RealNetworks launches Rhapsody 4.0 with lots of new goodies

RealNetworks launches Rhapsody 4.0 with lots of new goodies

RealNetworks has updated their Rhapsody music service today by launching the Rhapsody 4.0 application with a new interface.

In addition, they have also announced a new partnership with SanDisk, which is already showing its results in this updated service launch.

SanDisk just recently announced the launch of its e200R player, which complements this newly updated Rhapsody service.

RealNetworks is now offering a two-month free trial of Rhapsody To Go with each purchase of a Sansa e200R player. This player is expected to be available on the stores of Best Buy starting this week.

One of the interested features being offered by this application is the Switch thingy. For newly registered users, Rhapsody automatically replicates a user’s purchased iTunes tracks with the same tracks from its own catalog. This helps the user get the content they have already purchased on their new service without paying a dime.

Rhapsody also is beginning to implement RealNetworks’ new DRM model called Rhapsody DNA, which works independently off Microsoft’s PlaysForSure initiative. With Microsoft launching their own Zune player, RealNetworks needs to have some tools of their own to take on this new upcoming rival.