Ubuntu One Music Store For Cheap, DRM-free Music

The Ubuntu One Music Store will be available out of box on Ubuntu 10.04 at the end of April. I can already tell that I'll be using it to buy music instead of using Zune or iTunes. Tracks appear to be 77 cents instead of iTunes' 99 cents. A full album appears to generally be $7.77.

As a test case, I looked at the price of Megadeth's United Abominations album on all three platforms. On Zune it was 800 MS points ($10). It was $9.99 on iTunes. Ubuntu One had it for $7.77. I also checked on a few more albums at the music store and they were the same price.

The UI is also pleasing. It's not as flashy as iTunes or Zune, but it is simple and not too cluttered. It's very easy to browse and to search for music.

iTunes and Zune both require you to install their respective software in order for you to download items from their marketplaces. Ubuntu One Music Store, on the other hand, is embedded into Rhythmbox. But if for some reason you don't like Rhythmbox, you can also access it through Banshee or Amorak. I'm all about not having to install crappy software just to download some mp3's. This is definitely an open source solution for handling a music store.

I'm really digging the music store. Even if you aren't an Ubuntu user, it may be worth installing on an virtual just to get music at such a great price. I really hope this will be a hit. I would love for Ubuntu One to extend to all sorts of digital downloads including TV shows and movies!