Nokia Music challenges Itunes

FORGET THE so-called 'user-friendliness' of Apple applications, hardened Windows users will find Nokia Music – the company's answer to Itunes for Windows – a breath of fresh air.

While most eyes have been on Nokia's hardware counter-attack to the Apple Ithingey – in the form of the Xpress 5800, Nokia's music manipulation software for PC owners poses a major threat to the Duke of Cupertino.

That's because the new app – officially known as Nokia Music – is already available for free download here. And it ties neatly into any Nokia musicphone. It's not even restricted to those in Nokia's Xpress Music range.

In terms of functionality, Nokia Music is almost identical to Itunes for Windows. It enables you to access all your music files in one place and copy them across to a connected mobile device.

The INQ tried Nokia Music successfully with an old Nokia N95 handset (not even the 8 GB version) and transferring music file to and from the handset to a PC was a doddle.

Naturally – just like Itunes- Nokia Music is heavily integrated with its parent's online music store. Given that the Nokia Store doesn't open for another eight days, it is difficult to gauge how easy it will be to acquire desired tracks.

But that's hardly the point. This hack has always been frustrated with Apple's Windows based software – going as far back as the version of Itunes that worked with the Motorola Itunes compatible handset, the Rokr.

Nokia Music, however, follows the typical Windows user mindset that it's easy to find and assemble all the music files already stored on local hard disks.

Better still, it is a piece of cake to 'rip' files from a purchased CD and transfer them to a PC or connected Nokia phone.

The catch, however, is that only those who've purchased a Nokia Comes with Music handset will be able to acquire new music files from the Nokia Store. So Saint Steve won't be quaking in his boots quite yet.

Unfortunately for Jobs, though, Nokia Music will also sow the seeds of doubt in Windows users' minds. There's no longer any reason to tolerate the Apple UI just to be able to swap files from your computer over to your chosen portable music player. µ