MusicSharing
Latest
Grooveshark back in Google Play after piracy hullabaloo
Grooveshark is no stranger to controversy, but after it was sued by major music labels, Google decided it'd had enough and pulled the app last year. But the streaming service said it's never allowed free downloading, claiming other apps using its name without permission were permitting the piracy instead. The faux-Grooveshark offenders were booted with Google's help, and the app has subsequently been re-stocked on Play's virtual shelves. Meanwhile, the company has paid its debt to EMI, and could even be the target of an acquisition, according to CNET. So, if you want to share the news with your pals (along with some tunes), hit the source below.
Seedio app networks iDevices into loudspeaker, blasts music far and wide
Yearning to break free from earbud-induced isolation and spring towards a music listening experience with a social slant? Seedio for iOS can help. Built by a team of six developers, the app networks local iDevices over WiFi and allows one user to stream music to others. Audio from iTunes or YouTube is queued up by the designated disc jockey, or "seeder," and plays through each device's speakers in unison to create a distributed, makeshift loudspeaker. If the situation calls for a quieter jam session, however, you can forgo the speakers and listen in with headphones instead. Up to 150 devices can connect through a single router, but four is the current limit when relying on an ad hoc network created by an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. Seedio isn't the first of its kind to roam the wilds of the App Store, but its creators claim to have nailed syncing audio across gadgets. The app is free for a limited time, but will soon pick up a $2.99 price tag. For those content with merely tuning in and leaving the playlist duty to others, the app will remain free.
Google Play adds shared song playlist to Music, helps you relive your friends' terrible taste in tunes
Remember that funky beat your buddy at work shared with you over Google+? Don't bother digging through their post history, Mountain View's music service has you covered with its new "Shared with me" auto-playlist. This self-maintaining list keeps track of all the songs friends and colleagues send your way, making it easy to hunt down a catchy tune your brother sent you, or to endlessly ridicule a coworker's awful sense of sound. The playlist not only shows the track, artist, duration and price, but also a preview of the Google+ post (and a thumbnail of its author) that you scored the shared song from in the first place. Looking for lost music? Just take a look at your auto-playlists.
Thanko's i2! Stream forces your friends to hear your jams
So we've basically seen the wired version of this in Belkin's RockStar, but at least that made a modicum of sense. This, however, does not. Thanko's i2! Streams works as such: you plug one of the wireless transmitters in between your DAP / PMP and headphones, and up to five of your pals simply hold onto a receiver unit with earbuds of their own. As you can guess, those five pals now have your music piped to them through the air. The only problem? Why hold on to one of these things when you could pick up a chintzy DAP of your own down the street for a couple yuan / yen / whatever? Thanko's wonders never cease...[Via CrunchGear]
Jook brings social networking to the iPod
Now, we don't have a whole bunch of info on Jook right now, and sure, the press photos claim that "actual products may differ from pictures," and yeah, the patents are pending. Still, it seems like the dock connector-attached unit will be bringing some Zune-style social networking features to your lonely, non-WiFi iPod. Of course, we all know how successful The Social has been in Microsoft's court -- but with the massive proliferation of iPods on the street, this might gain a little more ground. We do worry about the use of the term "music standard," the apparently-necessary headphones, and the fact that the company doesn't appear to have a website, but hey -- you never know.
Aerielle readying i2i Stream music-sharing device
It looks like those in need of a little wireless music streaming on the cheap (relatively speaking) will soon be able to get their hands on a new device that does just from the folks at Aerielle which, as Crave points out, is better known for churning out gear for the likes of Kensington, iRiver, and SanDisk. Dubbed the i2i Stream, the device employs the tried and true 2.4 GHz frequency instead of that fancy Bluetooth or WiFi, and promises to give you a range of 30 feet or so between devices, each of which boast their own independent volume control and a battery that promises seven hours of juice before it needs a recharge. While there's no word on an exact release date just yet, you'll apparently be able to grab a pair of the devices for $129, with extra units running $69 apiece.
Wireless iPod music sharing
Have you ever held an iPod, looked at it, and thought to yourself, "Dang. It's just not Zune enough"? Are you looking for ways to Zune up your iPod? If the lack of wireless music transfer has held you back from truly enjoying your iPod to its fullest, is it possible that you can now rejoice? Our sister blog Engadget writes about a new iPod attachment that supposedly gives iPods Zune-like music-transfer abilities. Although the NBC News report shown here suggests the device will be available by Christmas in major retailers like Best Buy, Engadget recommends you don't hold your breath. They remain skeptical as to whether the device will function as advertised--even within the promised 15-foot radius.
SnoopTunes NoeStringAttached attachment gives iPod Zune-like abilities?
Although the Zune didn't offer too much innovation in comparison to the bevy of other digital audio players out there, the wireless streaming (however effective) did have a leg up over the non-sharing competition. A California-based teenager, however, has supposedly changed all of that with her (well, her dad's) engineering efforts, as the SnoopTunes NoeStringAttached transmitter purportedly opens up the shared lines to iPod users. While you can certainly color us skeptical, the bullet-shaped device managed to grab some airtime on an MSNBC broadcast (shown after the jump), and reportedly transmits your music to other NoeStringAttached users "withing a 15 foot radius," touts five separate channels for non-chaotic field trip usage, and only runs you about $60 for an entire kit. While the slapped-together eBay sales page doesn't elaborate on what type of transmitting protocol is being utilized, we're here to inform you that this thing most certainly won't allow you to beam your song to another iPod -- not even for a measly 72 hours. Truth be told, we're not even sure this thing actually functions as advertised, but even if it does, we really hope you don't mind following your new best friend around fairly close if you're interested in tuning in to what they have to listen to.[Via Wired]
Zing-based DAPs to offer Sirius, downloading over WiFi
There's a new player in town looking to expose the Music Gremlin to some harsh sunlight, and with Sirius and VoIP capabilities along with the Gremlin-like WiFi and Bluetooth for sharing and downloading, the Zing reference device may prove to be a formidable nemesis for the player we first caught at CES. Cnet was hanging out at the D4 conference today and got to check out the Zing in action, and report that the device will enable third-party content providers to offer convenient PC-less download services, although unfortunately the Sirius-branded version will get its radio content not from satellites or terrestrial repeaters but solely through relatively short-range WLAN connections. Still, the built-in mic means that Zing-based products could potentially incorporate VoIP services as well, which would make them serious contenders for some of the musicphones on the market if not for their limited utility outside the range of a hotspot.[Via Orbitcast, thanks to everyone who sent this in]
