Can You Get the Music? A Review of Music Download Sites
By Ingber, Janet; Access World, Vol. 7, No. 4Publication Date: July 2006
Article provides a review of six legal music download sites in terms of their accessibility for people who are blind or have low vision: (1) eMusic, (2) RealPlayer, (3) Rhapsody, (4) Napster, (5) Wal-Mart, and (6) iTunes. The sites are evaluated in terms of the following features and criteria: (1) system requirements, (2) registration, (3) getting music, and (4) getting help. The author contends that none of the sites are completely accessible, while none have both old and new music from major record labels. None of the sites use a format that is compatible with all other portable players and CD burners, either. Napster is ultimately chosen as the favorite, as it was the easiest to use when downloading and purchasing music. Napster’s technical support was also found to be very helpful.
Published by: AFB Press (Website:http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=46)
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) (Web Site: http://www.afb.org )
Link to text: http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw070407
