's acceptable use policy. Why would you risk losing your internet and a possible lawsuit when there are many cheap and sometimes free alternatives to get your music, movies, and tv shows legally? For your convenience, we have compiled a list of options to help you keep up on your shows and keep your mp3 player full.
It is also good to remember that the number of legal alternatives grows regularly, so doing a Google search to find what works for you may be your best option.
Music Suggestions
Paid
Amazon MP3
eMusic
iTunes
LaLa
Napster
Rhapsody
Zune
Amazon mp3 offers millions of songs and albums from artists from around the world. Most songs cost between 89 and 99 cents and most albums cost between $5.99 and $9.99. You are able to listen to 30 second clips of all the songs before you make a purchase. All of the songs are in mp3 format and they contain no DRM which means you can play them through any programs or any devices that supports mp3 playback, including iPods. All purchases are permanent.
eMusic is a great source for independent and hard to find music. They have over 2 million songs in their catalogue. Their songs are in mp3 format and contain no DRM which means you can play them through any programs or devices that support mp3 playback, including iPods. To use their service you must sign up for a subscription service where you pay a set amount each month and get a set number of free downloads. Plans start at $11.99/mo for 30 downloads a month to $24.99/mo for 100 downloads a month. These download are permanent.
iTunes is one of the most popular music downloading services. For only 99 cents per song you can get most of their over 6 million songs. All songs are playable on iPods. These downloads are permanent.
LaLa is a unique service that allows you to listen to any song in their catalogue of over 6 million songs for free, once. After that you can choose to add the song to your playlist (for unlimited online plays) for 10 cents and then you can download the song for 79 cents more. Your purchases are accessible online and are available as long as have your account. They are also DRM free, and in mp3 format.
Napster, one of the most notable names in music downloading, offers two subscription plans. You can sign up for $12.95/mo to get unlimited downloads and ability to play songs online or through the Napster player, or for $14.95/mo you get the added ability to transfer to 'Play For Sure' devices. These songs do have DRM, so you can only play them through the Napster Player or online, and once you end your subscription your songs are no longer playable. Additionally, these songs are not compatible with iPods.
Rhapsody is a very popular service. It is similar to Napster in that you have unlimited downloading to your computer and streaming online for $12.99/mo and unlimited transfers to Rhapsody To Go devices for $14.99/mo. These songs are DRM Locked so you have to play them through the Rhapsody player or stream them and they are not compatible with iPods.
The Zune Marketplace is a necessity for Zune owners, but others can enjoy the 6 million+ songs there as well. You can purchase DRM-free songs for $0.99 a piece, or you can buy a Zune Pass for $14.99/mo and enjoy unlimited downloads to your pc. Each month you get to keep 10 songs. The downloadable music is DRM-free songs and in mp3 format, so it can and can be used on any player or device (including iPods). However, the songs not included in the 10 you get per month do have DRM included and can only be played with the Zune player and on your Zune device.
Free Options
Last.fm
Pandora
Last.fm is "the music service that learns what you love." There is no downloading with this service; instead, it just streams music to your comptuer, and the best part is that it is free. You simply type in a band or song that you like and it will generate a playlist with similar music that you might enjoy based on your listening history compared similar users. It also provides links to download the songs through iTunes. Additionally, there is an iPhone app available for it.
Similar to Last.fm, Pandora is a streaming only service that will help suggest new songs based on Music Genome Project and your preferences. It is supported by ads and recommending music for sale. It has mobile applications available on the iPhone and other devices.
Movie And Television Suggestions
Paid
Cinema Now
Netflix
Cinema Now has movies, TV shows and music videos available for download. You can download movies to own for $9.99 to $19.99, pay-per-view broadcasts are $2.99 to $3.99, and burn-to-DVD for $8.99 to $14.99. TV shows and music videos are $1.99 to download. Additionally, you can 'rent' movies for as little as $3.99 per title.
Netflix, aside from being a DVD rental service, has a streaming service that has more than 12,000 videos immediately available. Plans for 2 hours of streaming video start at $4.99 per month, and you can get unlimited streaming for as little as $8.99. They offer a two week free trial period to try out their services.
Free Options
Hulu
Hulu.com is an excellent web site that specializes in TV shows, but also features films and clips. They do not require you to sign up nor charge for their services. Instead, videos contain limited commercial interuptions.