Stridr

I got an email today from the folks at Stridr, another new mp3 service (sounds like an 80's hair metal band to me).

From their site:

Stridr is a website updated daily, linking to much of the best music from around the world.  You can subscribe to via XML feed or by joining our swapzies Channel.

We do not link to copyright infringing content.  Instead, we either host files supplied by the artists, or link to files hosted in countries where copyright law allows. 

There's an interesting list of albums up on their site (Paul McCartney, Green Day, Prince, Gorillaz) and clicking on most tracks takes you through to a service called "Swapzies". Swapzies seems to be an online storage service (hey Nik you familiar with these guys?).  You can store documents, files, mp3s, videos, photos, etc. And you can easily share them out from here with your friends. When you sign up you get 25mb storage for free then you buy the rest.

Comments

[Bruno]

So this is what it has come to - peddling piracy on your blog.

There has to be a better way?

[Cameron Reilly]

bruno, having trouble reading? Do I need to make the text size larger?

[Jack]

Hi Cameron,

Thanks for the mention, and thanks for pointing out the copyright bit to Bruno.

Re. Omnidrive, I hope with swapzies we're doing something equally useful, but quite different than Nik. As I understand it (I've not made it onto the BETA list) Omnidrive is focussed on the storage of files which would otherwise reside on a hard drive. We're hoping to start to aggregate actual web content in the one place (swapzies). I actually dropped Nik a line (hoped it might be relevant to TechCrunch) but I'll add a copy here about some of our plans for 'Channels' and 'Hosting' as I think these differentiate us a bit:

"Channels
One way we're trying to aggregate content is with our Channels feature. With the example of Stridr, swapzies users will be able to subscribe to the Stridr channel. They will then be made aware of every new file posted by Stridr and, with one click, will be able to add this file to their swapzies account.

A 'Channel' is basically an open line of communication between two people, and as such we envisage users subscribing to a big range of channels. These could be commercial ones, such as the Stridr blog channel, or more personal ones, such as one to accommpany a MySpace blog. An individual user could even broadcast a specific channel to a certain group of friends. That channel remains open, and every time some new photos, or some music is uploaded - however periodic this may be - the group of friends get to see new files are available, and can subsequently access or download them.

By subscribing to a Channel, a user gets to see any new files that the channel broadcaster has made available. These files can be video, photo, audio or any other type except .exe ones.

By way of example, a blogger could broadcast a swapzies channel, and whenever they upload photos or video etc to this channel, their users see this immediately - they don't continually have to post new URL links.

We hope anyone from a MySpace-er, to a commercial podcaster, to a individual who just takes photos having a swapzies 'Channel'.

Hosting
We will also soon be hosting files, and providing a one click 'Add to swapzies' button for users to add to third party websites.

In the case of a podcast, for example, a visitor might chance upon the TalkCrunch podcast, but not have time to listen to the podcast there and then. They would be able to click an 'Add to swapzies' button, and the podcast would immediately be added to their swapzies inbox for listening to at their leisure.


In both the channels and the hosting instances, content providers will be able to charge for files. For example, in the case a video file, you would not only have the option of allowing a user to 'Add to swapzies' in one click - you could also set a price for this which would be deducted from that user's swapzies account and sent to you. We see this being particularly useful for premium content.

The idea with swapzies is that rather than a user having to search the web for content, and then upload that content if they want to store it online, the content is piped straight to them."

Sorry it's a bit long winded, but hopefully over the next month or so the benefits will start to become a bit clearer than they are now.

Yours,
Jack

[Jack]

Oh yeah, if you wanted hair metal:

http://www.stridr.com/music/2006/3/29/dragonforce-inhuman-rampage-2006.html

These guys are not short of folicles.

[Bruno]

Just because you or some company writes it, doesn't make it true nor legal.

Piracy is the violation of the copyright owners rights.

Jack, does Green Day get their percentage when somebody downloads their songs from Strider or Swapzies?

If not, then surely their rights are being violated.

Don't forget, copyright law is enforceable in your local jurisdiction.

The internet has this funny knack for believing it's own bullshit - doesn’t make it true in the real world (a place where you both should try and frequent every once in a while)

It seems to me that you are being used to peddle spam.

Anyway, enjoy your free music, you're entitled to do what every you feel is legal until proven wrong in a court of law.

I am a music creator myself and hate the idea that my hard earned work can be swapped around without any recompense to me. Why should I or any another artist continue to create and contribute music to society? I hate to be thinking along those lines.

Have a good afternoon gentlemen.

[Cameron Reilly]

Bruno, surely the reason any true artist work isn't for the money? It's the chicks.