It was only about 8 months ago that the idea of a way to buy songs online was radical. Apple's invention of the iTunes Music Store made it real. Soon, imitators created other music stores with similar features, such as free preview clips, the ability to buy songs for about a buck without membership fees, and relatively liberal usage rights. Now, apparently, anybody can build an online music store by using a new service from Microsoft and Loudeye. Nothing changes: Apple innovates, and then others commodotize. To stay successful, Apple has to keep running as fast as it can to invent new stuff.
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