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launched its new MP3 store today. After years of running a subscription-based music shop, RealNetwork and MTV have completely retooled their service to pull music fans away from iTunes while letting them keep their iPods. Here鈥檚 the pitch:

鈥� The songs are not wrapped in the usual Digital Rights Management (DRM) that handicaps some other online music services. That means these songs will play on iPods 鈥� not the case with Rhapsody鈥檚 old subscription service. And, unlike with most iTunes songs, they will also work on any other MP3 player.

鈥� Its DRM-free catalog includes songs from 鈥� Universal, EMI, Sony, and Warner.

鈥� Songs will be each, $9.99 for album. Same price as iTunes; Amazon鈥檚 MP3s are a few cents less.

鈥� You can listen to . The normal taste-testing limit is 30 seconds.

鈥� Once you download a song, Rhapsody will volunteer to 鈥� a nice touch for iPod owners. This feature only works in Windows.

鈥� The service will be rolled into websites such as . Rhapsody will also keep its old subscription music plan.

鈥� Through a deal with Verizon, songs can be downloaded straight to some . The purchased tracks can then be transferred to your computer when you get home.

From the looks of it, Rhapsody is doing everything right. The problem is: These are all the same moves that everyone else has made before.

Amazon offers a larger selection of DRM-free music. Several small sites host a more interesting mix of indie music 鈥� suggests . Even Rhapsody鈥檚 most intriguing option 鈥� the Verizon V Cast deal 鈥� is a current feature on iPhones and iPod Touches.

The whole announcement seems like a 鈥渕e too鈥� moment for Rhapsody. It鈥檚 a solid B+ effort, but there鈥檚 little that distinguishes this from the pack 鈥� especially for people who own both a Mac and an iPod.

So, if you鈥檙e happy with your current MP3 service, carry on. But if you鈥檙e itching for something better, give Rhapsody a try.