Understanding how the Amazon Cloud Player operates reveals its impressive ability to let users access music in a convenient and flexible way.

On July 1, 1979, Sony launched the first-ever personal stereo system, the Walkman. This portable, battery-operated cassette player with headphones changed the music landscape forever. It made listening to music on the go possible in a compact, easy-to-carry form. For a time, the Walkman was as synonymous with personal music devices as the iPod is today, and just as iconic as Kleenex is to tissues.

As technology advanced, so did the storage capacities of music players. Audio cassettes could only hold about two hours of music, while CDs offered about an hour and a half. But with the advent of digital file formats like MP3, the next leap was clear: music stored and played as digital files, just like on a computer's hard drive. Apple answered this need in 2001 with the release of the iPod. Over the next decade, iPod models grew from a 5 GB capacity to 160 GB, allowing users to store days worth of music on a compact device.

Though personal stereo devices have seen their storage capacities grow, they still face limits. Some manufacturers developed players with removable media such as SD cards, which allow users to swap out cards when they need new music. However, much like iPods, these cards still have their own storage limitations.

Imagine being able to store not only all the music you currently have, but also every song you’ll ever purchase, all as MP3 files, without ever worrying about running out of space. It's like having an iPod with infinite storage, where you no longer have to delete old files to make room for new ones.

Cloud computing is turning the dream of limitless storage into reality across various computing applications. The Amazon Cloud Player taps into this power, focusing it on personal music storage for internet-connected devices. With Amazon Cloud Player, you can rent disk space from Amazon’s cloud to store music and other files, accessing them from anywhere. The first 5 GB of storage is free, and with the Amazon MP3 Player app, you can stream music directly from the cloud instead of downloading it to your device.

This article explains how the Amazon Cloud Player functions, including the role of the Amazon Cloud Drive behind it, and the challenges Amazon faces in providing downloadable MP3s and streaming services from cloud storage.

The Amazon Cloud: Virtually Unlimited Storage

In its first ten years, Amazon evolved from a modest Seattle startup in Jeff Bezos' garage into the global leader of e-commerce. During this period, Amazon invested heavily in building the infrastructure that powers its website, including vast storage services. In 2006, the company transformed this infrastructure into a new stream of income by launching Amazon Web Services [source: Amazon].

Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides businesses with a cost-effective alternative to purchasing expensive hardware and hiring staff to manage it. With AWS, companies can store data and deploy servers in a cloud environment, paying only for what they use. Our article "How Cloud Computing Works" explains that a cloud is essentially a network of computer resources designed to carry out a wide range of tasks.

While AWS provides valuable services for businesses, these may not be directly relevant to the average Amazon customer. However, by leveraging these cloud resources, Amazon has created new products for both work and play. The Amazon Cloud Drive is the backbone of these services. It allows users to upload and organize files in the cloud via an intuitive interface. Once uploaded, you can access and download those files anywhere you can log into Amazon.com. It's like having a USB flash drive that's available from any internet connection.

Anyone with a valid billing address on Amazon.com can access the Amazon Cloud Drive. The only software required to use it is a Web browser with the free Adobe Flash plugin. While signed into Amazon.com, simply navigate to the 'Your Digital Items' menu in the top-right corner to access the Cloud Drive and its associated services. The first 5 GB of storage is free, with annual fee options for upgrading storage ranging from $20 per year for 20 GB (about $1.70 per month) to $1,000 per year for 1000 GB (about $80 per month) [source: Amazon].

The Amazon Cloud Drive faces competition, which we'll explore later in this article. However, for now, let’s focus on Amazon's innovative product for delivering music from the Cloud Drive to your ears: the Amazon Cloud Player.

Amazon Cloud Player Requirements

You can enjoy music from your Amazon Cloud Drive through either the Amazon Cloud Player Web app or the Amazon MP3 Player software. We’ll cover the MP3 Player later when discussing how to access your music on mobile devices. For now, let's focus on the Amazon Cloud Player, which enables you to upload, organize, and play music files stored on your Cloud Drive.

To access the Amazon Cloud Player Web app, you'll need to meet the following requirements:

Once you've fulfilled these requirements, the next step is to ensure your files are in a compatible format for playback on the Cloud Player. You can upload any files to your Cloud Drive, but the Cloud Player supports only two formats: the widely accepted MP3 (files ending in .mp3) and Apple's AAC format (files ending in .m4a) [source: Amazon].

Amazon prefers to use these file formats because it does not support music protected by digital rights management (DRM). DRM technology ensures that music files are locked to a specific software or device, restricting access. For instance, if you buy music from Apple's iTunes Store, those files can only be played through iTunes software and only on devices you've registered with Apple. If you upload DRM-protected files to your Amazon Cloud Drive, the Cloud Player won't be able to play them. Later, we'll dive deeper into Amazon's approach to DRM.

Now that you're familiar with the Amazon Cloud Player requirements, let's dive in and get started!

Getting Started with the Amazon Cloud Player

To access the Amazon Cloud Player, begin by logging into your Amazon account on Amazon.com. Next, hover over the "Your Digital Items" section in the top-right corner and select "Your Cloud Drive" from the dropdown menu. If the menu doesn’t work for you, simply click on "Your Digital Items," locate the Cloud Player section, and click on "Your Cloud Drive Music." As an added security feature, Amazon might ask you to re-enter your password even if you're already signed in.

The first time you open Amazon's Cloud Player, you'll need to agree to the terms of service and verify you're not a robot by completing a CAPTCHA challenge. Once you’ve completed these steps, you'll be taken to the Cloud Player Web interface.

The Amazon Cloud Player’s interface resembles that of other well-known media player software. It includes an interactive track list, categories, and playlists available from a navigation menu on the left side, along with large, easy-to-use control buttons like pause and play at the lower left corner.

Now that you've opened the Amazon Cloud Player, let’s walk you through its features for uploading, purchasing, and managing your music.

Uploading Music to Play in the Amazon Cloud Player

As previously mentioned, the Amazon Cloud Player supports DRM-free files in either MP3 or AAC format. Once your files are ready to upload, open the Cloud Player Web interface and click the "Upload to your Cloud Drive" button located in the top left. After clicking, Amazon will offer you two options:

Option 1 is likely what most people will encounter — using the Amazon MP3 Uploader. Every time you open the MP3 Uploader, the software scans your computer for any MP3 or AAC files that haven’t yet been uploaded to your Cloud Drive. The uploader also shows a summary of your available Cloud Drive storage and how much space would be used if you uploaded all the selected files.

You can expand each item in the list using the plus icons, and check or uncheck boxes to adjust your upload selections. If you want to upload files that aren’t listed, click the "browse for more music" link located above the list. Once you've selected your files in the MP3 uploader, click the "Start upload" button to begin the process.

While your files are uploading, you can track the progress at the bottom of the uploader window. The software continuously estimates the remaining time for the upload process. You have the option to pause or resume the upload at any point. Once the upload is finished, head back to the Amazon Cloud Player in your web browser and click "Latest Uploads" to view the newly added tracks.

Now, let’s explore another way to populate your Cloud Drive with your favorite music: purchasing MP3s directly from Amazon.

Purchasing Music from the Amazon MP3 Store

Amazon offers more than 15 million songs for purchase as MP3 files. You can buy full albums starting from as low as $5, with individual tracks priced around $0.99. A key distinction of Amazon’s digital music sales is that its tracks are not protected by digital rights management (DRM). This means that once you’ve purchased and downloaded a track, you’re free to play it on any device or software capable of handling MP3s. If this seems like a contentious issue, you’re not wrong; we’ll take a closer look at this controversy later in the article.

Shopping for MP3s on Amazon is just like buying any other product. To narrow your search, select "MP3 Downloads" from the "Search" drop-down menu at the top of the Amazon.com page. Once you find an album or track you'd like to buy, simply click the "Buy MP3" button next to it. Amazon will prompt you to confirm the purchase (though you can disable these confirmations if preferred).

Upon purchasing, one of two things will occur. By default, your browser will start downloading the MP3 files to your computer. However, if you’ve registered for Amazon Cloud Drive, you can opt to save your MP3s directly to the Cloud Drive. A perk of using Amazon Cloud Drive is that the MP3s you purchase won’t count against your available storage space! You can set whether to download MP3s or save them to your Cloud Drive by adjusting your Amazon MP3 settings. To do this, go to "Your Account" at the top right of Amazon.com, then select "Your Amazon MP3 Settings" under the "Digital Content" section.

Once you've purchased your MP3 files, you have two options for downloading them. First, you can use your browser’s built-in downloader, which will save the files in the default location for downloads. Alternatively, you can install the Amazon MP3 Downloader, which is available for your operating system. This software can automatically import your music into iTunes or Windows Media Player after downloading, saving you the step of doing it manually.

If you’ve set up your Amazon account to save MP3s to the Cloud Drive, you’ll find the new tracks in the "Latest Uploads" playlist within the Amazon Cloud Player. You can manage and organize your purchases and downloads and add them to your own custom playlists. Now, let’s take a look at how you can listen to your music from the cloud.

Playing Your Music from the Amazon Cloud

By now, you've learned how to fill your Amazon Cloud Drive with your favorite songs. You've also discovered that music purchased from Amazon can be played on any MP3 music player. However, in the beginning, we discussed the issue of limited storage on devices like computers and personal stereos. To tackle this, Amazon lets you stream your music from the Cloud Drive, giving you the ability to listen without downloading files to every device you own. This solution makes it easier than ever to access and enjoy your music library.

We've already covered one way to stream your music: the Amazon Cloud Player. If you have a compatible Web browser, you can stream your music directly in the browser, without needing to download it or install any special software. You can also create custom playlists and use the interface to select songs for each playlist. Unlike streaming radio services such as Pandora, Amazon gives you complete control over the tracklist.

Another powerful tool for enjoying music in the cloud is the free Amazon MP3 Player. Available as an app for both desktop computers and Android devices through Google’s Android Market, the app lets you access all the music stored on your Cloud Drive. Once the app is installed on your Android smartphone, tablet, or portable stereo, you can stream your music whenever you have an internet connection, whether cellular or Wi-Fi. In this way, you become the DJ for your own private streaming radio station!

But what if you don’t have an Android device? Unfortunately, there’s no app for iPhones, iPads, or iPod Touches at this time. As of now, it's unclear when, or if, Apple users will be able to download or stream music from the Amazon Cloud Drive. This may be partly due to Amazon’s use of Adobe Flash, which is not supported on Apple devices [source: Chen]. However, BlackBerry and Palm users have some good news: you can still buy and download MP3s from Amazon, even though streaming isn’t available for your devices [source: Amazon].

We've covered numerous features and innovations with the Amazon Cloud Player. Now, let's turn our attention to the challenges that Amazon and its cloud technology face, as well as the overall experience provided by the Amazon Cloud Player.

Challenges for the Amazon Cloud Player

The challenges faced by the Amazon Cloud Player are varied, spanning from issues with playback quality and device compatibility to its legal considerations. One major issue is that the quality of the experience heavily depends on the speed of your Internet connection. Internet speed impacts upload and download times and how effectively your computer or mobile device can stream music. Moreover, if your Internet or mobile carrier enforces data limits, your streaming could be interrupted. For more on how your Internet connection affects streaming services like Amazon Cloud Player, see our article "How Streaming Video and Audio Work".

Another factor impacting playback quality in the Amazon Cloud Player is its support for limited file formats. Both MP3 and AAC are lossy compressed formats. The term 'lossy' refers to the fact that some of the digital audio data is lost when compressing the file, which reduces file size while maintaining decent quality. This makes the files portable and easily playable for most users. However, this means that although an MP3 album from Amazon may be cheaper than a CD, it doesn't offer the same high, lossless sound quality as the original CD.

While the Amazon Cloud Player is gaining popularity, it faces competition from other companies, such as Dropbox. Dropbox, similar to the Amazon Cloud Drive, offers free storage of up to 2GB and paid plans starting at $10 per month for 50GB and $20 per month for 100GB. Additionally, software has been developed to stream music from Dropbox, such as the Dropbox Audio Player for Google Chrome. If Dropbox extends this capability to multiple browsers and mobile devices, including the iPhone, it could become a serious competitor to the Amazon Cloud Player.

Despite the various challenges, the most widely discussed issue surrounding the Amazon Cloud Player is its legal responsibility in selling and streaming DRM-free music. As a user, you're the sole person with access to your files, and you're free to download them anywhere and use them in any MP3 player. Unfortunately, this also means Amazon doesn't restrict the redistribution of files, which could potentially violate its terms of service. At the time of writing, music producers and distributors are raising concerns since Amazon hasn't negotiated streaming service licenses. Both parties are weighing their legal positions, with Amazon prepared to defend its agreement terms and its customers' rights to access and use digital purchases anywhere and anytime [sources: Pachal, Asharya, Musil].

The Amazon Cloud Player debuted as a novel blend of cloud services and streaming audio, offering features that could redefine the portability of personal music players. Turn the page to discover even more details about the Amazon Cloud Player.