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Writing a Review on MakeMyTrip
New User Onboarding feature of Duolingo
New User Onboarding feature of Dunzo
Booking a service on Fiverr
Writing a Review on MakeMyTrip
Ordering a physical product on Pharmeasy
New User Onboarding feature of CarDekho
Writing a Review on Glassdoor
Writing a Review on inDrive
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Story of Winamp
The Birth of Winamp
My interest in music grew when I got my first computer in the late '90s. That's when CD burners and MP3 sharing became popular. So, naturally, one of the first programs I downloaded was Winamp. Created by Justin Frankel and Dmitry Boldyrev under the Nullsoft banner in 1997, Winamp quickly became a favorite among music enthusiasts.
Winamp was a media player that supported various audio formats like MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV, and WMA. It started with basic controls but evolved into a feature-rich player with an iconic graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI resembled an aftermarket stereo head unit, and users could customize its look and feel through skins and plugins.
The Rise of Winamp
Winamp gained popularity quickly. By mid-1998, it had been downloaded over 3 million times. Major media brands took notice, and AOL acquired Nullsoft in June 1999 for $80 million. Winamp's success continued, reaching 25 million registered users by June 2000 and surpassing 60 million users a year later. It became the go-to player for many music lovers, especially during the rise of MP3s.
The Music Industry's Shift
While Winamp was thriving, the music industry was struggling to monetize digital music. Legitimate platforms to purchase MP3s were scarce, and file-sharing platforms like Napster and Kazaa dominated the scene. However, Apple's Steve Jobs changed the game with the introduction of the iPod and the iTunes Store.
In 2003, Apple made a breakthrough deal with major record labels to sell music through iTunes for $0.99 per song. This move revolutionized the music industry and gave consumers a legal, convenient way to purchase and enjoy digital music. Streaming services like Spotify also entered the market, offering unlimited access to millions of songs for a monthly fee.
Winamp's Decline and Legacy
As streaming services gained popularity, the use of standalone media players like Winamp declined. In 2014, AOL sold Winamp to Belgian radio aggregator Radionomy. While Radionomy promised a new version of Winamp, it never materialized, and Winamp's development seemed to have halted.
Today, Winamp still has a dedicated user base, and versions like Winamp 5.8 and Winamp 5.9 RC1 are available for download. Many users, including myself, prefer the simplicity and nostalgia of earlier versions. While streaming is convenient and offers a vast library of music, there's a gap between what is available on streaming platforms and the more obscure, personal collections of music that Winamp allows us to enjoy.
The Verdict
While Winamp may not be as popular as it once was, it continues to hold a special place in the hearts of its users. So, if you're an aspiring product manager looking to understand the evolution of media players and the impact they had on the music industry, Winamp is definitely worth exploring.
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Mr. Product Manager
