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Pioneer AppRadio hands-on (updated with video!)
We got a chance to experience Pioneer's iOS-connected in-dash AppRadio in action this afternoon, and even got to see the thing running in a real-deal automobile. So did it meet our expectations? Well, to be perfectly honest, we didn't know what to expect, but for what it promises, which is bringing the convenience and connectivity of iOS apps to your car, we suppose it does a fine job -- even if it only supports a handful apps at the moment. More after the break. %Gallery-124475%
RDIO's social streaming music service comes to Roku players
Just like Sonos, Roku has seen the light and teamed up with RDIO to bring the low on price, high on content music streaming service to its players. If you're not familiar, that means millions of songs, $10 per month and the ability to follow and be followed by the people you want to share music with. There's a 7-day free trial just in case you're not sure it's a fit for you, we'll wait for your impressions.
Rdio music service iPhone app updated, gives better offline controls
The social music discovery service Rdio has gotten an iPhone facelift; the company's app has a bunch of new features in version 1.0 (released today), including a key improvement for users who sync their music from Rdio down to their phones for offline access. Much like Apple's Ping social layer for iTunes, Rdio gives music recommendations and listings based on what your friends like to listen to -- but it also gives you direct access to the music, letting you play it on the company's website or on your mobile device. Beyond the UI improvements in the new build (including a handy springboard for quick access to all the sections, and a persistent player at the bottom of the screen), the app now lets you select whether or not to sync music offline when on 3G connectivity, or only on Wi-Fi. Pulling down multimegabytes of music tracks could easily crush a low-end data plan, so this will be a big help to some users. The Rdio service was launched by two Skype founders (Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis) and is currently available only in the US and Canada. After a seven-day free trial period, the web-only service (which won't let you play music offline using the app) is $4.99 monthly; the premium mobile-enabled service is $9.99 a month.
Sonos adds Rdio to its streaming music repertoire
If you live in the US or Canada then you can add the Rdio social music service to the long list of streaming music options available to your Sonos whole-home wireless audio system. We're talking eight million tracks that you can search, browse, and play on-demand with an Rdio bonus that lets you follow the musical tastes of your friends and idols for $9.99 per month. Get back to us in 46 years and let us know if your $5,514.48 was well spent, ok?
Spotify "can't commit" to launch US service in 2010
Label negotiations will keep Spotify out of the U.S. for what's left of 2010, according to an interview conducted by Mark Sullivan of PC World. While at the Wall Street Journal's Dive Into Mobile event, Spotify founder and CEO Daniel Ek said that his company "can't commit" to a 2010 launch. Spotify is a streaming, ad-supported music service that is enjoying enormous popularity in Europe. Customers can choose from three tiers of service: the free, ad-supported Open tier that lets you play files locally; the £4.99 per month unlimited streaming tier with no ads; or the £9.99 per month plan, offering offline mode and mobile support. Spotify currently boasts more than 10 million tracks available for streaming and 750,000 paying subscribers. Why the delay? Ek took the diplomatic route. "[the labels] are still trying to get their heads around the space," he said. "They are seeing what we are seeing, with mobile and social. They want to make sure that if this is going to move on to be the next thing they want make sure they are setting the right precedents with free models, ad models, subscription models." This makes me wonder how Rdio is able to offer essentially the same service -- streaming music for a fee -- in the U.S. and Canada. Sullivan notes that Spotify is enjoying royalties deals in Europe that will be hard to duplicate in the U.S. Here's hoping it gets worked out soon, if only to stop my friends across the pond from bragging about how awesome it is.
Rumor: Apple pursuing iTunes music subscription
Apple is rumored to be discussing music subscriptions with major labels that would bring unlimited, streaming music to its iTunes customers. According to the New York Post (NYP), Apple's VP of iTunes, Eddy Cue, has been in talks with major labels about a subscription model that would give customers unlimited access to music for a monthly fee. Details are few and far between, but NYP's sources suggest that the monthly cost could be around US$10-15. They also suggest that label representatives are receptive to the idea, as single-track sales have begun to decline. Similar services like Rdio have gained a following by offering streaming and cached versions of favorite tracks for a small fee (Rdio starts at $4.99 per month). Spotify offers a similar service in the UK and is currently pushing for a US release.
