According to industry sources who spoke with The Verge and the New York Times, Google will unveil a new streaming music service tomorrow at Google I/O. After inking deals with both Universal and Sony, the service finally has the go-ahead to compete with the likes of Spotify and get the jump on Apple who has been taking its sweet time launching a similar service. 

Sources told NYT that there wouldn’t be a free tier for the service, so that could put us anywhere from a couple of dollars a month to $10 or $15. This new streaming service is said to be more like Spotify with on-demand music rather than the radio-esque approach that Pandora has taken.

Should this service launch tomorrow, expect a Google I/O that may be the biggest one yet. We could see a new unified chat service, Gmail update, Android 4.3, gaming center, and this new music services amongst other things.

Stick with us all day tomorrow – we’ll be covering it all.

Via:  The Verge | NY Times

Cheers Inquizitor!

Report: Google to Launch Streaming Music Service Tomorrow at I/O is a post from: Droid Life

Before Google Music launched, Google and the music labels were said to have had a hard time working out the hard details, but they eventually reached an agreement. A recent report said that a few execs in Google working for the Android department have been in talks with music labels for expanding Google Music, wanting a Spotify-like streaming service.

Adding in a subscription based music option to Google Play could be a huge step for Google moving forward in providing content. The rumored plans have been centered around having paid subscriptions to Youtube music channels as well as audo-only tracks too. This would give people the option to either buy music and have rights to that album or song or possibly subscribe to a pay-by-the month program. Details to the actual plan are scarce so we don’t know much, but it sounds like something Google would want to get into.

The only question that remains, would you use it?

Via: WSJ

Google Might Be Looking to Beat Apple to The Streaming Music Game is a post from: Droid Life

Spotify was apparently not content with only being one of the largest music streaming services in the States and have now set their sights on the personalized online radio sector. Long dominated by applications like Pandora, the latest update to Spotify brings a free radio section to the application, but it only works if you are in the United States at the moment.

Now, this does not mean that you can access Spotify premium, that still costs $9.99 a month to stream your music from your computer to your phone. However, Spotify’s plan may be to lure you in with the free radio and hope you will upgrade later on.

Do any of you pay for Spotify or use other music alternatives?

Play Link

Spotify Launches Free Personalized Radio for Android, As Long as You’re in the States is a post from: Droid Life

Remember that new Spotify app that came out looking really nice and inspired by Ice Cream Sandwich a while back? That was just a beta test of the app, but now that Spotify has got all the kinks worked out they’re letting everyone in on the new application. And they’ve even added a few more tricks into the deal for you:

• Play queue
• Last.fm scrobbling
• Crossfade/gapless playback settings
• Widget – control Spotify from the home screen
• Folder support

The download is available now in the Play Store for those who want to get in on the music streaming action. We advise you stream now before those shared data plans kick in.

Play Link

Via: Spotify

Slick ICS-Based Spotify App Leaves Beta, Available for Download Now is a post from: Droid Life

Spotify announced this morning that their Android app is about to receive a complete overhaul, but before it goes live in the Play Store, they want to give you a preview. So you can download it below and take it for a spin. In this latest version, you will find full support for Ice Cream Sandwich, a massive redesign (that is buttery smooth by the way), new navigation menu, more social fun, high-res artist imagery, and more. 

• Totally new app with full support for Android 4.0
• Top-to-bottom redesign
• All-new slide-out navigation
• Even more social – check out friends’ profile pages and playlists on the go
• Artist imagery in high resolution
• Related artist view – available for the first time on mobile
• ‘Extreme’ sound quality setting for 320kbps listening
• So much faster!

There is one problem though – mobile listening of tunes is only available to premium users. So you can download this app and browse around in it, but unless you are paying the $9.99 per month service fee to be “premium” you won’t be able to listen to anything.

Download Link

Via:  Spotify

Cheers Tim and Spencer!

Spotify on Android is Receiving a Makeover, Download the Preview Now is a post from: Droid Life

According to a recent report over at The Verge, sources close to the project are divulging info that Spotify has plans on releasing a major Ice Cream Sandwich update. News of this should make many Spotify users quite happy, seeing as how a lot of them have view the application as “unusable” due to countless bugs and crashes. Besides the rumor of them working on a new version, no other information was gathered on what it may look like or feature.

Fantastic, now we have another application to patiently wait for, again. Let the patience commence.

Still using Spotify?

Via: The Verge

Rumor: Spotify Working to Bring Major Ice Cream Sandwich Update to Android Users is a post from: Droid Life

The Sonos Controller app for Android found itself a much needed update this morning, bringing it to version 3.6. Included in the update is support for more tablets like the Kindle Fire, more Spotify features (new releases and top tracks), and the addition of Slacker Radio to its music services.

If you own any of their HiFi speaker systems, be sure to update the software on all of your portable devices, but on your PC and Macs as well.

Our Sonos review.  

SONOS ADDS MORE CONTROL AND MORE MUSIC TO WIRELESS HiFi SYSTEM

Sonos Now Offering Android Tablet Support, Slacker Radio in US and Canada, and New Spotify Features

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – November 30, 2011 – Sonos, Inc., the leading manufacturer of wireless music systems, today announced Sonos System Software 3.6, an innovative update that adds more control and more music to the Sonos Wireless HiFi experience. This free software is available to all Sonos customers via a one button update to their system.

“Today’s feature update reaffirms our commitment to persistently innovate so that Sonos users have the ultimate music experience in every room of the home,” said John MacFarlane, founder and CEO, Sonos, Inc. “Endless music and effortless control are what will keep us as the gold standard for listening out loud in the home.”

The free Sonos Controller for Android now supports Android® tablets as well as smartphones, letting you control Sonos from any Android device.  With Sonos, you can stream all the music on earth wirelessly in every room, and now control it wirelessly on a larger screen with any Android tablet running 2.2 or higher, including the Kindle Fire, HTC Flyer™, Motorola Xoom™, Samsung Galaxy Tab™, Sony Tablet S™, and many others.  Plus, Sonos Controller for Android includes new enhancements such as alarms, music library management and Twitter support for Android smartphones and tablets alike.  Download it from Android Market.

Slacker® Radio is now available as a free music service on Sonos in the United States and Canada.  With Slacker on Sonos you can tune in for free to over 150 expert-programmed stations and create unlimited custom stations from a library of millions of songs. You can even read artist biographies as you listen in every room. Upgrade to Slacker Radio Plus for an ad-free experience or Slacker Premium Radio for even more features like on-demand access to millions of songs, albums and artists and the ability to create custom playlists. Subscribers can also fully personalize their ESPN Radio stations with their favorite shows, plus team and sports updates.  To register or learn more about Slacker on Sonos, please visit slacker.com/Sonos.

With Sonos 3.6 software, Sonos is also introducing Sonos Labs, a new Beta environment where customers will be able to test out music services before they’re officially launched on Sonos.  New music services will be added to Sonos Labs on an ongoing basis.  Media and music service developers can learn more about becoming a Sonos Labs music partner at http://musicpartners.sonos.com.
Sonos 3.6 also includes improved Spotify® integration on Sonos, giving Spotify fans on Sonos access to their Spotify Inbox and ability to play music from Spotify’s new releases and top tracks.

Other features of Sonos 3.6 include:
•        AAC+ codec support
•        More local language support with Danish and Norwegian

Full details of Sonos 3.6 software can be found here: http://www.sonos.com/support/software_updates/.

The Sonos Wireless HiFi System makes it extremely simple to bring a world of music to any room of any home. Forbes recently said “it really is the best way I’ve ever found to play music.”  The Boston Herald recently claimed “If you’re ready to completely make the switch to digital music, the new Sonos PLAY:3 may be the answer for a home stereo system in the age of streaming.”  For more information about Sonos or to demo it at an authorized Sonos dealer near you, please visit sonos.com/storelocator or call 877.80.SONOS.

About Sonos, Inc.
Founded in 2002, Sonos is the leading manufacturer of wireless music systems, With Sonos you can stream all the music on earth, wirelessly, in any room and control it with your Android® smartphone or tablet, iPhone®, or iPad®. In addition to playing your personal digital music collection, The Sonos Wireless HiFi System gives you access to millions of songs and thousands of radio stations by partnering with AUPEO!, Deezer™, iheartradio™, JUKE, Last.fm™, MOG, Pandora®, Rdio®, Rhapsody®, SiriusXM® Internet Radio, Slacker® Radio, Spotify®, Stitcher SmartRadio™, TuneIn®, Wolfgang’s Vault®, and more. The award-winning system is available at more than 11,000 retailers in over 65 countries worldwide; or direct from Sonos at www.sonos.com.  Sonos is a privately-held company, headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA with offices in Cambridge, MA, Hilversum, Netherlands, Beijing and Shenzen, China, and Penang, Malaysia.

Sonos Controller For Android Receives Update: Better Tablet Support, More Spotify Features, and Slacker Radio Included is a post from: Droid Life

Spotify, one of the coolest streaming music services you’ll find, opened its invite doors to U.S. residents last week.  There were no details or hints given as to when they might start sending out emails to those that signed up, but it appears as if it is happening now.  ANd while we’ll admit that we are a little surprised to see it happening this early after all of those announced partnerships through companies like Motorola, we’re not going to complain.  So go check your inboxes!

And if you haven’t signed up yet, be sure to do so here.

Check Your Inboxes, Spotify Invites Are Already Going Out is a post from: Droid Life

Spotify launched in the U.S. this morning and they’ve decided to partner exclusively with Motorola to hand out 10,000 invites.  The service is essentially a closed beta right now, so this is your chance to sign up and get in the program early before the generally public.  Moto appears to be only asking that you fill out a simple form for now – how they are choosing these 10K though, is beyond me.  (Update:  It looks like it’s the FIRST 10K to sign up. Go, go, go!)  

Sign up here!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Cheers Taylor!

Motorola Partners With Spotify in the U.S., Plans to Hand Out 10,000 Invites is a post from: Droid Life

Yep, it’s Spotify day here in the U.S. of A.  The streaming music service that has been taking the rest of the world by storm is now available to all of you.  Spotify allows its users to choose an unlimited number of their favorite tracks, make playlists out of them, listen to them offline and even enjoy them on mobile devices.  It’s not like Pandora…at all.  You can skip around, choose specific tracks, and never have to listen to the random no-name band that sort of sounds like the actual band you like.  While we’re new to it as well, we have spent a few minutes with it this morning on both our Sonos system and phone and can already see that this will be our next overused music service.

We should point out that in order to gain mobile access, you’ll need a premium account which starts at $9.99 a month.  There are free options though, if you are just looking to test out the service through a computer browser before making the paid leap.

Market Link

More info can be found at the Spotify website.  Everyone ready for this?

Spotify Now Available in the U.S. on Android is a post from: Droid Life

Spotify is officially on its way to the U.S.  The music service that has taken a large chunk of Europe by storm might have finally received enough clearance by record labels here in the states to launch.  For those not familiar, Spotify allows you to pick songs at will and without limitation on your desktops and mobile devices through both paid and free subscriptions.  It’s apparently awesome.  You can sign up to be notified of its arrival at the link below.

Sign up.

Spotify Officially on its Way to the US, Sign Up Now is a post from: Droid Life