Future Of Music

iMesh has recently released its paid peer-to-peer platform in beta form. So how does it run? The system download process was seamlessly handled through download.com. And once fired up, the application looks a like a typical peer-to-peer, only a tad cleaner. Like the average consumer, we skipped the instructions entirely, and just started searching for a few top artists. A search for Snoop Dogg produced an exhaustive list of tracks, along with neatly-placed album images and similar artist links at the top. Results were either well-labeled, "gold star" tracks, or rougher "gray star" tracks culled from the Gnutella and iMesh networks. Clicking on an album cover led to the nicer side of town, complete with a well organized catalog listing, biography information and images — all furnished by MusicNet on the backend. The result is a true hybrid, with neatly organized albums and "gold star" results living alongside a rougher "gray star" catalog.

Downloading a gold star track quickly yields a protected WMA track, which cannot be played in iTunes or transferred to an iPod. In the trial version, prices were not displayed, and it is not clear if a variable pricing system will be implemented. Meanwhile, a few attempts to download gray star tracks revealed some issues with the iMesh filtering system. One attempted download of a gray star, copy-protected Snoop Dogg track resulted in failure, with a red "COPYRIGHTED" reason cited. But other tracks, including several remixes of well-known hits, were easily downloaded in an open MP3 format. That included a remix of "Bling Bling" by rapper BG that included Snoop Dogg as a guest, as well as an instrumental version of the popular track "Oh No". According to the company, gray star tracks are reserved for “unclaimed, unregistered music”.

iMesh has not indicated how long the beta period will last, though a formal launch is expected by year end. For new users, a learning curve does exist, though experienced music downloaders will probably have little trouble adapting to the new environment. And iMesh offers a very clean interface and experience, always a plus for finicky and impatient users. Interestingly, iMesh may face an unexpected battle to prove itself as a genuinely legal option, especially with a rash of rogue imposter sites making similar claims. But that challenge aside, iMesh has succeeded in creating a relatively clean application that offers a nice start to the “sanctioned” P2P space.

Digital Music News