Spotify adds buying links

via spotify.com

Spotify have now made it FAR more obvious that you can now buy tracks in their software.

Personally, I'm not a fan (they can't be hidden, even if you're a paid subscriber). However, I can definitely see WHY they did it.. There was some concern that Spotify wouldn't be able to continue indefinitely - too many people taking the free option, not enough revenue from adverts and paid subscribers.. however with the requirement to have premium for the mobile version, and these new buying links, perhaps spotify has a chance to stay afloat?

I certainly hope so, as it has brought a welcome revolution to the music industry that was stuck in iTunes grasp.. iTunes is still a great piece of software, but at least now we have more choice..

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Microsoft Debuts Mobile Backup Service ‘My Phone’, Adds Premium Features

via feedproxy.google.com

Pretty sweet for WinMo users! However is this type of backup service really all that new / exciting?
iPhone and BlackBerry users have for some time been able to backup their phones to a computer, and almost all smartphones can now sync Calendar, Contacts and email to Google systems wirelessly..

So, will this make that big an impact, enough to make people switch?

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Mmm, heated boots...

[Via besportier]

Quite possibly one of the most amazing inventions ever.. Hi tech, AND it keeps your feet toasty!!

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The home media plan

I would like to envisage a home media system, and by system I mean a complete - all devices working in harmony.. I haven't got this system setup, but this is the way I see it going with a total of 7 devices (6 if you throw away the second laptop):

Network and broadband

1.    ADSL+ modem (free from broadband supplier)

2.    Airport Express
Supplies n-class wireless to all, easy setup

Storage

3.    Drobo (FAT32) (Connected to Airport Express)
Multiple hard-drive enclosure with easy, hot-swap hard drives, and idiot proof Raid to combat hard-drive failure. Stores Music, Movies, Recorded TV and all other large files (e.g. original Photoshop artwork)

4.    External HD (HFS+) (Connected to Airport Express)
Provides Time Machine support (backup) for OS X computers

Computers

5.    Media PC (Windows Media Centre 7) Always-on, connected to TV
Records shows to Drobo over Wireless, plays back movies / music / photos, can be configured over the web, includes bittorrent (stores to Drobo). Minimal size, aiming for virtually silent when on

6.    Apple laptop (OS X)
For general work, including heavy use in artworking. Backs up automatically to External HD using Time Machine, and can access files on Drobo over local network, or remotely via Media PC.

7.    Linux Laptop (Ubuntu)
Second laptop for general use in case anyone needs it and general play toy

All Photos and Office documents stored in Dropbox on all 3 computers (gives local and web based access, syncs automatically to all machines).

Linux and Apple machines using Airfoil app to send audio (movies, music etc) to Media PC for best speakers.

Does it look complicated? Oh yes. However I think the setup of the entire thing (with the possible exception of setting up web remote access on the Media PC) would be relatively easy even for the non-extremely geeky..

What do you think? How would you change the system, or what does yours look like?

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Spotify goes offline - who needs MP3s?

Spotify are now matching their desktop app and enabling the desktop application to go offline (premium subscribers only).
I'm a massive fan of Spotify and a premium subscriber, and haven't downloaded / purchased any music ever since starting with it.. And why would you? Infinite (ish) music available in a constantly changing collection. I get bored with music very quickly and want some variation, and with Spotify, I can have it!

So why would you want MP3s? Why iTunes?
- Embedded lyrics, genius mode on desktop
- background playing and inline controls on the iphone

But are those enough to have to worry about storage space, proper tagging and management, files only being in one location (or some very clever networking all over the place..) - not for me!

Spotify goes offline

via Spotify by Andres Sehr on 10/1/09

No, we’re not turning off the music - we’re extending the popular ‘offline mode’ that is available on Spotify Mobile and bringing it to your computer!

Starting today, Spotify Premium subscribers will be able to select their playlists and set them to be ‘Available offline’. Those playlists will then be synced to your computer so you can continue to listen to your favorite tunes if you have a slow connection or even if you have no connection at all. Each computer will be able to store up to 3,333 tracks at a time.

To use ‘offline mode’ you’ll need to be running the latest version of Spotify and you may have to log out and back in for the feature to kick in.

So don’t let the lack an internet connection stop you from listening to Spotify - upgrade to Spotify Premium today and sync your music.

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EyeTV app for iPhone released

For Mac users, Elgato seems to be the go-to device for enabling TV, and many a home setup has included a mac-mini with an Elgato tv dongle.. With tv on the go though, this could be a killer device!

EyeTV app for iPhone released

via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) by Chris Rawson on 9/30/09

Filed under: Accessories, Multimedia, iPhone, iPod touch, App Review

Elgato, maker of EyeTV, has released EyeTV for iPhone [iTunes Link], an app that allows access to both live and recorded video content from any Mac running EyeTV 3.2 or later. The $4.99 app lets you view live and recorded TV on your iPhone or iPod touch over your local network, and it also allows you to access the same content from a remote WiFi location using a service called MyEyeTV. Unsurprisingly, just like SlingPlayer, access over 3G isn't possible.

Accessing either live or recorded TV over your local network is simple, and usually works well. Recorded content plays back almost immediately with barely a stutter to be seen -- the caveat to this is that all recorded content has to be rendered into a format the iPhone will understand, which can take a while if you have a slower Mac. Live TV takes longer to load on your iPhone and is far more finicky. I found the only way to get reliable, stutter-free playback on my iPhone was to close the EyeTV playback window on my Mac. Apparently the strain of displaying content on my Mac and simultaneously streaming it to my iPhone was just too much for a 2.6 GHz processor to handle.

You can set video quality on Live TV from 80 kbps to 800 kbps, and there's also a setting that allows you to always use highest quality when you're on a local network. Again, streaming over my local network almost always worked well, so long as I wasn't trying to play back content on my Mac at the same time.

Continue reading EyeTV app for iPhone released

TUAWEyeTV app for iPhone released originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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O2 (finally) looses exclusivity on iphone

I have an iPhone, I'm on O2, and quite frankly it works perfectly fine. However, I'm also all for competition, it's not good for consumers for a single provider to hold dominance over us, in complete control of pricing and supply.

I suspect O2 will do an excellent job of still supplying the same service for the iphone they already have been, and they're more experienced at it, only now they may be forced to have more compteitive pricing and service levels.. Let's hear it for competition!

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