Emusic/Linux help needed

[taimatsu]

I am Quite Pissed Off.

I signed up for eMusic on a whim last night, knowing that Eve had used the site before and that they had some of the sleep/relaxation music I wanted. They claim to support Linux, and I knew that when Eve was first using the site she had been able to download MP3s without using any special software.

NO LONGER.


I can't find a way to DL plain MP3 files - I get their own speshul EMX files instead, which are a stupid XML thing pointing to the MP3 files, but not in a way where I can c&p the path and get the MP3 direct. So I installed their download manage, version 4.0 for Linux. It installs fine, and presents me with a cheery screen with an arrow to click saying 'GO TO EMUSIC' and I click it and absolutely nothing happens. Then I click it again, and nothing happens. Then I click it repeatedly and scream, and a message appears in the software's Error Console, which says: Error: uncaught exception: [Exception... "Component returned failure code: 0x80070057 (NS_ERROR_ILLEGAL_VALUE) [nsITreeView.getCellText]" nsresult: "0x80070057 (NS_ERROR_ILLEGAL_VALUE)" location: "JS frame :: chrome://emusic/content/dlm_bindings.xml :: PlayCurrent :: line 24" data: no]. Which is not very helpful.

So I emailed their tech support contact address, and said 'This doesn't work, please tell me how to fix it,' and they wrote back and said 'er, Linux is scary. Here, our other subscribers might help, have a messageboard.' So I have written them a *very* unimpressed response telling them how unacceptable this is when I have paid for their flipping service and can't use the one file I've downloaded so far at all, and asking them to do *better*. (I mean, srsly, surely someone in their organisation either is the developer of the software or can contact the developer of the software? This is not rocket science, it's Javascript or something. Dude.) I have posted to the messageboard (which looks like it's from about 1998! Seriously! It's like StudentUK that I was using when I was 17!) but God knows if I will get any help, and I shouldn't have to rely on other subscribers to get *basic* help with a service I have *paid for*, for crying out loud.

I want to like eMusic, because they have interesting stuff on the site and it's all DRM-free, unlike iTunes and its ilk, but if I can't actually get the playable music I have paid for, it's all a bit pointless. Approach with caution.

And finally - does anyone out there have any tips on how to solve the problem above? I am stumped and would like to actually listen to the music I have attempted to download.

Comments

[taimatsu]

Oh, hang on, they have an option to disable the download manager and get MP3s direct, which is ok, except that it means you can't download whole albums at once, and might miss out on some discounts. Hmph. At least I can get the music I want right away.

[crocodilewings.livejournal.com]

Is Chrome set as your default browser?

[taimatsu]

Chrome is nothing to do with browsers, on this computer. I don't know what they mean by it, but I haven't got Google Chrome and it's not mentioned on their site. The application has some folders called 'chrome'.

[diffrentcolours]

chrome as used by Firefox / Iceweasel refers to the user interface rather than the browser window, I belive.

[taimatsu]

*nod* but this reference is in the downloaded software, to which I have not input any information hwhich says I use iceweasel. As I say, thefolder of stuff that comes with the software has more than one folder called 'chrome' and several files which include the word in the name.

[purplepiano.livejournal.com]

EmusicJ (http://www.kallisti.net.nz/EMusicJ/HomePage) is a third party Java download manager which works for me on Linux.

[taimatsu]

I couldn't make that work either. :( I followed the instructions and tried to run it and nothing happened :/

[clupea-rufus.livejournal.com]

I've been an emusic user for a couple of years, and have never used it under anything but Linux.

This is how I have mine set up:

1/ Download the download manager (the .tar file, not the installer)
2/ Extract the .tar file somewhere. You should get a folder called builds (no, I don't know either). The path to the actual manager should be /location/you/saved/it/builds/emusicdlm/emusicdlm
3/ Download a song using Firefox/Iceweasel (I say this, because this is what I use and I know it works for me). Your browser should ask what you want to open the file with. Type in the full path to emusicdlm, which should launch the download manager and download your song.

As I say, this method works for me, and I've not had any issues. It's also worth nothing that when you _do_ get it to work, you will still be able to download the tracks you've bought but been unable to access at no extra cost.

It also appears you can disable the download manager for individual downloads (but not albums) by going to https://www.emusic.com/account/download.html

[taimatsu]

You are a bloody genius. This works, and should be what the tech support team are telling people to do. Brilliant. Thank you.

[taimatsu]

May I post this solution to the message-board thread I started, or would you prefer to do so? It should be easily findable :)

[clupea-rufus.livejournal.com]

You're more than welcome to. Glad I could be of help. :)

[lethargic-man.livejournal.com]

I want to like eMusic

So did I. I tried them out briefly, then a while later started getting spam and/or viruses (I forget which) to emusic@<my domain>. Consider me underwhelmed, and them redirected to the spam bin along with other such companies (name and shame!) as Enterprise Rent A Car and MacBackpackers.

[ashfae.livejournal.com]

I hope you get this sorted. =( (ardent emusic lover here)