HP's Opal and Topaz webOS tablets may have a heavy media leaning based on rumors this evening of its content deals. Its cloud storage is now thought to be used for a media store. Clayton Morris, the source of past claims, understood that it may initially involve a deal with Amazon for its MP3 and VOD services but could switch to a semi-independent service based on more
HP today said it will launch a music subscription service on its computers in Europe. A computer-based version of MusicStation will follow the model of services like the Zune Pass and give customers unlimited access to the music catalog but will give away 10 tracks to keep each month. About 16 HP PCs will carry the subscription, which will cost 10 euros (about $14) per month.
The UK branch of European cellular provider Orange hopes to have music rental services on its handsets without copy protection in as little as half a year, the company's music product director Brenda O’Connell says. Speaking at the MIDEM mobile conference, O'Connell explains that the digital rights management (DRM) that locks down tracks varies widely between computers and cellphones, making it all but impractical to have a unified but device-independent music service without removing DRM entirely.
