Spotify

[joakimlb]

After seeing last week´s episode, and the review of Spotify, I thought I´d go a little in-depth about the question V had about the application.

You cannot buy music through Spotify (it does not link you to Amazon or iTunes) - you just stream the music. The problem with this though, is that there are advertisements that appear between the songs at certain intervals, which makes it really frickin´ annoying to listen to. The solution is buying a Premium subscription which costs around 99 NOK or 99 SEK, which is around 17 USD (http://bit.ly/TGWmi). I´m guessing it will be adjusted to a more savvy US price, once it is released across the pond. Premium also let´s you stream overseas. So, if you have a friend in Northern or Western Europe who can create an account for you, you can pay for the subscription and start streaming in the US!

It´s great for listening to the music you want, whenever you want, without having to buy the CD or clicking your Credit away on the iTunes Store.

I disagree with V, in that it is in fact not "another DRM-store with streaming". It is a music streaming library, where you do not buy or keep the files on your computer. If you want to keep the music, you should use iTunes or any other online music store. This is where the genius lies - you just stream the music you want.

Right now, I am probably sounding like I work at Spotify. I really dont. This has gotten me over from getting my music from The Pirate Bay to paying for music. Probably what the industry (i.e RIAA) wants - but I like it in spite of that, not because of it. Leeching is a hassle, as well as filling your HDD up with crap that you only listen to every 5 days is unnecessary.

Also, Spotify has released their iPhone and Android client today (http://www.spotify.com/en/mobile/overview/). Rhapsody is probably going to get some huge competition in the US, if Spotify releases both the mobile version and the desktop client in the US soon.

The iPhone app is explained quite well in the Spotify blog post, but in a nut shell - it´s basically the same as the desktop client, either over WIFI or 3G/EDGE. It lets me have both my music (through the Spotify app) and my podcasts (on the iPhone), without making me delete stuff on my 8GB iPhone 3G. The only caveat is that you have to have a Premium subscription, which probably will get them more paying subscribers. Let´s face it, people with iPhones can pay for the 17 USD fee.

Cya,
Joakim

[marcushast]

You cannot buy music through Spotify (it does not link you to Amazon or iTunes) - you just stream the music.
They have added a "buy from" option recently (right click a track), but it doesn't work with all songs. For me it only links to "7digital.com" but that may be differ depending on which region you are in.

I just got the mobile version today (for Android) and it works really nicely. Being able to sync playlists to the phone is really nice too.

[joakimlb]

Yep, the iPhone version is great too. Too bad it can´t run in the background - that´s the down side with the platform I guess.

In the Norwegian version/region of the desktop application, there is no link to a music store.

Since Veronica and Patrick were both confused about there not being such an option, because of their being US consumers, there will probably be one on US release.

[ironlink]

I agree with joakimlb, Spotify is a library with streaming-only access. You don't buy songs, you buy access to all of the songs.
Well, you either accept that there are a few audible and visual adverts, or pay for premium access. Premium access also gets you improved audio quality (standard is 160 kbit/s ogg vorbis, premium lets you enable 320 kbit/s in the options), but the standard quality is awesome enough for me.

On the buy-a-song topic, I haven't bought anything yet, but the few songs I've checked out (at 7digital, via the menu in spotify) have been 320kbit/s mp3.

Honestly, having a whole world of music available to me at all times, with ZERO loading time, has killed off my torrenting of music. I, too, probably sound like a sales man by now, but that's just how happy I am with it. If I had a phone with Android, I'd be considering dumping my Sansa Clip.

[veronicazilla]

I disagree with V, in that it is in fact not "another DRM-store with streaming". It is a music streaming library, where you do not buy or keep the files on your computer. If you want to keep the music, you should use iTunes or any other online music store. This is where the genius lies - you just stream the music you want.


I don't think you're disagreeing with me... I don't think I said that. Patrick was more worked up over the streaming DRM than I was. I agree that it's like having an endless supply of music at your fingertips.

[marcushast]

In the Norwegian version/region of the desktop application, there is no link to a music store.
Ok, I'm running the Swedish version. But buying a digital copy in not interesting IMHO unless it's significantly cheaper than a CD. If for no other reason than I can rip the CD to get a high quality version as well as a physical backup.

I also got the Android and iPhone (well, iPod touch) versions these last few days and they are really great. Being able to sync songs to my device means that it becomes are lot more useful. And being able to assemble a playlist at my computer and then pressing sync on the phone is great.

On Android it runs in the background as well. (If you exit using home screen.) Which just makes it even more useful. And a bonus I found was that while some people (like me) have had problems getting the program from Android market (possibly because I'm running a dev phone) the Spotify people put a link on their site so you can download the file directly from them.

All in all I'm satisfied, and it got me to sign up for their service. Which might have been their plan all along. (A lot of people at the office have Android phones, as well as some iPhones. And Spotify is becoming a standard install by now.)

[joakimlb]

I don't think you're disagreeing with me... I don't think I said that. Patrick was more worked up over the streaming DRM than I was. I agree that it's like having an endless supply of music at your fingertips.

My bad.

Conlusion: It´s awesome :)

[judaz]

This is where the genius lies - you just stream the music you want.


I'n my opinion it is also where the problem is. I prefer to have the music i love on my computer all the time. I dont want to be dependent on a decent connection to the internet to be able to listen to the music I want.
hopefully Spotifier will actually add some decent music I would like to listen to to begin with, but thats a diffrent issue.

Not a huge fan of spotifier yet, but I do agree its a good alternative. Havn´t stopped me from downloading the way I want yet, but maybe .. sometime .. but I dont think so.

Thats the great thing with Revision3 in general, you can stream the content, but you can also download it, keep it and watch it when ever you want, not only hen you have a good internet connection. That is genius to me :o) ... I'm not a big fan of beeing dependent on the Internet to do stuff, not music, not office, not image editing. I want the software local, on my computer . ..but I see a current trend towards the opposite. but i doubt it will be successful, but who knows.

(just wish they would stop canceling all the good show....hope tekzilla isn´t next to go)