Download Squad http://downloadsquad.switched.com Download Squad http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Download Squad http://downloadsquad.switched.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[TuneCrank lets you listen to independent music and rank it]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/23/tunecrank-lets-you-listen-to-independent-music-and-rank-it/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/23/tunecrank-lets-you-listen-to-independent-music-and-rank-it/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/23/tunecrank-lets-you-listen-to-independent-music-and-rank-it/#commentsFiled under:

tunecrank

TuneCrank is another crack at a familiar problem: How do you make people listen to unfamiliar independent artists, and help the good stuff float to the top?

Uvumi tries to do this, and so does Bandcamp in a completely different take. TuneCrank is yet another attempt, with a stress on bare-bones simplicity and minimalism. It's basically just a player with "thumbs up" and "thumbs down" buttons, and a third button that looks like the ever popular "rock hands." There are no genre tags; the playlist at the front page has hip-hop, indie, elecronica, and more - it's a whole mush of styles. The most voted tracks float to the top.

I like the visual simplicity - it's reminiscent of Muxtape, but sadly, not as chic.

You can filter by artist, and the service appears to have around 150 artists or so. It's not the best online music experience by a long shot (not for the artist, nor for the listener), but who knows - you might find something you like right on the front page.

Download SquadTuneCrank lets you listen to independent music and rank it originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiobandcampindiemusical-websocialtune crankTuneCrankweb2.0Tue, 23 Nov 2010 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Aethyr lets you download shared iTunes libraries]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/22/aethyr-lets-you-download-shared-itunes-libraries/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/22/aethyr-lets-you-download-shared-itunes-libraries/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/22/aethyr-lets-you-download-shared-itunes-libraries/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Aethyr, iTunes library downloader
Windows users, rejoice! You can now steal music from shared iTunes libraries -- or move music between two of your own computers, of course. Simply install Aethyr, connect to a library in iTunes, then switch to Aethyr and download some songs.

Library sharing in iTunes acts like a local-area network radio: you can stream music from computer to computer (from Mac to Windows!), but downloading is disabled. Aethyr removes that limitation, providing an easy way to move music between computers. According to Lifehacker, you haven't been able to do this since iTunes 7, so Aethyr fills a pretty large void.

It sounds like Aethyr has a few bugs, so you might want to check the FAQ if you experience any issues.

Download Aethyr for Windows

Download SquadAethyr lets you download shared iTunes libraries originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>itunesitunes libraryItunesLibrarymusicsharingwindowsMon, 22 Nov 2010 08:15:00 EST<![CDATA[An early look at Winamp for Android's SHOUTcast integration]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/16/winamp-android-shoutcast-radio/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/16/winamp-android-shoutcast-radio/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/16/winamp-android-shoutcast-radio/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Winamp for Android, SHOUTcast integrationThis morning, I was fortunate enough to get a sneak peek at an alpha version of Winamp for Android. The beta version currently available from the Android Market is already a lot better than other media players, but judging by what I've seen today, it's going to get even better.

For this alpha build, Nullsoft has focused on SHOUTcast integration. The implementation is still a little rough around the edges, but it works -- it works really well. You can browse the top stations, and browse by genre or search term. Click a station to listen to it, or push-and-hold to add it to your favourites for easy access in the future. Presumably, if you listen to one station enough, it might be automatically added to your favorites, too. Rounding up the changes, there's 'My recent stations', which is exactly what it sounds like. For more details, check the gallery below.

Streaming radio for Android isn't exactly new, but this is by far the most easy-to-use and functional implementation that I've seen. You might point to Pandora, but not only is it only available to American users, it's simply not in the same league as SHOUTcast. At the time of writing there are 44,454 free SHOUTcast radio stations, and the Android app can listen to any single one of them. If you're not excited by that, let me know: I'll send some goons around to forcibly remove your smartphone.

[Download Squad and Nullsoft, the developers of Winamp, are both owned by AOL.]

Gallery: Winamp for Android, now with SHOUTcast integration

Winamp home screen, with SHOUTcast buttonSHOUTcast 'top stations'Loading a SHOUTcast radio streamA SHOUTcast radio website, linked from the appSearching SHOUTcast stations

Download SquadAn early look at Winamp for Android's SHOUTcast integration originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 16 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidaolappsmusicmusic playerMusicPlayernullsoftwinampTue, 16 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Slacker Radio for Windows Phone 7]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/16/slacker-radio-for-windows-phone-7/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/16/slacker-radio-for-windows-phone-7/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/16/slacker-radio-for-windows-phone-7/#commentsFiled under: ,

On my desktop, I'm a Grooveshark user -- but there's no Grooveshark app for Windows Phone 7 yet... so where does one turn for custom-tailored streaming tunes? Why, Slacker Radio, of course!

Search for a band, tap their name (Volbeat, for example), and Slacker begins buffering your first track and looking for other songs it thinks you'll like -- which you can like or ban while they play. Tap the album cover and Slacker loads band information, including a bio, album review, and lyrics from LyricFind. The free version allows you to favorite stations Slacker creates from your searches, while subscribers can also access their custom channels.

One big downside right now is that Slacker Radio doesn't run in the background. Tap the Windows button, and your track quits playing. To add salt to the wound, if you press back to return to the app it actually starts playing the next track in your queue -- even though it says 'resuming,' which I typically assume means a music app is going to pick up where it left off. Even if you tap to share with a friend, Slacker cuts out as soon as Windows Phone 7 loads up the email screen.

Continue reading Slacker Radio for Windows Phone 7

Download SquadSlacker Radio for Windows Phone 7 originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 16 Nov 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiodiscoverymusicradioslackerstreamingwindows phone 7WindowsPhone7Tue, 16 Nov 2010 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Bump for iOS now does user-to-user music sharing]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/12/bump-for-ios-now-does-user-to-user-music-sharing/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/12/bump-for-ios-now-does-user-to-user-music-sharing/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/12/bump-for-ios-now-does-user-to-user-music-sharing/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Bump, the app that lets users exchange contact info and photos by bumping their phones together, now also lets you exchange music. With the latest update to Bump for iOS, you can pick any song in your iTunes library and send it to a friend via Bump. Don't get too excited, though: we're not talking about full-on file transfer, here. Bumping a song just lets your friend stream the entire track via YouTube or click an iTunes "buy" link.

Bump already lets you share photos and Address Book info, become instant friends on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn, and even transfer money via PayPal. Photo sharing is apparently the most popular feature, though, so music is a logical next step.

Unfortunately, sharing your music files themselves won't fly for Bump under Apple's current terms of service and developer APIs, so users will have to make due with the clever YouTube streaming and iTunes Music Store combo.

[via Mashable]


Download SquadBump for iOS now does user-to-user music sharing originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 12 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bumpiosipadiphonemusicsharingFri, 12 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Adobe Audition for Mac beta now available]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/09/adobe-audition-for-mac-beta-now-available/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/09/adobe-audition-for-mac-beta-now-available/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/09/adobe-audition-for-mac-beta-now-available/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Adobe Audition
Adobe has brought its once Windows-only professional audio authoring suite, Audition, to the Mac platform with the release of a public beta. For those of you who've missed Audition in the past, it's Adobe's solution for recording, mixing, editing, and mastering audio and vocal tracks -- an answer to Apple's Logic Studio, Avid Technology's Pro Tools, and others.

Bringing Audition to OS X enables Adobe to compete directly with Apple's aforementioned professional audio mastering suite and reach another side of the creative industry: those who customarily use Macs. Adobe is actively encouraging users to download and test Audition on Apple's desktop OS, so if you're at all creative and fancy trying out something that's a step up from GarageBand, then head on over to Adobe Labs and get your download on.

Download SquadAdobe Audition for Mac beta now available originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 09 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AdobeAdobe AuditionAdobeAuditionaudioauditionGarageBandLogic StudioLogicStudioMacOS XOsXPro ToolsProToolswaveTue, 09 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Spotify Premium seven-day trial now available]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/08/spotify-premium-seven-day-trial-now-available/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/08/spotify-premium-seven-day-trial-now-available/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/08/spotify-premium-seven-day-trial-now-available/#commentsFiled under: ,

Spotify Premium free trial screenshot

Spotify has started making a seven-day trial of its Premium subscription available. Spotify Premium is a paid subscription that gives you access to all the top notch features such as higher quality audio, ad-free listening, mobile access, and offline mode for both desktop and mobile.

The free trial does come with caveats though. First off, you'll have to enter your payment details when you sign up for it. Then, if you don't manually cancel the subscription before the trial runs out, it will automagically turn itself into a full blown Spotify Premium subscription and you will be billed once when the trial expires and then every month on the same date. Another catch (but this is true for subscribing to Spotify Premium in general) is that your credit card must have been issued in the country you've set in your Spotify profile.

If you can get past these issues, the trial does provide the full Spotify Premium experience and isn't limited in any way. You can sign up for the free seven-day trial here.

[via Macworld]

Download SquadSpotify Premium seven-day trial now available originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiospotifySpotify PremiumSpotifyPremiumWebweb serviceweb servicesWebServiceWebServicesMon, 08 Nov 2010 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Grooveshark 1.2 for webOS adds background playback controls, shuffle mode, more]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/03/grooveshark-1-2-for-webos-adds-background-playback-controls-shu/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/03/grooveshark-1-2-for-webos-adds-background-playback-controls-shu/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/03/grooveshark-1-2-for-webos-adds-background-playback-controls-shu/#commentsFiled under: ,

Grooveshark is one of my most-used webOS apps, and the recent 1.2 update makes an already good app even better. The most prominent addition is the notification area player controls, which allow you to command Grooveshark as it plays in the background -- just like the built-in webOS player.

There's also a new shuffle mode for random enjoyment of your playlists, and Grooveshark 1.2 has also added an adaptive bitrate feature. If you happen to move into an area with poor reception, the player will automatically switch to a lower bitrate so you can keep enjoying your streaming music -- even if it doesn't sound quite as good.

Grooveshark's search feature has been improved as well and now offers filtering for easier track selection. Found a song you want to hear right after the current track finishes? Grooveshark 1.2 now has a "play next" feature for doing just that!

As always, the app itself is free but you'll need to have a Grooveshark Pro subscription to utilize it on your Pre, Plus, or Pixi. At $3 a month, though, it's not a tough pill to swallow.

[via PreCentral]

Download SquadGrooveshark 1.2 for webOS adds background playback controls, shuffle mode, more originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiogroovesharkmusicpalmpixipreradiostreamingwebosWed, 03 Nov 2010 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Three LimeWire alternatives for easy peer-to-peer downloading]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/01/three-limewire-alternatives/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/01/three-limewire-alternatives/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/11/01/three-limewire-alternatives/#commentsFiled under: ,

To the average downloading public, the recent news about LimeWire being forced to shut down sounds pretty ominous. At my day job, I've already been asked "How do I download songs now?" While LimeWire shutting down is bad news for its users, there's a silver lining to this cloud.
  • The Gnutella network did not get shut down -- the actual songs you were downloading came from the Gnutella network, not directly from LimeWire. LimeWire merely found the songs on the network and then downloaded them.
  • LimeWire is open source software -- this means any developer with the know-how could download the LimeWire program code and modify it and release his or her own version of LimeWire.

So, how do you download songs now? Easy -- just replace LimeWire with an alternative program which can download from the Gnutella network and you're good to go!

Continue reading Three LimeWire alternatives for easy peer-to-peer downloading

Download SquadThree LimeWire alternatives for easy peer-to-peer downloading originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 01 Nov 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>downloaddownloadingfilesharinggnutellalimewiremp3musicp2pMon, 01 Nov 2010 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Mozilla's Rainbow plug-in brings audio and video recording to Firefox]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/29/mozilla-rainbow-firefox-audio-video-recording/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/29/mozilla-rainbow-firefox-audio-video-recording/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/29/mozilla-rainbow-firefox-audio-video-recording/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Mozilla has just announced a new Firefox plug-in called Rainbow that will let users access audio and video recording capabilities through the browser. It's similar to something Mozilla tried with audio recording while they were developing the Jetpack plug-in system, but Rainbow includes video as well. Rainbow records using open formats (Ogg Theora video and Ogg Vorbis audio), and you can set it to automatically upload the recordings to a server.

Rainbow is still pre-alpha software, and so far, it only works with Firefox nightly builds for Mac. The Firefox team is apparently working to bring Rainbow to nightly builds on other platforms as well, but won't make it compatible with previous versions of Firefox. Possibilities for Rainbow's future include capturing and streaming live video, adding support for WebM and VP8 video, and letting users install Rainbow without restarting Firefox.

Download SquadMozilla's Rainbow plug-in brings audio and video recording to Firefox originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 29 Oct 2010 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiobrowsersfirefoxHTML5mozillapluginsrainbowrecordingvideoFri, 29 Oct 2010 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Spotify nearing deals with major US record labels]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/28/spotify-nearing-deals-with-major-us-record-labels/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/28/spotify-nearing-deals-with-major-us-record-labels/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/28/spotify-nearing-deals-with-major-us-record-labels/#commentsFiled under: ,

Spotify, a streaming music service with more than 10 million users worldwide, is reportedly nearing music licensing deals with the four major US record labels. According to CNET, multiple sources with knowledge of the situation are claiming that Spotify has never been closer to securing the music rights it would need for a US launch. They've been plying label executives with offers of big money up front, although nobody has reported the exact amounts.

One sticking point has been Spotify's rate of selling premium accounts to its free users. Right now, the percentage of Spotify users paying for premium service is below 10 percent. The labels have apparently been pushing for something closer to 15 percent before signing. The labels don't want to compete with themselves by helping to sign up a bunch of free Spotify customers who might otherwise pay for music on iTunes or Amazon MP3. In fact, we reported earlier this month that Apple might be quietly trying to stop Spotify from launching in America.

Closing these deals might allow Spotify to meet its goal of launching in the US by the end of the year, but don't hold your breath. Spotify has announced two previous launch dates this year, and they've both passed by with no action.

Download SquadSpotify nearing deals with major US record labels originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>musicrecord labelsRecordLabelsspotifystreamingThu, 28 Oct 2010 07:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Spotify for webOS is out, you still need a subscription to use it]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/26/spotify-for-webos-is-out-you-still-need-a-subscription-to-use-i/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/26/spotify-for-webos-is-out-you-still-need-a-subscription-to-use-i/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/26/spotify-for-webos-is-out-you-still-need-a-subscription-to-use-i/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Spotify for webOSSpotify has just launched another mobile app, this time for Palm's (now HP's) webOS. Those who own smartphones running this operating system, such as the Palm Pre and the Palm Pixi can now use their Spotify Premium subscriptions while on the go as well. Because, as with all other Spotify mobile applications, a Premium account is required for this app to work.

Feature-wise, it's pretty much got everything you'd expect. You can search and browse through Spotify's catalog of millions of tracks, create, sync and edit playlists, view and play your friends' playlists, listen to offline-enabled playlists, wirelessly sync your local files to your phone, and share music via email, messaging and Facebook. As with the desktop version of Spotify, the webOS app also supports scrobbling to last.fm.

Spotify for webOS is a free download from the Palm App Catalog.

Download SquadSpotify for webOS is out, you still need a subscription to use it originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>palmpalm pixipalm prepalm pre plusPalmPixiPalmPrePalmPrePlusspotifySpotify PremiumSpotifyPremiumwebosTue, 26 Oct 2010 07:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Theta Music Trainer helps you develop musical hearing]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/23/theta-music-trainer-helps-you-develop-musical-hearing/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/23/theta-music-trainer-helps-you-develop-musical-hearing/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/23/theta-music-trainer-helps-you-develop-musical-hearing/#commentsFiled under: , ,

thetamusictrainer

I've always wanted to do something musical. But having received no musical education and not coming from a musically-inclined family, I find myself dreading the subject and feeling that it's all a bit too much for me. I'm speaking mainly of the theoretical side of it, which has to do with figuring out all of those scales and then telling them apart.

Theta Music Trainer has shown me that I might have a chance to grasp this music thing after all. It's composed of several Flash-based games, each of which is focused on an aspect of "educated listening." Here are three examples:

  • Paddle Pitch trains your ear to recognize "scale tones." It's basically Pong, but you use the number keys to move the paddle, and you need to move the paddle to whatever sound was played.
  • Melodic Drops plays two-note sequences, and you have to figure out the musical interval between the two notes (an octave, two identical notes, etc.).
  • Parrot Phrases is by far the hardest one. The game plays sequences of notes, and you have to play them back by ear on a virtual piano, keyboard, or guitar.

In its free form, Theta Music Trainer is a very limited demo; it lets you play only the first level of every game. But if you pay $7.95/mo, you get full access to all levels. That's what it says on the contact page, anyway, but I wasn't able to find out how to subscribe.

The idea is very, very good, and the execution feels solid. So, even if Theta Music Trainer isn't quite ready for prime time, this is definitely one to keep an eye on for your musical training.

Download SquadTheta Music Trainer helps you develop musical hearing originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 23 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audioeducationmusictheta music trainerThetaMusicTrainerSat, 23 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Music launches in India, streams Bollywood songs for free]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/22/google-music-launches-in-india-streams-bollywood-songs-for-free/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/22/google-music-launches-in-india-streams-bollywood-songs-for-free/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/22/google-music-launches-in-india-streams-bollywood-songs-for-free/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Google Music Search IndiaGoogle has announced the launch of its Music Search service in India. It's under the 'Labs' wing, which means it's an experimental trial for now. It's also restricted to Hindi Bollywood songs, so you won't be listening to Lady Gaga with this service any time soon.

It works in a very similar fashion to Google's US Music Search service: you go to the website and just search for an artist, a song, a movie, an actor or an album. Next to the search results will be Play links which you can click to bring up a small player window and begin streaming the selected item. Streaming is free and unlimited. There is no possibility of downloading tracks.

To make this work, Google partnered with three of the leading Indian music companies, which are the ones that handle the streaming. This also means that if you don't find a specific song, that's because it's not in the databases of any of these companies (yet). Google Music Search India is ad-supported and works even if you're not accessing it from India.

Download SquadGoogle Music launches in India, streams Bollywood songs for free originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bollywoodgooglegoogle musicgoogle music indiaGoogleMusicGoogleMusicIndiamusicmusic streamingMusicStreamingstreamingFri, 22 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rdio launches embedded player, but you need a subscription to listen to the tunes]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/22/rdio-launches-embedded-player-but-you-need-a-subscription-to-li/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/22/rdio-launches-embedded-player-but-you-need-a-subscription-to-li/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/22/rdio-launches-embedded-player-but-you-need-a-subscription-to-li/#commentsFiled under: ,

Rdio embedded player
Rdio, the music streaming service from the guys behind Kazaa and Skype, has announced that embedding songs, playlists, and albums is now possible. Of course, to use this feature, you have to be an Rdio subscriber (which will set you back either $5 or $10 each month, depending on whether you want mobile access or not).

What's more interesting (and disappointing) is that you have to be an Rdio subscriber to listen to the embedded music as well.

You can hear 30-second clips if you aren't a subscriber, but then what's the point of embedding a song, playlist, or album on your blog if the majority of your visitors will only hear a 30-second excerpt? Beats me. Perhaps if Rdio had as many subscribers as Facebook has users, this feature would make a lot of sense for music sharing and discovery.

Anyway, if you want it, it's now available. To use it, click the Plus sign next to any song, album, or playlist in Rdio and select Share. If you so wish, you can even customize the size of the embedded player. And the embedded player lets you do more than just listen: you can also subscribe to playlists or add or remove songs and albums in your collection.

Download SquadRdio launches embedded player, but you need a subscription to listen to the tunes originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiomusicmusic streamingmusic-streamingMusicStreamingrdiostreamingFri, 22 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Zune annual subscriptions now available, cheaper than Spotify]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/21/zune-annual-subscriptions-now-available-cheaper-than-spotify/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/21/zune-annual-subscriptions-now-available-cheaper-than-spotify/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/21/zune-annual-subscriptions-now-available-cheaper-than-spotify/#commentsFiled under: ,

I installed Zune for the first time today (wow, it's pretty!) -- but that's not the news! Here's the news: you can now grab a 12-month subscription to Zune for the price of 10 months. It's $150 for the year (a saving of $30!) or £90 if you're from the motherland. Spotify is currently £9.99 per month, with no 12-month option.

This lower price point, when accompanied with the continued roll-out across Europe, means that Zune may soon rule supreme on both sides of the Atlantic. Don't forget that you can download 10 free songs per month with Zune, too! And there's certainly no denying that the Zune desktop app is both more attractive and feature-rich than Spotify's.

I don't know which service currently has more subscribers, nor do I know the specifics on which service has the most tracks available in a given territory -- they both tout 'over 10 million', but I'm sure it varies from country to country. It certainly would be nice if this is the beginning of a price war, though. $15 per month is certainly a good deal, but $10 would be an even better deal.

Download SquadZune annual subscriptions now available, cheaper than Spotify originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>musicmusic on demandMusicOnDemandspotifystreamingsubscriptionzuneThu, 21 Oct 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Winamp for Android beta is full-featured and offers wireless media sync]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/21/winamp-arrives-on-android-highly-functional-polished-and-featu/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/21/winamp-arrives-on-android-highly-functional-polished-and-featu/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/21/winamp-arrives-on-android-highly-functional-polished-and-featu/#commentsFiled under: ,

Earlier today Nullsoft pushed a beta version of Winamp onto the Android Market -- it's free, and should work on all Android 2.1+ phones. There is also a new desktop version of Winamp that you'll need ('full', not 'lite'!) to make full use of the Android app.

Winamp for Android's key feature -- and indeed, the only real feature that it brings to a very saturated media player market -- is that it wirelessly syncs with your desktop Winamp music library. You can also sync via USB (which is a lot faster). I ran into a few issues trying to sync with Wi-Fi, but it did eventually work.

Nullsoft's offering doesn't bring a whole lot more to the party. There is a desktop widget, so you can control your music without having to open Winamp -- and it can also hook into your phone's lock screen, which is neat. The playback controls are available at the bottom of every screen, too -- so whether you're curating a playlist or searching through albums, you can still stop and start the music. Oh, there's Last.fm scrobbling too!

All in all it's a very promising start for Winamp on Android. It's not mind-blowingly awesome, but if you use Winamp on the desktop, this app is surely a must-have.

Check out the gallery below for a better idea of the 'omnipresent' playback controls, and the wireless sync.

Gallery: Winamp for Android, with desktop sync

The 'tutorial'Winamp homeHome screen widgetLock screen widgetSearching


[Oh, and to answer Engadget's question: yes, it still whips the llama's ass.]

Download SquadWinamp for Android beta is full-featured and offers wireless media sync originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appaudiomobilemusicnullsoftsyncwi-fiwinampThu, 21 Oct 2010 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dragontape now lets you embed your video mixtapes on Facebook and your blog]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/20/dragontape-now-lets-you-embed-your-video-mixtapes-on-facebook-an/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/20/dragontape-now-lets-you-embed-your-video-mixtapes-on-facebook-an/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/20/dragontape-now-lets-you-embed-your-video-mixtapes-on-facebook-an/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Dragontape screenshotDragontape, the service that has nothing to do with dragons and everything to do with dragging YouTube videos onto a "tape," has launched a feature that probably should have been there from the beginning: embedding. You can now embed your YouTube-derived mixtapes on your blog or even Facebook, since oEmbed is used to ensure the widest possible compatibility. The embedded video player looks great and even has a toggle for Audio only playback in case you don't want to get distracted by the videos.

Another feature that may be new is support for multiple authors of a mixtape. This is called a "YouTube party," and it lets you invite anyone to add videos to the mix.

Other than that, Dragontape is still the same beautiful-looking, simple service that Erez wrote about not long ago.

To put the new embed feature to good use, our staff pick mixtape featuring street music is waiting for you after the jump.

[via TechCrunch]

Continue reading Dragontape now lets you embed your video mixtapes on Facebook and your blog

Download SquadDragontape now lets you embed your video mixtapes on Facebook and your blog originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiodragontapemix tapeMixTapevideoyoutubeWed, 20 Oct 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[FaceTime comes to the Mac, beta now available for download]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/20/facetime-comes-to-the-mac-beta-now-available-for-download/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/20/facetime-comes-to-the-mac-beta-now-available-for-download/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/20/facetime-comes-to-the-mac-beta-now-available-for-download/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

FaceTime on Mac and iPhoneDuring an event in Cupertino this morning, Apple has announced FaceTime for Mac. A beta version of the application is already available to download.

This partially addresses one of the biggest gripes FaceTime users have had with the service -- lack of support for video chatting with people on their computers. It only partially addresses it though, since it's only available for the Mac as of now (no Windows, no Linux). The other major FaceTime annoyance -- lack of 3G support on the iPhone -- is sadly still there.

To set up FaceTime on the Mac, all you need is an Apple ID and an email address. FaceTime works with the Mac Address Book so you won't have to re-enter all your contacts' details. By default, whenever someone calls you, all your Macs will start ringing, even if you don't have FaceTime actively running. If you don't want this to happen, you'll have to turn FaceTime off from Preferences.

The FaceTime beta is a free download for Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.4 or newer.

Download SquadFaceTime comes to the Mac, beta now available for download originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facetimeMacvideo callvideo callingvideo chatvideo conferencingVideoCallVideoCallingVideoChatVideoConferencingWed, 20 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rhapsody music streaming comes to BlackBerry]]>http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/18/rhapsody-music-streaming-comes-to-blackberry/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/18/rhapsody-music-streaming-comes-to-blackberry/http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2010/10/18/rhapsody-music-streaming-comes-to-blackberry/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Rhapsody app for BlackBerryMusic streaming service Rhapsody has just announced the release of its beta BlackBerry application. This app is very similar to Rhapsody's iPhone and Android offerings, in that it allows you to listen to any song in their 10.5 million-strong database on your smartphone. Aside from listening to albums and songs on-demand, you can also tune in to radio stations customized around artists or genres.

Currently, Rhapsody for BlackBerry only works while you're connected to a Wi-Fi or 3G network in the United States. Offline use is reportedly coming soon. Use of the application requires a subscription to Rhapsody's service, which will set you back $10 each month. It looks like you can only use one mobile client with each subscription.

The Rhapsody app for BlackBerry can be downloaded by going to Rhapsody.com on your BlackBerry smartphone. It will be available in the BlackBerry App World shortly. The demo video is after the break.

[via Mashable]

Continue reading Rhapsody music streaming comes to BlackBerry

Download SquadRhapsody music streaming comes to BlackBerry originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 15:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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