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Google is shutting down Songza's music service on January 31st
It's been more than a year since Google bought Songza and started integrating its mood-savvy streaming into Play Music. And now, it seems, it's time for the service to ride into the sunset -- Songza has announced that it's shutting down all of its offerings on January 31st, 2016. From then on, you'll have to use Google Play Music to get those familiar features. You'll get to import your playlists and listening history before the fateful day, but there's otherwise no going back.
Gogo's next generation in-flight WiFi launches next year
Gogo's new 2Ku in-flight WiFi might not be as fast as your home internet connection, but it gets the job done -- and a lot faster than current in-flight connectivity. But how much will it cost? When will consumers get to use it? And of course, just how secure is the satellite internet service? For the answers to those questions and more, I sat down at a brief roundtable interview with CEO Michael Small and Vice President of Product Management Blane Boynton at the company's Chicago headquarters.
We pushed the in-flight WiFi of the future to its limit
It shouldn't have worked, but I streamed an episode of Last Week Tonight, a Twitch broadcast of Fallout 4, the premiere episode of Aziz Ansari's Master of None and Meow the Jewels all at once, all on airplane WiFi. In-flight WiFi giant Gogo demoed its next-gen version of mile-high connectivity, 2Ku, above the overcast November skies of Gary, Indiana, bragging 98 percent coverage around the world (the poles don't play nicely with airborne internet) at peak speeds of 70 Mbps. The reality is transfers much slower than that on a plane with roughly 25 journalists, business folks and Gogo staff all doing the same as me: trying to break the internet for about an hour.
Google Play Music finally gets into the podcasting game
For the plethora of musical choices offered on Google Play Music, one genre has been noticeably absent: podcasts. Not anymore! Google announced today on its Official Android Blog that the streaming service will soon offer a variety of popular podcasts including Nerdist, Earwolf, How Stuff Works and StarTalk Radio, to name just a few. A proper consumer-side service appears to still be a few months away so, for now, Google's created a portal for US-based podcasters to begin uploading their personal content.
Gapless playback finally arrives for Play Music on Chromecast
Beaming tunes from Google Play Music to a Chromecast connected to an audio system works a charm, but that doesn't mean it can't be improved. For that reason, Mountain View's fixed a handful of bugs with the latest update to its in-house music app. The biggest of the bunch? Gapless playback. It's something that existed within the application before, but didn't carry over to Cast sessions. Finally, you can listen to Nine Inch Nails' The Fragile without any annoying pauses between "The Wretched" and "We're in This Together" -- the way Trent Reznor intended. What's more, the patch notes say that even if you leave the house or if your phone turns off, music will keep playing on Android. Here's to hoping that music keeps playing if you take a phone call during a cast session now and that iOS snags this functionality sooner rather than later.
Sonos upgrade gives you Google radio and better-sounding speakers
If you regularly rely on Sonos gear to kick out the jams, today's a big day. Sonos is rolling out its promised controller update, and it's offering more improvements than you might have expected a couple of months ago. For a start, the company's devices are now much better Google Play Music companions -- you can play radio stations (curated or otherwise), fire up automatic playlists and modify your library. You'll also get noticeably improved vocal response and Sub compatibility on the Play:1 speaker, and it should be easier to both see upcoming tracks as well as navigate TuneIn radio streams. Apple Music isn't here yet (that's coming later in the year), but there's still more than enough to merit a speedy upgrade.
Google Play Music takes on Spotify with free streaming
Google must not be content to sit on the sidelines as Spotify tries to conquer the streaming media world -- the internet behemoth has unveiled a free, ad-supported version of Google Play Music's streaming service for the US. It'll be familiar if you've tried these no-charge listening options before. Besides having to deal with occasional commercial interruptions, you'll lose the direct control that you have with a paid subscription (which, by the way, is dropping the All Access label). You can start a radio-like station based on an artist, album or song, but you won't have on-demand playback, offline support, playlist creation or background listening for YouTube music videos. It's more for ambient tunes than anything else.
CloudPlayer streams your music from Dropbox and Google Drive
DoubleTwist has released a media player separate from its main product, and this one can stream music straight from various cloud services. Aptly named CloudPlayer, the app links to your Dropbox, OneDrive and Google Drive accounts all at once to access any music files you've uploaded. The company says it "created CloudPlayer to provide an alternative to crippled, proprietary cloud music lockers that impose painful restrictions on what you can do with the music you own." Unlike other services (company co-founder Jon Lech Johansen specifically targets Google Play Music in his blog post), DoubleTwist claims CloudPlayer doesn't have a download or a device restriction, and it supports lossless audio.
Browse your recent Google Play tunes on your Android Wear watch
Google Play Music just got a lot more convenient... if you're using a cutting-edge Android wearable, that is. Smartwatches running the new Android Wear 5.1.1 update (such as the LG Watch Urbane) now let you browse your recent Play Music items. If you're bent on finishing an album or can't stop revisiting a favorite playlist, you no longer have to pull your phone out of your pocket. You can also check out All Access radio stations if you're in the mood for some variety. This upgrade won't be much help if you want to sift through your whole collection, but it could save you a lot of time when you're listening on the move.
Grooveshark's illegal music streaming service is extinct
Death's icy grip hit more than just Secret this week; Grooveshark is shutting down too. Last year, judges found the music streaming service guilty of mass copyright infringement for hosting illegal uploads of songs from Jay-Z, Madonna and others. As Recode notes, however, something a little more recent was the reason behind the actual closure. Escape Media (Grooveshark's owner) had a few options in court with Universal Music Group, Sony Music and Warner Music Group last week: either pay a possible maximum of $736 million in fines or accept a settlement with record labels to hand over its website, apps and patents.
Google Play Music finally equips iPads with its tunes
Even if you prefer iOS, Google Play Music is still a solid option for getting your personal library and access to streaming all in one place. That is, until Apple reveals its plans for Beats Music. While we wait for that announcement, though, Mountain View's tune-minded app does double duty nicely, and now it properly outfits the iPad. The new version comes with a fresh coat of Material Design, of course, but you'll still have to contend with Google's rather frustrating method for uploading files. If you haven't already been prompted to update, the latest is now available over at iTunes.
Music is coming to Microsoft OneDrive this year
It's official: OneDrive is getting a whole lot more musical. And like we reported last year, it's going to operate a whole lot like Google Play Music. When's the magic start? Sometime later this year, according to Microsoft's Joe Belfiore.
T-Mobile's data-free streaming adds Google Play Music and more
Google Play Music was absent from T-Mobile's Music Freedom options... until now. After a public vote to see who should be next, Mountain View's streaming library will no longer gobble your data on the UnCarrier's network. Google's music service is among 14 others, including Xbox Music and SoundCloud, that won't count against that monthly allowance when you're in need of some tunes on-the-go. Of course, Spotify, Rdio, Pandora and ten others were already given the free pass, so with the recent additions, that total now tallies 27 in all. The full list of today's additions awaits on the other side of the break.
Google's redesigned Play Music app offers stations that suit your mood
You know how there were hints that Google Play Music was about to get a Material Design makeover? As it turns out, that's just a small piece of what's in store. Google has updated its Play Music Android, iOS and web apps with a new Listen Now page that focuses on context-aware music stations from the company's recent acquisition, Songza. Provided you're an All Access subscriber, you'll get to stream curated playlists that fit the time of day and your likely activities -- you may get relaxing playlists to take the edge off your commute home, or uptempo tracks for morning exercise. The page also improves discovery with cards that suggest both new releases and stations based on what you like. Google's redesign should be available today in all 45 Play Music countries, so have at it if you're an avid listener.
Google Play Music on Android lets you find your friends' playlists
You may remember that Google Play Music All Access on Android briefly got public playlist searching back in August, only to lose the option a short while later. Well, it's back -- and this time, it appears to be here to stay. Much like Spotify, the update Play Music app now lets you find others' carefully curated mixes and stream them on the spot. If you need a ready-made party playlist or just want to find out what your friends are listening to, you only have to visit the playlists section and start typing. The feature may take a while to hit your phone, but Android Police has a download if you can't wait to check out others' tastes in tunes.
Deezer joins the small list of music streaming apps that support Chromecast
Google's Chromecast dongle is, first and foremost, a cheap piece of hardware for flinging video from various devices to the biggest screen in your home. It makes sense, then, that you should also be able to stream music to your TV just as easily -- not everyone has a dedicated audio setup or convenient ways to connect to one wirelessly, after all. There's plenty of music on YouTube, of course, but Rdio, Pandora and Google's own Play Music are the only high-profile music services to include Chromecast support so far. Streaming outfit Deezer (which still doesn't operate in the US) is set to join those ranks tomorrow when it updates its Android and iOS apps. Multiple users will even be able to connect to the same dongle and fight over who has the worst taste. There is one catch to streaming through Chromecast, however: you'll need a paid Premium+ account to do so, although you need one of those to use Deezer's mobile apps, anyway. No free option is a bit of a downer, but at least Deezer's made something of an effort, which is more than can be said for that other popular music streaming service.
AllCast now streams your media to any Android device
Koushik Dutta's AllCast app can stream media to seemingly any set-top box you might own, but it hasn't let you stream to (most) Android devices. Today, though, that barrier has come down: Dutta has released AllCast Receiver, an app that turns any supporting Android gadget into a streaming target. You can now send video to a tablet for more comfortable viewing, for example, or mirror your screen to walk someone through an unfamiliar app. To top it off, AllCast itself has received an update that will stream Google Play Music to other hardware, provided you get root OS access on the host device first. Whether or not you're willing to take that risk, you'll definitely want to grab the newer apps if AllCast is your go-to content sharing tool.
Google Play Music for iPad found lurking inside iPhone app
If you're a Google Play Music fan and have been limping along with the iPhone version on your iPad, you may already have the big-screen version without knowing it. That's because the iPad bits are already baked in to the iPhone app, according to 9to5 Mac. In fact, you can even activate it now just by changing a setting called "UIDeviceFamily" from 1 to 2, though your iPad will need to be jailbroken (which is currently impossible on iOS 7.1.x). Google Play Music has been a success since it launched on the iPhone in November -- likely helped by a month of free music -- so a pending app redesigned for the iPad's larger screen wouldn't be a surprise. In fact, when contacted by 9to5, a Google rep thought the app was already out, meaning it might just be awaiting the nod from Apple.
Google Play Music comes to Canada at last (update: iOS app)
Canadians are used to getting short shrift on internet media services compared to their American neighbors -- just ask them how little Netflix content they get. They're receiving better treatment today, though, as Google Play Music has finally arrived in the true North strong and free. You can now can set up web-based access, store music in an online locker, shop for tunes and sign up for an All Access subscription at $10 CAD per month ($8 if you register by June 30th). It's not a perfect launch; you need to clear the Android app's cache to see the new services, and you won't find the iOS app just yet. It's early goings, then, but it's clear that Canucks now have a major alternative to the handful of big-name music services that operate in their country, including iTunes and Rdio. Update: Sure enough, Google Play Music for iOS has reached the Canadian App Store. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
DoubleTwist's latest Android tweak brings Google Play Music to Apple TV (update)
Google's mobile-streaming tech has a lot going for it, but listening to music stored in Mountain View's cloud is still limited to a handful of home devices. AirPlay-compatible gadgets, however, are a probably a bit more common than the Nexus Q, Chromecast and Sonos systems are, and developer doubleTwist's latest project acts as a bridge between the two ecosystems. The outfit recently released "AirPlay for Android," which is exactly what it sounds like: the tweak open's the search giant's media-streaming to AirPlay devices. The rub is that your device running Google's mobile OS has to be rooted for the hack to work. First, grab and install the aforementioned APK from the dev's blog, launch Google Play Music (GPM) and hit the Cast button. From there, you need to grant root access to the app, force-stop it and then relaunch. Voila! AirPlay devices on your wireless network should populate the list of compatible targets.
