WebProNews

Tag: Spotify Radio

  • Spotify For Android Gets NFC Support

    The Spotify app for Android was updated today, complete with new Near Field Communication (NFC) support for phones running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The announcement on the Spotify blog specifies that app users look for the option under the “Audio Effects” menu in the Settings menu. Spotify has not specified whether the NFC support still works for the newer Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, or whether that support will come in the future.

    Supposedly, the feature will allow Spotify users to share music with other phones that have the same feature. It is unknown exactly what music the app will allow users to share. Spotify has subscription options that allow users to stream music of their choice. It seems unlikely that such music can be shared through the app, though it should at least allow users to share locally-stored music.

    The mobile industry has been slowly adding support and developing the infrastructure for NFC technologies. While high-end Android-based smartphones have had support for NFC for some time now, Apple has yet to implement the technology into their iPhones. Samsung recently released programmable TecTiles NFC stickers to coincide with the launch of its Galaxy S III smartphone.

    However, rumors earlier this year that the upcoming iPhone 5 would support NFC caused credit card companies and Walmart to invest heavily in building out digital wallet services. Though more recent rumors call for an NFC-less iPhone 5, this just goes to show how much market power even rumors about an iPhone can have.

  • Boxee’s Spotify App Gets A Major Update

    Boxee’s Spotify App Gets A Major Update

    Boxee has announced a major update to the Spotify app on their all-in-one streaming media box. The new app brings quite a few new features that users have been requesting including search, an updated inbox, and improved shuffle functionality.

    The new search function makes it easier to find tracks, artists, or albums you want to hear. The major draw of Spotify’s service is the ability to listen to any song from their catalog whenever you want, and to add it to your playlists. The addition of a search function to the Boxee app makes this much easier. The updated inbox allows you to know instantly when someone shares a playlist, song, or album with you. In addition to the new inbox, the update also brings notification icons that will pop up when someone has shared something with you.

    Check out a couple screen shots of the new Spotify app’s search feature and updated inbox:

    Spotify Boxee App

    Spotify Boxee App

    As with all Spotify apps (other than the desktop app), using Spotify on your Boxee requires a Spotify Premium subscription, which costs $9.99 per month. A free trial is also available if you’re not a Spotify subscriber.

    Do you have the new Spotify channel on your Boxee Box? What do you think of it? Let us know in the comments.

  • Spotify Radio Ups The Ante With Unlimited Skips

    Spotify Radio Ups The Ante With Unlimited Skips

    Spotify announced the launch of the new Spotify Radio, which lets users create unlimited stations with unlimited skips.

    Some are already billing it as a Pandora killer. If you ask me, Pandora already had some pretty stiff competition. The unlimited skips part will surely entice plenty of people, however.

    “You can be the DJ and skip between stations and tracks, or choose a station and just go with the flow,” says Spotify’s Andres Sehr. “If you like what you hear, you can save the song to a playlist or play it again on demand.”

    To start a new station, simply click “start artist radio,” which you can find at the top of any artist page. You can also drag a track to “Radio” in the sidebar to create one.

    @Spotify
    Spotify    Get ready for an amazing radio experience. Unlimited stations, unlimited skips – that’s the new Spotify Radio. http://t.co/May1jC73 3 hours ago via Twitter for Mac · powered by @socialditto

    Here’s what others are saying about it:

    @Snoftice
    Knutz    @Spotify love the new radio feature! Perfect way to find new music in a specific genre I like! Go Spotify! 1 minute ago via web · powered by @socialditto

    @justyle
    Justin Style    Love the new @spotify artist radio feature. Spotify is cementing its role as the ultimate tool for new music discovery. 1 hour ago via HootSuite · powered by @socialditto

    @rasfincher
    Ras Fincher    The new @Spotify radio in the latest beta is AMAZING. 7 minutes ago via TweetDeck · powered by @socialditto

    @eternallydemi
    Demi Lovato    The new Spotify Radio is awesome…goodbye Pandora! 3 hours ago via TweetDeck · powered by @socialditto

    @zononchalant
    papa bear    Turned on pandora first song started playing was Say Goodbye. Lmao 7 hours ago via web · powered by @socialditto

    Pandora recently rolled out its own new version, but the way things are shaping up, I think we’re going to see the company up its game.

    Clear Channel’s iHeartRadio, another legitimate contender to Pandora, which offers basically the same functionality in addition to access to radio stations from around the U.S., recently extended its free ad-free service.

    The new Spotify Radio should continue rolling out over the next few days, along with Spotify Apps.