An active-locker system is one where you needn’t upload your music but rather upload a of the music you have in your library. You would then stream copies of that music from a central server. The obvious advantage is dispensing with uploading. But, as demonstrated by , with an active-locker you also have the option to automatically add purchased music to the locker. So, with Amazon music you can download music you’ve purchased as well as add it to Cloud Player for streaming when you don't have access to the downloaded copy.

Google and many other online entities would love to offer an active-locker system but for the objections of the music companies. These companies seem to believe that such systems will enhance piracy because A) They believe BitTorrent is some variety of GMC truck B) They have never encountered a teenager or C) They’re holding out for more money. It’s rumored that Apple is exploring option C as part of its just-as-rumored iCloud service.

In the meantime, a reheated version of iTunes, configured for the cloud, is what Google will soon have on offer.