Qtrax beta launch fails

Qtrax is the first free and legal music download service that sounds promising enough to check out. (They claim it's a "P2P" service, but I'm not sure you can upload anything, so that disqualifies it in my book.)

They're advertising 25 million tracks, and claiming that all four majors are onboard, although Warner apparently begs to differ. Files are encrusted with DRM, but only to prevent users from burning them to a CD--transfers to any Windows Media-compatible portable music player are OK, and iPod support is promised later this year. (Qtrax hasn't said whether this is a reverse-engineering kludge like RealNetworks pulled off a few years back or if Apple's actually taking the unprecedented step of licensing FairPlay.) It's advertising-supported, but ads are easily ignorable, and I was planning on transferring songs to my Zune anyway--there's no way to display ads there.

Or not.

(Credit: Qtrax)

So I was looking forward to downloading the Firefox-based client, downloading some new-ish music I'm still on the fence about (LCD Soundsystem), experimenting with older music I've been meaning to check out but never have (where to start with the Jesus Lizard?), and testing the depth of their catalog with some '70s metal ballads I'd never buy but might someday want to hear just for old times' sake (UFO's "Love to Love," Blue Oyster Cult's "I Love the Night").

The beta software is supposed to be "available at midnight, EST!" (Their exclamation point, not mine.) The servers were so overloaded for the first 20 minutes, the site kept timing out. Now, at 35 after, the download page is showing up, but there's nothing there to download.

If first impressions are anything to go by, Qtrax fails. But I'll give it another chance tomorrow and let you know if it's worth the download.

[compjason]

ya, same here.... what a bust, i've been waiting all day for this thing

[JGrubbs]

It's 1AM here, I tried as well, but nothing available for the last hour.

[orangebiggie50]

I'm actually really upset about this.

I've been looking forward to the large catalog, and I was even willing to check out some advertisements.

I'm a musician myself, and I think this could be an interesting alternative to media downloading that I'm hoping will help ease the hit to the pocket that many artists are taking due to piracy these days.

Does anybody have any idea what's going on with this?

[orangebiggie50]

I actually went ahead and tried to find out what was going on.

I called the telephone number they have on their "contacts" page.

It takes you directly to the "Brilliant Systems" (people that make Qtrax) automated phone system. Eventually, I was told to stay on the line if I had "further inquiries", and when I did I was transferred to a voicemail box of someone whose name I could not understand.

You'd figure they'd have zero-hour support of some sort, especially given the gravity of this release. So much for that.

[maree11]

I am from Australia and waited until now to download QTrax but I see that as yet it is not available.I am going to have to wait until my friend from NYC tells me it is up and running.
What an extreme disappointment.I just hope all goes well and this is not a sign of things to come.

[packetscan]

I wouldn't call it an utter failure.. How many people saw that site, told some firends, etc..

Free music Spreads faster than std's

[orangebiggie50]

You're not wrong in any way, but the hype surrounding Qtrax (at least here in Philly), was pretty sizable. It's not quite Apple failing to (hypothetically) deliver the iPhone, but as far as downloadable media goes, this is up there.

Hype machines make steam.
This just let the air out of the balloon.

[snharden]

Yep folks! It looks like the music companies got jittery at the 11th hour to pull a stunt like this. They are so afraid of losing all control of their music. The way I see it they already lost control a long time ago. If they don't jump on the digital bandwagon soon there won't be any record companies left to protect their music.
One thing is certain the digital download is the wave of the future and today for that matter. They better pull their fingers out soon or its all over red rover......Just a thought!

[SwinGigs]

I read in another article that the launch time is actually PST not EST, even though the site graphic says EST
~|~|~|~|~|~|~|~|~|~|~|~|~
Qtrax.com set to release at 3am EST 1/28/08
1 hour ago by Mr K
Here it comes! Get ready everyone. 12am PST (3am EST) release for Qtrax. http://www.qtrax.com/download.php. The stock symbol (for those of you who wish to purchase shares) is BLLN.PK.
The Position Makers - http://www.positionmakers.com

[heltonboy2]

i got the software around 8ish. Its working ok. Right now its really hard to download music.

[HellBoyTom]

Hey Guys,

i found a german website (netzwelt.de) where you can download the QTrax 0.2 Beta.

http://www.netzwelt.de/software/6468-qtrax.html

I have tested it and i think its ok.

[PositionMakers]

Here are some screen shots of the software - I posted some Qtrax screen shots on my blog. Check it out.

[pug-fugly]

You know why it's hard to download music?
Because qtrax lied about having things available.
Read about it here:
http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-fi-qtrax29jan29,1,6460500.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
It's all over the net now. Qtrax officially humiliated itself.