I was pretty shocked that this was accepted, I've been a longtime spotify fan and assumed I would have to be getting an android to get it on mobile (I'll probably still get an android anyway)
Spotify still sounds an awful lot like an IP-radio station.
(Albeit, more like a caching radio jukebox). But it still sounds more like Pandora than iTunes.
I simply don't think ad-supported media is ever a replacement threat to a superior ad-free for-purchase alternative.
E.g. HULU is a substantial threat to subscription tv. But no real threat to TV-on-DVD sales. They just aren't the same thing.
the iphone application is only available to users who pay for spotify, not ad supported.
and its nothing like radio, I can play what I want when I want, without adverts, apart from the logistics involved in being online, there isnt a practical difference between it and itunes.
I doubt it's a mistake. The fact the BBC and Wired have reported this so quickly to me indicates the hand of Apple PR, slowly working to turn the tide of negative App Store stories.
even with as little confidence in apple that I have, there is no way this is a mistake, its a high profile case and an application that apple have no doubt had their eyes on for a while
Really sucks that they don't seem to be able to get an guidance on whether there app will get through or not before they create it. I'd imagine building an app like this one would be a sizable task, even more so in Google voices case.
I thought the new iPhone allowed background applications...? Why can't they play music all the time?
Edit: No really, I'm just asking. Why can't they? Is it banned? I honestly remember hearing the hoopla around background applications a few months ago.
They allowed push notifications, which are a serviceable substitute for some reasons you might want to run in the background. You can not actually have code running when your app isn't in the foreground.
The new iPhone does not allow background applications.
The iPhone does enable Notifications, which allow you to receive an aim message, for instance, while you are not running the AIM application, but this is more akin to having AIM send a special version of a text message to your phone, asking you to open AIM to see the full message.
There are ways to use background applications on Jailbroken iPhones, but the UI isn't designed for it, and they run slowly on anything less than a 3gs.
iTunes obsolete? Nah. I have lots of music I don't have to pay for (already paid for) that I don't need to use or even can use Spotify to access. It is hard to use Spotify on the plane. And when I travel, even if I wanted to, the data rates when roaming in Europe are pretty appalling. €4/MByte, no thanks.
Hardly. Neither the music nor the playlist will be available as soon you close the Spotify app. Also there is no concept of 'owning' the music (at least now).
Given most mobile devices have built-in AAC codecs but not Vorbis (Android is the odd one out here, I think, probably Maemo as well) if Spotify starts expanding to mobile devices an AAC stream (maybe lower quality than the Vorbis ones) would make sense.
I sent a mail to Spotify's support to ask, though they probably won't reply.
Nokia has always omitted Vorbis (and now Theora) from their Maemo devices for reasons they've never fully explained. You can add them fairly easily, but they don't ship them.
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[ 4.0 ms ] story [ 81.7 ms ] threadHard to tell with a company that is so opaque.
Pandora's been on the iPhone for some time.
Read here for more info:
http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1913680,00....
Pandora is closer to a radio station than a music store.
I simply don't think ad-supported media is ever a replacement threat to a superior ad-free for-purchase alternative.
E.g. HULU is a substantial threat to subscription tv. But no real threat to TV-on-DVD sales. They just aren't the same thing.
and its nothing like radio, I can play what I want when I want, without adverts, apart from the logistics involved in being online, there isnt a practical difference between it and itunes.
I find that really frustrating, with all the streaming radio apps.
Edit: No really, I'm just asking. Why can't they? Is it banned? I honestly remember hearing the hoopla around background applications a few months ago.
The iPhone does enable Notifications, which allow you to receive an aim message, for instance, while you are not running the AIM application, but this is more akin to having AIM send a special version of a text message to your phone, asking you to open AIM to see the full message.
There are ways to use background applications on Jailbroken iPhones, but the UI isn't designed for it, and they run slowly on anything less than a 3gs.
The main thing is that as good as Spotify is, it is useless once you close the app. You cannot even access the playlist leave playing musing alone.
And this is why I can't wait until it shows up in the AppStore.
Edit: Except the "minor" point renkeky brings up.
Grooveshark will hopefully have an IPhone app out soon.
http://daringfireball.net/linked/2009/08/24/rhapsody
Was he mistaken, or has Spotify started streaming songs in a different format from their desktop app that uses Ogg Vorbis?
I sent a mail to Spotify's support to ask, though they probably won't reply.
> We aim to tell more about the streaming of Spotify mobile as soon as we can, please keep an eye on the blog for more information!
No info, but a "stay tuned" reco.