Music software

Apple intros online iTunes Preview

Apple has introduced a new iTunes feature called iTunes Preview that lets those without the application, or those that don't want to launch the software in full, view some content.

Currently limited to music, it's a big change from Apple's previous way of...

Shazam launches new paid-for "Encore" iPhone app

Shazam has announced the launch of the previously promised "premium" version of its iPhone app called Shazam Encore.

A paid-for download, as opposed to the previous free offering, Shazam is promising new functionality including improved speed performance.

Sony offers 1000 Ringtones for the iPhone

Sony Creative Software has announced the launch of "1000 Ringtones", a DVD containing ringtones designed for the Apple iPhone.

As well as music, the ringtones include sound effects and spoken words and users can select tones for incoming calls, emails and...

VIDEO: Spotify debuts improved MP3 purchases

Spotify will shortly be launching an improved MP3 purchasing experience for tracks on its streaming service. It's always been possible to buy MP3s through a right-click menu, but clicking that just opened a browser window that took you to 7digital's website.

From...

Spotify CEO: Advertising devalues music

Spotify is continuing celebrations of its 1-year anniversary and as part of the jamboree, the company's founder and CEO, Daniel Ek, has taken some time out to pen a blog post about the future of Spotify, and his thoughts on the state of the global Music industry. In it,...

Zune services considered for iPods, other platforms

Seemingly giving up on the bigger picture as far as hardware goes, Microsoft is considering offering its Zune software and services to other platforms, ZDNet reports.

The whisper is a credible one - it comes direct from Jose Pinero, director of communications...

Spotify brings offline playback to desktop

Spotify has announced that Premium users will shortly be able to access on their desktop the same "Offline mode" that exists on mobile versions of the streaming music company's software.

Subscribers will be able to right-click their playlists and select them...

VIDEO: doubleTwist parodies Apple's 1984 ad

doubleTwist, DVD Jon's media-syncing software company, is generating lots of publicity for a new version of its "media platform" product with a cheeky video that uses Apple's famous 1984 advert against it.

In the clip - shown above - drones wearing white iPod...

Spotify adds PayPal payment option

Spotify has finally caved in to popular demand and added a PayPal payment option to its subscription services. Until now, the site only accepted Visa and Mastercard, meaning that many people without credit cards weren't able to switch to Premium.

PalPal supports...

Shazam launches for O2 customers

Shazam has announced that it has done a new deal with a mobile phone operator and teamed up with O2 to offer its music discovery service to O2 customers.

The agreement means that anyone on O2 can use the Shazam service by dialing 2580 on their mobile and holding...

Spotify Premium subscriber percentage not double digits

Spotify's CEO, Daniel Ek, has revealed that paid subscriber numbers are still low, despite the surge in popularity following the release of applications for the iPhone and Android mobile phones which require a premium subscription.

He made the disclosure while...

Spotify goes back to invite-only in the UK

Streaming music service Spotify, which recently launched mobile applications for the Android and iPhone platforms, has been forced to go back to invite-only status thanks to the vast amounts of new people accessing the service.

In a blog post, the company said:...

Offline mode for Spotify desktop app confirmed

It looks like an offline mode for the desktop Spotify application is in the works. The presence of such a feature has been long-requested by users, but appears to be finally on the cards due to wording in the T&Cs of the mobile app.

Point number 6, under "use...

Spotify makes more cash for Universal than iTunes

Universal Music Sweden has admitted that Spotify makes it more money than iTunes does. "In five months from the launch, Spotify became our largest digital source of income and so passed by iTunes", said Per Sundin, managing director of Universal Music.

"It's...

Spotify hikes annual subscription prices

In the last few days, Spotify has quietly upped its annual subscriber price, from £99.99 to £119.88. Now it matches the cost of subscribing monthly, which is £9.99 every month.

We inquired with the company as to the reason behind the move, and were told that...

Roxio announces Creator 2010

Almost a year to the day since Roxio Creator 2009 was announced, the company has announced the launch of the 2010 edition of the software.

Roxio Creator 2010 does mostly the same stuff as its predecessor - you can edit video, make music, alter photos, and do...

Spotify to launch in China

Spotify has announced a partnership with Chinese media company Tom Group, which will see the music streaming service launching in the world's most populous country. Tom Group, which has done similar deals before with Skype and eBay, has 300 million users in China.

Spotify now worth 200 million euros

Investors in a new round of financing have pegged Spotify as having a value of 200 million euros - equivalent to about £170 million. The company has raised £30 million at that valuation.

Two parties have stumped up the cash - a unnamed venture firm and an Asian...

Spotify recruiting for US launch

The big question that everyone's been asking Spotify since it launched, other than "how are you going to make some money?" is "when are you going to launch in the USA?".

The Observer newspaper has revealed that founder Daniel Ek told them that he's hiring employees...

Spotify strikes IODA deal

Spotify has announced a deal with the Independent Online Distribution Alliance, or IODA, a digital distribution company, to bring its catalogue to the music streaming service.

IODA will provide Spotify users with music from a catalogue of nearly 2 million tracks...

Apple blocks Palm Pre from iTunes

Palm is unlikely to be able to use its iTunes syncing capabilities as a sales pitch when the phone launches in the UK later this year, following a move by Apple to disallow the new mobile phone from syncing with its music software.

In a software update released...

Spotify says 20% of music streamed from indie labels

Spotify has announced that independent music is "proving to be hugely popular" on the music streaming service.

The online company has revealed that over 20% of the music played by members via the service is indie content which Spotify says, "shows that users...

Spotify will stream Ashes updates from Sky

It's being reported that Sky has entered into a deal with Spotify that will see Ashes updates being delivered to users of the streaming music service.

The objective will be to promote Sky's coverage of the games via its own streaming video service. Messages...

Spotify looking for £30 million investment

Spotify is reported to be looking to raise up to £30 million from investors.

It's suggested the music streaming service is hoping to get valued at £200 million in order to attract investment of between £20 and £30 million.

The cash injection is...

Spotify offers first audio book

Spotify has announced it is to offer its first audiobook on the music streaming service.

Rather than a complete change of direction, it's a trial, to see what people think, with Spotify stating: "who knows, maybe this is the start of something new for us…"