Spotify

Spotify Mobile reviewed

The bottom line: A great perk for Spotify devotees with Premium accounts, Spotify Mobile allows mobile streaming and offline playback of your favorite music.

Review:

Installation Spotify's free mobile app is a cinch to set up. Provided you're signed up for a Spotify Premium account ($10 a month), all you need to do is type in your log-in and password, and your favorite music and playlists automatically populate the screen. Spotify users without Premium accounts may log in to the app and look around, but are prevented from streaming or syncing music.

Interface Spotify Mobile's user interface … Read more

Friday Poll: Are you stoked to try Spotify?

I love music, but I hate downloading songs, and I can never get iTunes to run smoothly on my PC. That's why I'm intrigued by popular European music-streaming service Spotify, which hit the U.S. this week.

The U.S. version of Spotify is invite-only for now, but will apparently open for general use later. Currently, Spotify has a free, ad-based service that's time-limited.

There are also $5 and $10 monthly plans that allow users to listen to their music on mobile devices.

As CNET's Donald Bell explained, Spotify definitely has competitors like Grooveshark but it's hoping its free service will lead to a base of paying subscribers.

Our editorial roundtable noted that Spotify has a tricky search engine, and some tunes are missing from albums.

Overall, though, they gave it the thumbs-up. But what do you think? Is Spotify for you? Vote in our poll and add your comments below. … Read more

Spotify reviewed

The bottom line: It's the best free music option since stealing.

Review:

Installation As a first-time user, you install the free Spotify Mac/PC application, open it up, and watch as it automatically imports your music collection and playlists from iTunes and other music software and presents you with a landing page filled with new releases, top lists, and music shared by your friends. Setup is swift.

Interface Spotify's polished, iTunes-like interface is as inviting to music fans as a well-stocked record bin. Each portion of the bento-boxlike layout can be resized, and playback, volume, and track scrubber … Read more

Spotify reviewed

The bottom line: It's the best free music option since stealing.

Review:

Installation As a first-time user, you install the free Spotify Mac/PC application, open it up, and watch as it automatically imports your music collection and playlists from iTunes and other music software and presents you with a landing page filled with new releases, top lists, and music shared by your friends. Setup is swift.

Interface Spotify's polished, iTunes-like interface is as inviting to music fans as a well-stocked record bin. Each portion of the bento-boxlike layout can be resized, and playback, volume, and track scrubber … Read more

This Day in Tech: Why we love Spotify; Google posts earnings

Too busy to keep up with the tech news? Here are some of the more interesting stories from CNET for Thursday, July 14.

• After much anticipation, Spotify has launched in the United States. And here at CNET, we are smitten with Spotify's service. The CNET staff gave the service five thumbs-up. Sean Parker of Napster fame--and a Spotify investor--says Spotify signals a golden age of music. Business Insider republished a post from his Facebook page, where he wrote: "For a decade I have waited for a music service that could rekindle my excitement about music...Spotify is the … Read more

Car Tech Live 224: Pandora increases auto offerings (podcast)

Pandora is leaving no car behind, but will the expansion of Spotify derail the momentum? Audi brings its RS line back to the U.S., in small form, while BMW expands use of carbon fiber. And we take a ride in an espresso cup.

Subscribe with iTunes (audio) Subscribe with iTunes (video) Subscribe with RSS (audio) Subscribe with RSS (video) EPISODE 224 SHOW NOTES

• First Android Car Radio USB Connection on Way

• Spotify launch in US

• Pandora increases its auto offerings

• BMW opens online art-car gallery

• Mercedes-Benz restructuring Smart

How to get started with Spotify

It's been a long time coming, but Spotify has finally launched in the U.S. As the latest entry into the online music service, Spotify is sure to turn the online music industry on its head.

So how do you get started? How does it work? Those questions, plus many more, will be answered while we help you get started using Spotify.

… Read more

Spotify promo downs Klout. Was it avoidable?

In concert with the U.S. launch of the music service Spotify this morning, the online reputation service Klout offered a deal: Early invitations to the free tier of Spotify service for the most influential people on Klout.

Nice idea. Too nice, perhaps. Interest in the Spotify deal caused a rush to Klout, and the service collapsed. For a period this morning, Klout users couldn't log in at all.

I talked with Klout CEO Joe Fernandez about this. I was curious how the two companies could underforecast demand so badly.

Ferndandez said that Klout has done about 50 of … Read more

The 404 860: Where we're selling Spotify invites (podcast)

Spotify has finally made its way to the U.S., successfully striking deals with all four of the major record labels to provide a unique music-streaming service, and Wilson's already a member with a premium account. If you're weren't lucky enough to get an invite to the party, we'll be selling them to the highest bidder.

In other news, Jeff's friend brings us news about a man in China who built an iPad clone from scratch, except I already have my eyes set on a Buy.com deal for an Archos 7" Android tablet for $90 shipped! If you already have the Archos, let me know if it's worth the money, or if I should wait for Amazon's tablet to launch in October.

All this plus e-mails from the public on today's podcast!

The 404 Digest for Episode 860

Spotify lands in the United States. Chinese "hacker" makes iPad clone from scratch. Amazon to launch its own tablet in October.

Episode 860 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more