Napster To Be Acquired by Google? 138
YesSir writes "The New York Post claims that Google is considering an alliance or possibly an acquisition of Napster. Rather then starting their own, Google could jump start their music service with the help of Napster. Napster's share price soared more than 30 percent as a result of the report that they are in discussions with Google." From the article: " The company in January told Reuters that it was not on the block. 'The company is not looking to be sold, the management is not looking to step out. It's simply not true,' a Napster spokesman said on Jan. 23. Last week, Napster, founded by college student Shawn Fanning and was once synonymous with the pirating of music, laid off 10 managers." More information available from C|Net. Update: 01/31 19:16 GMT by Z : A Reuters article has Google denying that it has plans to acquire Napster or start a music store anytime soon.
Isn't that really Roxio who bought the name? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Isn't that really Roxio who bought the name? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Isn't that really Roxio who bought the name? (Score:5, Funny)
Google buying them is as unlikely as...[insert favorite conspiracy theory here]
Re:Isn't that really Roxio who bought the name? (Score:3, Funny)
Yeah, but did you know that Shawn Fanning didn't invent Napster?
It's true [amazon.com].
Re:Isn't that really Roxio who bought the name? (Score:1)
He still exists; you'll probably see him on the next season of VH-1's Surreal Life, aka the rest home for pathetic has-beens.
Yay! (Score:1)
Gnapster is for you! (Score:5, Funny)
We gnow what you gneed
Re:Gnapster is for you! (Score:1, Funny)
Next up (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Gnapster is for you! (Score:2)
Idiots (Score:5, Informative)
This company has been mismanaged from the moment it was spun off from Adaptec. This would not surprise me in the least, but unfortunately it is probably a really good move for the current Napster folks. They will make out like bandits.
Re:Idiots (Score:2)
Google already denied the rumor (Score:5, Informative)
Re: (Score:2)
Re:Google already denied the rumor (Score:2)
Re:Google already denied the rumor (Score:1)
1. Alliance as speculated
2. Investment, like Baidu.com
3. Confirmation will be made after Google employees have acquired enough of Napster's shares.
This is highly unorthodox (Score:2)
Again? (Score:4, Funny)
I'm already ahead of the curve; I have faced the inevitable and sewn "Google" into the tag on my underwear.
So what will this new service be named. Noogle? Gnapster? Goopster? Goosic(As in Google Music)? Or the best combination og Music+Google: Moogle!
Re:Again? (Score:5, Funny)
Puts a whole new spin on the "I'm Feeling Lucky" search, eh?
Re:Again? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Again? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Again? (Score:1)
Used to sell "Feeling Lucky" boxers (re:again?) (Score:2)
They used to be sold through the Google Store [googlestore.com], but they've toned down the apparel a little.
Re:Again? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Again? (Score:1)
Re:Again? (Score:2)
Re:Again? (Score:2)
Re:Again? (Score:1)
Tomorrow's news (Score:1)
When asked for comment, representatives stated that in order to do no evil, a corporate takeover of Heaven was required. An anonymous source at Google went on to say: "The rules on what is evil and what's not are so 1st century. We thought it was time to bring them up to date."
Re:Tomorrow's news (Score:1)
God + Google = Good (Or maybe Goodle or Godle)
Anyways, I like forward to RID(Really Intellegent Design). Now excuese me while I use the new fast and easy "I'm Feeling Repentent" feature.
Re:Again? (Score:2)
I'm already ahead of the curve; I have faced the inevitable and sewn "Google" into the tag on my underwear.
So what will this new service be named. Noogle? Gnapster? Goopster?
Please don't ever again use the word "Goopster" in an article mentioning your underwear.
Re:Again? (Score:2)
Moogle! [nyud.net]
These stories are getting annoying.. (Score:1)
Too many google rumors.... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Too many google rumors.... (Score:2)
Re:Too many google rumors.... (Score:2)
Yup, I agree. It just doesn't exactly fit into anything Google's doing. Maybe it will Sergei Brin's 20% time personal project?
Actually... (Score:5, Funny)
Yeah... er... no. (Score:2, Informative)
Denied! (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Denied! (Score:1)
Re:Denied! (Score:2)
Re:Denied! (Score:2)
Awesome! (Score:2)
Can't wait!
Ummm... (Score:5, Insightful)
How is Napster even relevant anymore?
Raise your hand if you use Napster's service.
Now everyone who has iTunes, raise your hand.
Napster was the first on the market with a pay-for-music service and they still couldn't turn that into a leading position.
Re:Ummm... (Score:2)
just curious: how many IPODS do you have. Be honest.
Re:Ummm... (Score:3, Interesting)
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Ummm... (Score:2)
Some of those major Unis had to create a "copyright compliance officer" as a result of the DMCA & the RIAA flooded those officers with notices... to the point that the "officer" turned into an office.
It was cheaper to sign up all the students for Napster than to continue the way they were.
Napster == SCOsource (Score:1)
> were essentially paying a RIAA tax so that they'd stop getting those pesky legal letters.
Duhhh... nice university/company youse got here. Youse wouldn't want something terrible to happen to it like a meritless, but damn expensive, lawsuit. For only a few million per year in prot^H^H^H^H licence fees, we can guarantee that nothing terrible happens to youse.
Please Google, don't buy Nap
Re:Ummm... (Score:1)
competing against iTunes (Score:1)
And of course, combined with the fact that Microsoft [slashdot.org] is also interested in this market, I think 2006 could turn out to be the year of video and music downloading.
Re:competing against iTunes (Score:1)
Napster hoping for a miracle? (Score:2)
Now, if Google is really interested, they cannot come out and say "please save us." They need, like SCO, to keep at least the illusion that they are viable so the price does not plummet before they can sell.
I do wonder though, what does Google get out of this?
In other news... (Score:2, Informative)
According to the International Herald, God plans to acquire George Bush. More specifically, they state, God intends to acquire the office of President of the United States, and use that to help turn more people towards His Will, as well as enacting greater protection for national forests.
"Absolutely crazy," stated Vice President Dick Cheney, caught between heart surgeries. "God has never talked to us.
Re:In other news... (Score:2)
Technically, upgrading an android's internal components is not surgery - it's only called surgery when you operate on a living being.
This reminds me of... (Score:4, Insightful)
Seems that Google's main strategy is... (Score:1)
When is he planning on graduating??? (Score:5, Funny)
He must be having trouble chossing a major. I suggest something involving computers.
Google rumours (Score:3, Funny)
Google CEO visits Vatican. Share price in Catholicism rocket.
And it shall be called ... (Score:2)
Oh Thank God. (Score:3, Funny)
Thanks for the Google fix.
Google Digest? Googleback? (Score:5, Interesting)
Hey editors...if you're going to insist on a news story every time someone from Google gets up and makes a peanut butter sandwich, can you at least give us a Digest version?
You know...instead of 3 (or more- it's only lunchtime so far) stories a day about Google, ONE Googleback?
If you think I'm joking, you're right. What I really want is a section for just Google, so that I can click the "NOT ON MY HOMEPAGE" checkbox.
While you're at it, I'd also like a "web logs" section, so that I can block crap like "Boing-Boing gets a scary letter from a 15 year old kid who 'called the FBI on them for harassment on the intar-web'".
Re:Google Digest? Googleback? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Google Digest? Googleback? (Score:1)
Re:Google Digest? Googleback? (Score:2)
Doesn't Nap run on MS DRM? (Score:1)
raphsody is more popular (Score:2)
I bought my Ipod because of Itunes and I now realize there are much chaper alternatives. Its a wonder why napster never caught on? Price is alot cheaper than Itunes. But with google behind it I am sure it would become popular.
I am waiting for a google movie/audio player. Microsoft has monopolized the market which is a shame. Windows is now required to watch porn with some codecs which is hurting Linux. The only alternative is th
Re:raphsody is more popular (Score:3, Insightful)
What hurts Linux is the success of DRM'd media rentals and sales. When one click synchronizes your downloads to multiple devices, high-def for your plasma TV, low-def for the backseat of your SUV, the list grows to millions of tracks and titles, perhaps the entire RIAA and MPAA catalog, and the monthly fees remain within budget, no one will give a damn about "freedom."
Re:raphsody is more popular (Score:2)
Windows XP Media Edition, XP Media Connect, XBox 360, and several 3rd-party gizmos, linked with portable players, and powered by Windows Media DRM and sync technology. I don't care if I paid £0.79 for a track if it's 'just there' on everything.
Apple need to get their Video AirPort sorted to keep competition for this 'unified media' thing alive. I personally think Apple have the upper hand, since one of their strong points is making things just work.
cahnge in strategy (Score:2, Insightful)
Noogle, Gnapster, Googster, Naggle & Napoogle (Score:3, Funny)
NAPSTER HQ
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES
January 31, 2006
We are sad to report that the same spokesman was seen earlier today being taken out by stretcher crying,
"It can't be...it's simply not true! It's not truuuuuueeee!!"
Napster will neither confirm or deny anything until the stock price hits double digits.
Google : buy Napster ? No, we're not *that* evil. (Score:2)
But then I realized, no way. Google might be evil now, but they didn't suddenly become stupid as well... they're more likely to buy a company that could possibly become profitable. Which pretty much excludes Napster.
apparently.. (Score:2)
Re:apparently.. (Score:1)
Re:apparently.. (Score:2)
Re:apparently.. (Score:1)
Wrong rumor... (Score:5, Funny)
That's right, it will be by invite only in it's beta stage next week.
Re:Wrong rumor... (Score:2)
Just like it boosted Napster's shares, this acquisition might boost your chances to get laid..
Microsoft Killer! (Score:1, Funny)
Oh Sweet Jesus (Score:1)
The buffet is losing out to a la carte (Score:5, Insightful)
As it turns out, a lot of people actually.
The "all you can eat" method sounds great in theory, but the tracks from the major subscription services are often saddled with layers of rules and restrictions well beyond those you find with iTunes. Extra fees for moving them to portable music devices, extra fees for burning them to CDs and oh yeah...when you stop paying your monthly fee, everything goes away. Hundreds of dollars over years gone with one missed payment. All that money and you own absolutely *nothing*.
iTunes is not perfect, iTunes has problems. The artists do get far, far less than they should, but that is due to the way the contracts are written between the labels and the artists. Yes, you are restricted to playing (but not storing) the songs to any 5 computers at once (which you can change as often as you like). No, Steve Jobs can't lower the prices to 10 cents a track like you so often hear the uninformed claim. Yes, you can put the songs on as many iPods as you want without restriction. No, you can't get higher-bitrate tracks even though that should be an option. Etc.
At the end of the day, however...you can buy one song for 99 cents and that song will be there for you to play today, tomorrow and next year, the year after, etc. Wherever you want, whenever you want. You can buy that one song, buy 1,000 songs it doesn't matter. You only pay when you want to pay, and you don't feel compelled to justify what you spend each month, because unlike Napster and the Yahoo! Music Store, you only get what you pay for, and you only pay for what you get.
The dominance of the iPod, and its incompatibility with the other services is only part of the reason iTunes' competition is withering on the vine. People want to feel like they are left with something at the end of the day, and iTunes delivers that better than anyone else.
Re:The buffet is losing out to a la carte (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:The buffet is losing out to a la carte (Score:2, Informative)
Google (Score:2)
(bit of a Google overload today)
Question (Score:2)
I have heard that. (Score:2)
Google is going to bundle a bunch of useful software for the PC together.
If we are going to make stuff up how about this.
Google is going into Bio-tech.
Using Google's search experience and expertise in clustering Google is going into bio-tech. They feel that once they have enough sequence combined with medical records their search technology will find the genetic markers for all disease.
In a secret deal with the Chinese government Google now has over
Sounds Unlikely. Motive for Rumors? (Score:2)
I really doubt that Google wants anything to do with Microsoft DRM. They avoided it with video. Buying Napster for the name makes no sense since it's a joke at this point. And buying it to have acc
I hope that Google remembers... (Score:1)
Next wild Google rumor (Score:1)
Why would they BUY? That would be silly! (Score:1)
Google's F'n up... Napster = Market Cancer (Score:2)
Google's screwing up, if they think its a good idea to infect the google name with the cancer that is Napster.
Yahoo's desktop search is better than googles.
Yahoo Desktop Widgets is great fun.
Google shouldnt spread itself so thin, and start a real unified movement.
Re:Google isn't fun anymore (tm). (Score:3, Funny)
Heh. If it's unclear, it's because they want it to be unclear.
<tin foil hat>It's all part of the plan to Take Over the World!!</hat>
Seriously, tho - Google doesn't want ppl to know what their plans are. Never have.
--LWM
No kidding. (Score:2, Funny)
The bubble is bursting... (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Google isn't fun anymore (tm). (Score:2)
What's next?"
Perhaps Google could hire Carly Fiorina [hp.com] as CEO and buy back Compaq?
Time to short Googles over priced stock!
Re:Google isn't fun anymore (tm). (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Google isn't fun anymore (tm). (Score:2)
Re:Google isn't fun anymore (tm). (Score:2, Insightful)
Google is like every other company. They want to make money. They are out to make money and they'd better make a lot since they've just hired tons of new people.
I am so sick of hearing tons of people (not just
Everyone is co
Re:Google isn't fun anymore (tm). (Score:2)
Re:Google isn't fun anymore (tm). (Score:2)
I suppose it bothers me because I see a large proportion of people who are zealous (far more than you) about some facet of technology when it doesn't make a significant impact on human existence. Suppose 1% of the advocacy directed toward Linux was funneled toward a cause such as human rights? However, I think part o