Digital Home Thoughts: doubleTwist and Amazon Double up on iTunes

"DoubleTwist, the media management software created by Jon Lech Johansen - a.k.a. "DVD Jon" - is teaming up with Amazon.com in its bid to create an alternative to Apple's iTunes. Start-up DoubleTwist makes software designed to help users of devices other than Apple products, such as BlackBerry and Android phones, to organize and keep track of their music. Starting immediately, the DoubleTwist software will now let people buy music files from Amazon's MP3 store in a more seamless fashion that replicates the iTunes experience by essentially integrating the Amazon store right into their software."

Do you download music? Have multiple devices, and / or non-Apple devices? Or simply like the thought of buying from the Amazon Music Store better than from iTunes? If so, doubleTwist would like you to give its software a try.

Their website, www.doubletwist.com, promises they are "open to any device, content, or network," their list of supported devices is impressive, and the download is free. The music, alas, will still cost a few dollars - and it appears that you need a "valid US billing address and a credit or debit card" for buying from the Amazon music store via doubleTwist. Does this look like a real iTunes challenger? What other options are available?