mSpot stores your music* in the cloud, makes it available anywhere**

Whoa there, vaquero -- don't get too excited just yet. As with just about every other gratis backup service on the web, there's a catch you should know about with mSpot's latest endeavor. The free limit is right around 2GB (exact size is TBD), so if you've got more than a second generation iPod's worth of audio, this here service will only serve as a tease. For those who fall under that threshold, there's plenty to love, and if you're down for ponying up, you'll be able to secure 10GB for $2.99 per month or 20GB for $4.99 per month. Launched today at Google I/O, this "freemium" music cloud service essentially syncs your entire music library (either in iTunes or a user-designated arrangement of folders) with mSpot's servers -- provided your library is less than 20GB, of course -- and then makes it available anywhere. Phones and other computers should have no issue tapping in (though only Android will be supported out of the gate), and the app itself runs quietly in the background in order to check for new additions / subtractions and mirror said changes in your online library. For now, the service is available by invitation only through mspot.com, with public availability slated for next month. Size limits aside, the service worked well for us in our limited testing, though that first 20GB upload is a real pain over Time Warner Cable's obviously capped Road Runner internet. Oh, and if you're bummed about not being guaranteed an invite today, you shouldn't be. Hit that source link and enter "engadget" as the password -- the first 500 get immediate access, but once they're gone, they're gone.

*20GB tops, buster!
**Only on Android, Macs and PCs at first, chief!

Show full PR text

mSpot – New Music Cloud Service Connects You with Your Music, Anytime, via SmartPhone and Web

Invitation-Only, Private Beta Offered at Google IO Conference

Google IO Conference, San Francisco and Palo Alto (May 19, 2010)-Popular mobile entertainment provider mSpot, Inc., today debuts mSpot®, a free music cloud service that offers instant access to your entire music collection synced across smartphones* and PCs/Macs. The service enables you to quickly upload your music into the mSpot Cloud, where you can start listening to it from popular desktop browsers and cell phones immediately.

The service includes a smart application that operates in the background of your computer managing the upload and day-to-day syncing of your music library. In addition, it can upload playlists, coverart, ratings and song information you may have entered using iTunes or Windows Media Player. The application manages your music for you, making automatic updates whenever changes occur in your library, and across different connected devices.

Access to the private beta is available by invitation only at www.mspot.com. Public availability of the service will begin in June, 2010.

"We recognize that portability is key to a compelling music experience for consumers, and the biggest challenge for music cloud services to tackle today. mSpot has spent the past five years perfecting its proprietary over-the-air delivery technology so music plays from the cloud so fast it feels local - even when cell coverage is spotty or non-existent," said mSpot CEO Daren Tsui.

mSpot provides a rich, "connected" experience that enables you to see related content matched to the song that's being played, including song lyrics, artist bios and discography - all because you are connected to the mSpot Cloud. mSpot enables you to take your music wherever you go, automatically syncing with different devices in such a seamless way that it feels like your music is following you: simple, fast and easy.

*The service will initially be offered on the latest Android phones.

The launch of the mSpot® music service comes on the heels of its Mobile Movies service, which is available via the mobile web on all four major U.S. carriers and across 50 different handset devices, including the iPhone, Blackberry, Palm, Windows Mobile and many high-end feature phones. mSpot Movies is available on the Web and mobile at mspotmovies.com.

[mshnryman Posted May 19th 2010 9:59AM]

@mshnryman oh, did I mention Orb is FREE!?
The free computer application lets you access it from any other connected device, and if you want an awesome app interface on the iPhone, you can pony up the $10 one-time fee (read:not monthly like that other crap).

Then there's the ability to stream your TV like slingbox...

[Alex Posted May 19th 2010 9:57AM]

Just get a home server XD

[mukatuna Posted May 19th 2010 9:59AM]

"so if you've got more than a second generation iPod's worth of audio"

Would anyone care to explain the advantages of using this cloud based streaming service, over using a second generation iPod, or any MP3 player or smart-phone/music-phone with the appropriate amount of storage for that matter?

From what I can see there are absolutely no advantages at all. If anything there are major disadvantages to this service, especially NO internet connectivity which of course would mean, NO MUSIC.

[elliotbyrne Posted May 19th 2010 9:59AM]

When I put engadget as the password it comes up saying "Your email or password does not match our records" any tips
P.S. Might it be because I am in the UK

[guy3001 Posted May 19th 2010 10:06AM]

@elliotbyrne
click the download button, it asks you for password there

[mukatuna Posted May 19th 2010 10:08AM]

@elliotbyrne

I guess the two asterisks '**' in the story's title means **USA only. This is why cloud based services are a complete fail for many of us.

[mukatuna Posted May 19th 2010 10:15AM]

@guy3001 I done that. Didn't work, and I'm in China.

[moleculeeye Posted May 19th 2010 10:01AM]

Here's a better idea. Buy a 500GB external SATA for the same price you'd pay for a year's worth of 20GB cloud storage. Oh, and you'll be able to back up your entire collection and at speeds millions of times faster than via the cloud.

[Tes Posted May 19th 2010 10:50AM]

@moleculeeye

This isn't about backups...it's for accessing your music from wherever you are

[moleculeeye Posted May 19th 2010 12:11PM]

@Tes Ok, so carry your portable laptop hdd around with you when you need it (and reduce my 500GB claim to 250GB). And you don't even need a broadband connection!

[mukatuna Posted May 20th 2010 3:16AM]

@Tes I can already access all my music from wherever I am. It's called an MP3 player. It has many advantages over cloud based music storage.

[dinkydarko Posted May 19th 2010 10:01AM]

there goes Microsofts Pot domain name..

[berfarah Posted May 19th 2010 10:12AM]

Not as good as Zumodrive :)

[friendly0ne Posted May 19th 2010 10:16AM]

Thanks Engadget!

[Tozmo Posted May 19th 2010 10:23AM]

I'm using this only as a novelty. I don't know what purpose it can serve in the long-run, unless I get a PDA (I need a PDA but can't afford the monthly cost of a smart phone. If only I could buy a smartphone and only use its wifi)

[ounkeo Posted May 19th 2010 10:29AM]

I can't see this catching on with any target audience. You're going to have your music with you ANYWAY via SD card or in device memory.

I could be proven wrong but it doesn't fill any need or niche.

[ChairmanMeow Posted May 19th 2010 10:34AM]

is registration closed?

[Plazmic Flame Posted May 19th 2010 10:44AM]

Either Google or Apple will buy this company.... maybe more Apple since the service actually costs money.

[thespacecowboy Posted May 19th 2010 10:58AM]

I can see itunes offering this service in the future, for a fee of course. Perhaps linked into their "web" version of itunes.

[rojorojo Posted May 19th 2010 11:39AM]

It looks like BING

[Dale P Posted May 19th 2010 11:52AM]

Call me* when you can store my 80GB of music**.

* Or email.
** And growing. I bought (with money!) 10 new albums this week.

[barry99705 Posted May 19th 2010 11:53AM]

I've been backing up all my media on p2p sites for years!!!

[BrownSound Posted May 19th 2010 12:26PM]

4G + Your Music collection on Cloud + Evo (if it works) will blow my mind

[pyehac Posted May 19th 2010 12:27PM]

Finally, something that's released for Android users first. (that I know of)

[sfreemanoh Posted May 19th 2010 12:35PM]

Looks like the registration closed, there's no Download link that I can see. :(

[okayTodd Posted May 19th 2010 2:13PM]

Save your money and get the PoGoPlug. I use it as it gives me unlimited space for music and video on my phone. Best bonus there is no monthly fee! Plus is already on iPhone and Android and the app is free free free.

[mspot2 Posted May 19th 2010 2:27PM]

Hey Engadget guys and gals, wanted to let everyone know that due to the overwhelming demand we are seeing for the service, the site is currently down while we re-configure things to support all of you. Everything should be back up and working shortly. Thanks for the opportunity to work with you guys and I'm certain you will find that our service is excellent and superior to other offerings out there - especially when once we get past this minor hiccup :) Thanks!

[shinratdr Posted May 19th 2010 2:59PM]

LOL, 20gb.

So what, I can have SABnzbd+ store like... a day's worth of programming there?

[shinratdr Posted May 19th 2010 3:00PM]

@shinratdr

Shit, thought it was for video. My bad.

Although 20GB is a pretty painful limit for music, too.

[dtreo Posted May 19th 2010 3:13PM]

I spent 20 minutes trying to find my wife's mSpot last night until she finally said "forget it."

[TriangleRocks Posted May 19th 2010 3:15PM]

http://www.mysqueezebox.com/download

I was doing this in 2004 with my Treo 650 and SlimServer (now Squeezebox Server). All you need is a router and a dynamic DNS address, and you can stream all your music from your house. Yes, it means you have to leave your PC on....

[JerkyChew Posted May 19th 2010 3:32PM]

I don't know why all the hate for Orb, I use it all the time on my iPod and iPad with no issue.

[DreaB Posted May 19th 2010 3:49PM]

Just got an e-mail that this service is down temporarily. I guess yes, they got a LOT of subscribers on Day 1!!!

[dan325013 Posted May 19th 2010 4:40PM]

Lala......? Lala.com...?

[aled Posted May 19th 2010 9:18PM]

One detail:
"We re-encode the files at 48 kbps using the AAC+ codec"

[Sicarius123 Posted May 19th 2010 11:13PM]

So I can pay to upload less than will fit on my mobile device, and then pay to download it again through my data plan?

Gee I wonder why nobody has thought of this before....

[Embridioum Posted May 20th 2010 3:31AM]

I use MeCanto.
No charge, no upload limit.
I haven't tried out their mobile app yet, but the online player works fine.

http://mecanto.com/

[thisisnotavirusexe Posted May 23rd 2010 6:13PM]

You can get an extra 2Gb of storage for free to have a total of 4Gb by completing a survey for them if your a current Beta user..cool

[garymc Posted Jul 12th 2010 3:09AM]

$4.99 a month? Ta, but no all the same...I think I'll buy some low cost memory instead.