Shazam's background listening feature comes to Android

Shazam can build you a Spotify playlist, help you discover new tunes and identify magazines, but song recognition is still at the heart of the app. Even with this core feature getting faster and quicker to start up, sometimes it can still be a race to ask for Shazam's ear before the DJ drops the next track. In the latest update to its Android app, though, Shazam has added the 'Auto' background listening feature so you never have to let a hot beat pass you by.

You still need to open Shazam to enable Auto mode -- a feature that came to the iPhone version two and half years ago -- but that's a good thing. It's described as "battery friendly," but the app will stay active in the background, draining that bit more of your precious juice. You can at least leave it running while your favorite radio show is on, though, and if you just happen to get a perfect score on the music round at your next quiz night, fear not: Your secret's safe with us.