WebProNews

Tag: amazon cloud player

  • Amazon Is Working With Record Labels On Subscription-Based Music Service [Rumor]

    Amazon Is Working With Record Labels On Subscription-Based Music Service [Rumor]

    Despite earlier attempts to bring streaming music to the masses, Spotify really nailed the concept when it launched in 2008. Now its the service every company in the business of selling music is trying to copy, including Amazon.

    The Verge reports that Amazon is currently in talks with record labels on setting up its own subscription-based music service. If successful, Amazon could prove a formidable rival to incumbents like Spotify as it really has an established business in selling physical and digital music.

    Of course, it probably will be a while before we see anything from this. Those privy to the meetings say that Amazon and the record labels are now just beginning to talk, and that said talks are “very informal” at this point in time.

    Amazon is just the latest company said to be in talks with record labels about setting up a subscription music service. Analysts have predicted that Apple will get into the streaming Internet radio business this year to take on services like Pandora. Google is also reportedly getting into the streaming music scene with YouTube.

    Out of all the rumored players, Amazon seems the most well suited for the music streaming business. It already has an established cloud infrastructure with Amazon Cloud Player. There’s also the rumored existence of a Kindle phone and $99 Kindle Fire HD; both of which could provide the perfect platform to launch a streaming service on.

    As always, the above is nothing but a rumor for now. That being said, it’s completely within the realm of possibility so don’t be surprised if Amazon announces something similar to Spotify this year.

  • Amazon Cloud Player Updated And Optimized For iPad

    Just because somebody owns an iPad doesn’t mean they use iTunes. There’s a wealth of options available to the iPad owner looking for an app to store their music collection. Amazon’s Cloud Player could be a strong competitor, but the lack of a dedicated iPad app was a hurdle it didn’t overcome until today.

    Amazon announced that its Cloud Player app has finally been updated and optimized for the iPad. Just like the iPhone app, Cloud Player lets Amazon Cloud Player subscribers store up to 250 songs for free on the cloud, with support for 250,000 songs coming in at $24.99 a year.

    “We introduced our Cloud Player app for iPhone and iPod touch last summer and it’s been incredibly popular with our customers so we’ve now expanded it to iPad,” said Steve Boom, Vice President of Digital Music for Amazon. “Our goal is to make Cloud Player the most widely compatible cloud playback solution available, giving our customers the ability to buy their music once and enjoy it everywhere.”

    Amazon Cloud Player may not take over iTunes dominant position on the iPad, but it’s a good alternative for the rare consumer who owns an iPad and an Android phone. Cloud Player can sync songs between both devices for a relatively painless music listening experience.

    You can grab the newly iPad optimized Amazon Cloud Player from Apple’s App Store for free.

  • Amazon Cloud Player Comes To Ford SYNC Smart Cars

    Amazon Cloud Player Comes To Ford SYNC Smart Cars

    The smart car is the next big revenue driver for app developers. These cars may not be everywhere just yet, but app developers would be smart to jump on in its early stages before it takes off. Amazon is doing just that by bringing Cloud Player to Ford’s line of smart cars.

    Amazon announced today that Android devices with Amazon MP3 can now wirelessly connect with Ford SYNC Applink-equipped vehicles. Beyond being able to play your MP3 collection through your car’s speakers, the Ford SYNC version of Amazon MP3 also supports voice commands to keep drivers safe.

    “We want customers to be able enjoy their entire music library wherever they want, from whatever device they choose. And we know that cars and music go hand-in-hand. That’s why we’re excited to bring Cloud Player to the car,” said Steve Boom, Vice President of Digital Music for Amazon.

    The following features of Amazon MP3 are making their way to smart cars:

  • Access their music playlists with the convenience of using voice recognition or dashboard controls
  • Play music stored in Cloud Player or play back music stored on their mobile phone
  • Enjoy eligible music in high-quality 256kbps audio
  • Get rid of CDs, wires, and other ways they used to connect and listen to their music in the car
  • Free up local storage space on their phones by storing and accessing music in the cloud

    • The Amazon Cloud Player app is available in the following Ford models: 2013 Ford Fiesta, Mustang, Focus, E-Series, C-MAX Hybrid, Expedition, Fusion, F-150 and Super Duty.

    You can learn more about Amazon Cloud Player in Ford here.

  • Amazon AutoRip Gives You Free MP3s of CD Purchases, Retroactively

    Amazon AutoRip Gives You Free MP3s of CD Purchases, Retroactively

    Amazon is looking to incentivize physical music sales by providing digital copies automatically and free of charge with each purchase. They’re also hoping that they can keep customers using their Cloud Player. Oh yeah, and it’s retroactive.

    We’re talking about Amazon “AutoRip,” a new service that gives customers MP3 versions of any CDs they purchase on Amazon. When a customer purchased a CD that’s AutoRip eligible, Amazon throws the corresponding MP3s onto their Cloud Player library. It all takes place automatically and for free.

    And Amazon says that AutoRip is retroactive. If you’re purchased an AutoRip CD any time between now and 1998, you can expect MP3 version of those CDs to be waiting for you in your Cloud Player library.

    “What would you say if you bought music CDs from a company 15 years ago, and then 15 years later that company licensed the rights from the record companies to give you the MP3 versions of those CDs… and then to top it off, did that for you automatically and for free?” said Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. “Well, starting today, it’s available to all of our customers – past, present, and future – at no cost. We love these opportunities to do something unexpected for our customers.”

    Every AutoRip MP3 is stored in your Cloud Player library but doesn’t count against the storage limits. The AutoRip MP3s will be rendered in 256 Kbps.

    “AutoRip is available for industry-wide top-sellers like ’21’ by Adele; new and recent releases like ‘¡Uno!’, ‘¡Dos!’ and ‘¡Tre!’ by Green Day, ‘Overexposed’ by Maroon 5, and ‘The Truth About Love’ by P!nk; classics like ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ by Pink Floyd and ‘Thriller’ by Michael Jackson; and Amazon customer favorites like ‘I Dreamed A Dream’ by Susan Boyle, which was the most pre-ordered album of all time on Amazon,” they say.

    AutoRip is currently available on 50,000+ albums. If you want to know if a CD is AutoRip compatible before you buy, just look for the AutoRip logo on the page.

    Sure, it’s not a huge breakthrough – and CD sales will continue to decline even if digital copies are part of the deal. But by putting users’ MP3s in Amazon’s Cloud Player automatically, the company is increasing the chances that users will stick to Amazon for their streaming desires (and forgo iTunes or Google Play).