Android Music Store to Take on Apple iTunes

From PC World: All gloves are off between Google and Apple, after the search giant unveiled a host of products to compete with the Cupertino company. Following Google TV and Flash on Android, Google will also take on Apple's iTunes through the acquisition of music streaming service Simplify Media, and a music store in the Android Market.

Google's engineering Vice President Vic Gundotra announced at the Google I/O conference on Thursday that it will begin offering a desktop app based on technology acquired from Simplify Media about two months ago. Simplify's software lets users stream music from their iTunes libraries from their home computers to other mobile devices, through the Internet.

Google said it will use this software to allow Android users to stream their desktops at home to their phones, via a dedicated service. Simplify Media's software runs on Windows and Mac computers, and works not only with iTunes (non-DRM songs), but also with WinAmp and Windows Media Player.

Despite multiple operating systems supported for desktops, it seems Simplify's mobile software will be exclusive to Android, as the company retracted its iPhone and iPod touch apps from the Apple App Store when Google acquired it.

Gundotra also briefly showed off what it would become the Android Market music store, as TechChrunch's MG Siegler points out. Basically, Google would let users search for songs in the Android Market Music section, and download them on to their phones.

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