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Audi's latest models add Amazon Music to the dashboard
If you're an Apple CarPlay or Android Auto user, you've no shortage of music streaming services baked into your dashboard. But, if you're relying on your vehicle's default control panel the choices start to dwindle. While, automakers like Ford have started offering Apple and Google's infotainment systems (which play nicer with smartphones) as an alternative to their own interfaces, Audi is going it alone with a little help from Amazon. The German automotive giant now lets you access Amazon Prime Music and Amazon Music Unlimited on the dashboard inside 2017 and 2018 models.
Amazon finally adds Alexa support to its Music app
If Alexa can make it a cinch to find songs on Amazon's screen-less Echo speakers, then it can also work its magic on the retail giant's Music app. The tech titan has finally integrated its famous voice assistant into the Amazon Music app for iOS and Android, perhaps as a way to entice more people to sign up. When you want to summon the assistant through the apps, just tap the new push-to-talk button marked "Alexa" on the applications' updated interface and voice out your command.
Amazon Music Unlimited is now cheaper for students
Sigh, it's that time of the year again. Despacito may still be atop the charts, but summer is dwindling, meaning it's time to head back to school. But, don't cut short your soundtrack just yet, because this is the ideal time to get ad-free music on a streaming service. All the students out there already get a nice discount on Apple Music and Spotify, and now you can add Amazon Music Unlimited to that list too. The online retail giant is offering up its relatively new music streaming service to all the young folk for just $4.99/£4.99 per month. That brings it in line with its bigger rivals, price-wise at least. It also means you fork out less than Amazon Prime subscribers ($7.99/£7.99 per month) and non-Prime customers ($9.99/£9.99). And, if you're eligible to be a Prime Student member, it will go down to just $6/£6 for six months -- that's just one dollar or pound a month for the period.
Jay-Z's '4:44' album is no longer a Tidal exclusive
Just a week after Jay-Z released 4:44 as an exclusive tied to Sprint and his music service Tidal, it's now available more widely. iTunes / Apple Music, Google Play Music and Amazon Music are all offering the album for listening now, with some including The Story of O.J. animated video. It has not appeared for listening on Spotify yet, but since most of his catalog is still missing from the service it's not entirely surprising. The album has already been certified platinum by the RIAA, but for many, this their first opportunity to have a legit listen.
Amazon Music's iOS app infiltrates CarPlay
Amazon Music subscribers who own a CarPlay-enabled dashboard unit are in luck. Amazon's streaming service is now available via the iOS Amazon Music app for Apple's in-car infotainment system.
Prince's music returns to Spotify and other services this weekend (updated)
Prince removed his music from every streaming service except Tidal in July 2015, but the artist's catalog returns this Sunday. Spotify and HeartRadio have confirmed the return of works like 1999, Purple Rain and Diamonds and Pearls. You can see all the albums that Spotify will offer right here. Engadget has learned that Amazon Music will also offer the tunes and BBC reports Prince's music will be available on Apple Music and Napster as well. However, there's still no word from Google or SoundCloud as to whether their services will offer the artitst's discography.
Amazon plans a big digital-only sale for December 30th
You can call Amazon's Prime Day an excuse to clear out slow-moving products, but there's no question that it was a success -- and now, the internet retailer is hoping to replicate that success for online-only sales. It's launching a Digital Day sale on December 30th at 3AM Eastern that will offer discounts of up to 50 percent on apps, e-books, games, movies and music. The extent of the bargains isn't clear, but it's already teasing a few of the items on sale. You'll get breaks on games like Destiny: Rise of Iron, Rocket League and Titanfall 2, multiple Amazon music and video titles, comic books at Comixology, numerous productivity apps and some mobile titles.
Amazon's standalone music streaming service is finally here
Based on a string of rumors that began circulating in January of this year, it was only a matter of time before Amazon rolled out its full-fledged music streaming service. Today is that day. Enter Amazon Music Unlimited, a standalone offering set to rival the likes of Apple Music and Spotify. It is, of course, a complement to Prime Music, the free streaming service for people who are part of Amazon's $99-per-year membership. Naturally, Prime subscribers get the benefit of paying less for Music Unlimited: eight dollars a month compared to $10 for everyone else.
Amazon's rumored Echo streaming music service may be coming soon
Amazon has offered a very basic streaming music service for a few years now, but it looks like the company is nearly ready to significantly revamp its offerings. An Echo-only streaming music option may be coming in the next few weeks, claims a report from The Verge -- and a full-fledged Spotify competitor that isn't tied to the Echo might be available in early 2017. The Echo-only service would cost $5 a month, while the more expensive $10 per month option would work across any device.
Sonos gains Amazon Prime Music streaming in Europe
After a six-month beta period in the US, Sonos has integrated Amazon's Prime Music service into its Sonos Controller app in Europe. That means if you're a Prime subscriber in the UK or Germany, you can now access and stream Amazon's library through the Sonos speakers in your home. It joins Spotify, Apple Music and a mixture of other streaming services that have already partnered with the high-end speaker brand. Amazon will be hoping its own integration can be the tipping point that gets Prime subscribers to ditch its rivals and rely solely on its own music streaming chops.
T-Mobile adds more services to Binge On and Music Freedom
T-Mobile's Binge On and Music Freedom plans for streaming video and music without gobbling up your data add new services to the data-free initiative on the regular. Today, the Un-carrier is adding even more. Amazon Music and ESPN Radio are the two notable additions to Music Freedom while Binge On video now includes Nickelodeon, Spike, TV Land and Epix. Legere & Co. have been preaching this version of streaming for a while, and today the company says the options for streaming that won't cut into your monthly allotment now tally over 100. And that includes porn.
Amazon Acoustics channels 'MTV Unplugged' for Prime Music
Exclusive content is all the rage these days when it comes to music streaming services, and Amazon has some new goods of its own. The retailer announced Amazon Acoustics today, a collection of unplugged performances from a variety of artists. As you might expect, the songs are only available for purchase from Amazon or streaming from Prime Music. And yes, Prime members get them at no additional charge. In terms of the artist lineup, there are originals and covers from JJ Grey, Train, Five For Fighting, Michelle Branch, Marc Roberge of O.A.R., Surfer Blood, Deer Tick and more for 32 total tracks.
