High-end home ent manufacturer Linn has announced it has taken the "dramatic decision" to stop making CD players.

Linn will cease production from the start of 2010 to focus on digital music streaming systems, sales of which have apparently outpaced those of CD players over the last year.

A real sign o' the times story, it seems this makes Linn the first manufacturer to make this landmark move.

Linn's MD, Gilad Tiefenbrun, says of the move: "Our customers have fast recognised the limitations of CD players and in the age of home networking, people now want better control of their music and the ability to enjoy it in any room of their home".

Tags: Audio CD Linn Media streaming Music Biz

Linn announces it's quitting the CD player market originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:21:32 +0000

Roberts has announced new internet radios into its range that will go on sale in the UK in time for the Christmas present buying frenzy.

The Wi-Fi range sees the addition of the new Last.fm-enabled Stream 83i Wi-Fi/DAB/FM RDS digital stereo radio offering access to over 10,000 internet radio stations from around the world as well as the ability to stream a personal music collection.

Priced at ?150, with a high gloss piano black finish, features include USB playback, 15 presets, multiple alarms, sleep and snooze timers and a three-way speaker system including a bass woofer housed in an acoustically tuned wooden cabinet.

There's also the new StreamTime Wi-Fi/FM RDS clock radio, specifically designed for the bedside cabinet that offers ten presets, dual alarms for weekday and weekend programming, Listen Again and the option to stream music from a PC. It goes on sale for ?119.99.

Related links:

• News - Roberts offers sneak peak at touchscreen radio due in 2010

Tags: Audio Internet radios Roberts DAB Radios Radios Media streaming Wi-Fi

Roberts launches two new Stream internet radios originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:14:31 +0000

Rihanna will show off songs from her forthcoming album "Rated R" exclusively to a Nokia audience via a globally streamed live performance on 16 November.

Due to be performed live from "a secret London location", fans can sign up to watch the live stream now while those that are really excited about it can download a web widget counting down to the live performance.
?
Nokia is also touting "an exclusive Rihanna mobile application" available from its Ovi Store while it will also offer of an exclusive version of the new Rated R album via the Nokia Music Store.
?
Rihanna is quoted as saying: "I am so excited to partner up with Nokia. They are doing some really revolutionary things with this album, enabling me to reach more fans than ever before".
?
The Rihanna event and content is as a result of "groundbreaking new global music partnership", "Nokia Play 2010" with the Island Def Jam Music Group and Universal Music Group International.

Those interested in the live stream can register at www.nokia.com/rihanna.

?

Tags: Phones Nokia Audio Rihanna Media streaming Music downloads

Nokia announces Rihanna live stream event originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:35:14 +0000

Popular music streaming service Spotify has announced that Robbie Williams' new album will debut exclusively on the service in the UK.

From Friday 6 November, the comeback album, "Reality Killed The Video Star", will be available to listen to exclusively to all UK users in advance of the album's official launch on 9 November.

The new album features 12 brand new tracks (plus one reprise), including the singles "Bodies" and "You Know Me".

As an extra treat for Robbie fans, as part of the exclusive, Spotify says it has "had Robbie put together a playlist of some of his favourite tracks over his career and another playlist highlighting tracks from his musical heroes".

Read

Tags: Audio Media streaming Spotify Online Music downloads Robbie Williams

Robbie Williams' new album gets exclusive Spotify debut originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:04:13 +0000

The BBC has announced it has made a deal with Stitcher.com to make its BBC World Service content available to users of the mobile phone-based application across the globe.

As many of you will know, Stitcher is a free mobile phone "Smart Radio" app, available on a number of handsets, including the iPhone, the Palm Pre and BlackBerrys.

The BBC World Service programming joins a wide range of audio content available including news, sport, talk and entertainment which is streamed on-demand.

BBC World Service will "provide a selection of English language podcasts, with programming such as Global News, Digital Planet, Global Arts & Entertainment and Africa Today", says the corporation.

Tags: Audio Media streaming Internet radio Stitcher BBC BBC World Service Mobile phone apps BlackBerry iPhone Podcasts iPhone apps Phones

BBC World Service content available on Stitcher app originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:58:50 +0000

It's being reported that Netflix streaming of movies may soon be available on Nintendo's Wii console. The service, which is already available on PCs and on the Xbox 360 and PS3, will allow customers to choose from a selection of films to view on-demand from their sofa.

There's a bit of contention about whether the service will be coming to the Wii, or its successor, the Wii HD, which is rumoured to be due early next year. It may be the case that it comes to both, but the service could prove a powerful motive for existing Wii owners to upgrade.

Not long ago, Netflix's CEO confirmed that the service would be coming to an as-yet-unnamed other country outside of the USA, but for now Netflix remains a US-only proposition.

Read

Tags: Home Cinema Wii Netflix Video on demand Media streaming Nintendo

Netflix streaming coming to Wii originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:50:12 +0000

Spotify, following a good deal of public experimentation with price points, has decided to lower the price of its premium subscriptions in a sponsorship deal with insurance company Swiftcover.

Billboard is reporting that until 2 November, you'll be able to get a Premium subscription for ?6.49 per month for 6 months. There's no minimum term, so you're free to cancel after that time if you want to. The company had also experimented with deals at ?5, ?8 and ?9 price points.

The move is clearly in response to the launch of Napster and Sky Songs' offerings, which cost ?5 and ?6.50 respectively, and bundle in MP3 downloads. They don't, however, include mobile access, higher bitrates or exclusive content, unlike Spotify. The main attraction of Spotify Premium for many people, though, is the removal of ads from the content.

The reduced rate offer is only available to new subscribers, though it's not clear if you can cancel your subscription and re-sign-up at the lower rate. Many people have said that the ?10 price point is too high, so does this make you want to sign up to the service? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Read

Tags: Audio Software Music Online Spotify Swiftcover Media streaming

Spotify expands Premium discount programme originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:43:20 +0000

We brought you news this was incoming, and it's now been released as Sonos makes the Sonos Software 3.1 available to all Sonos users globally.

The free one-button update integrates Twitter into the Sonos Controller interface, which means Sonos users can send the name and artist of the track playing to their friends and followers.

The Twitter functionality is available on the Sonos Controller for iPhone, the Sonos Controller 200 and the Sonos Controller for Mac or PC.

Other features of Sonos Software 3.1 include full support for the new ZonePlayer S5 which means it will work "seamlessly" with all previous products.

The update also brings a graphical music menu featuring icons and logos on the Sonos Controller for iPhone and Sonos Controller 200.

Sonos says the Controller for iPhone 3.1 is currently awaiting approval from Apple.

Tags: Audio Sonos Software updates Twitter Media streaming

Sonos Software 3.1 with Twitter support released originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:25:58 +0000

Revo has announced the launch of the Heritage, a new multi-format digital radio.

Described as a "contemporary reinterpretation of classic European table radio designs from the 50s and 60s", the Heritage gets a walnut veneer and metal exterior.

Offering DAB, DAB+, FM and Wi-Fi internet radio - as well as wireless audio streaming - the Heritage also gets an iPod or iPhone dock.

Audio performance is delivered by a custom designed 3-inch neodymium speaker driver and a high fidelity 7W amplifier. There's also a graphical OLED display and a "joystick" control system.

The Heritage comes with a 30-day Last.fm trial subscription, which, if users want to continue to use costs ?3 a month.

The Heritage will go on sale in early November, priced at ?229.95, direct from Revo or from John Lewis.

Tags: Audio Revo DAB Radios Internet radio iPod speakers Lastfm Media streaming John Lewis Revo Heritage

Revo Heritage DAB and internet radio launches originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:44:01 +0000

An online portal that will offer the entire output of the British radio industry could go live in the first half of next year.

While only 2% of radio listening in the UK is currently done online, the plan is hoped to offer a boost to the radio industry amid fears it could be left behind amid the digitalisation of media.

With involvement from both the BBC and the commercial sector it's reported the site could offer up to 500 networks streamed live online.

A prototype system could be ready for testing by Christmas if the Radio Council's plans get the go ahead.

Andrew Harrison, the Radio Council's chief executive has described the scheme as "quite a breakthrough project".

We will keep you posted.

Read

Tags: Audio Radio Internet radio BBC Online Media streaming

Internet radio portal planned for the UK originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:41:44 +0000

While we're waiting to hear more on Netflix's outside the US streaming plans, in the States the movie rental company has announced its content will soon be available to PS3 owners.

Sony and Netflix have announced a team up that will see thousands of movies and TV episodes from Netflix available to be streamed instantly to TVs via the PS3. For those not yet Netflix members, the service starts from $8.99 a month and offers "unlimited" movies and TV episodes.

Netflix says it expects to begin streaming via the PlayStation Network next month at no additional cost to Netflix-ers who have a PS3, but users will need to stick a special Blu-ray disc in their consoles to get the service to work.

The free instant streaming disc uses Blu-ray's BD-Live tech to access the Internet and activate the Netflix user interface on the PS3 system, via Wi-Fi or Ethernet, something Xbox 360 Netflix users don't need, but without the Gold membership cost Microsoft demands.

Netflix members and PS3 system owners can now reserve a free disc for PS3 systems by going to www.netflix.com/ps3.

Tags: Home Cinema Media streaming Video on demand PS3 Sony Netflix Gaming

Netflix streaming announced for PlayStation 3 originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:19:50 +0000

Netflix's CEO Reed Hastings has told journalists in a conference call that his company will be launching a streaming-only service, which will let users watch movies online without having to subscribe to the DVDs-by-mail part of the service that the company offers.

Most interestingly, the streaming-only option won't be available to US customers, where the service is based. Instead it'll be in an undisclosed international market. Hastings wouldn't say which one "for competitive reasons" - indicating that it could be a market with a similar service already on offer.

The service is slated to launch in late 2010 and start in just one location before opening up into more territories slowly. The movie industry is still very focused on physical products like DVDs, and Netflix may find it tricky to license its catalogue in other countries for that reason.

When we hear more about this project, and where it's going to be based, we'll be sure to let you know.

Read

Tags: Home Cinema Online Websites Netflix Movie downloads Media streaming

Netflix launching streaming service outside of US originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:59:46 +0100

The BBC has had its proposals to integrate ITV and Channel 4 content with its popular iPlayer denied by its regulator, the BBC Trust. The corporation wanted to allow its commercial rivals access to the platform to avoid criticism from those who say it has a dominant position in the market.

However, the BBC Trust said that it was "not convinced there was enough potential value to licence fee payers" for the move. The trust said it was too "complex" to be allowed, because it would mix ad-supported content with the BBC's own ad-free shows.

BBC execs are reportedly frustrated by the judgement, and have blamed a lack of understanding of the proposals. "We've been working on this for nearly a year and we don't think the idea of a single website for British television was complex", said one unnamed BBC staffer.

However the BBC's commercial rivals believe that the objective wasn't to simplify things for consumers, but to avoid a cut in the license fee from what could be a potentially hostile incoming Conservative government.

Read

Related links:

• News - Pay-per-view iPlayer to launch in the States

Tags: Software Online BBC iPlayer ITV Channel 4 Video on demand Media streaming

iPlayer will not get ITV and Channel 4 content originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:31:45 +0100

Fans of U2 will be able to watch the band's upcoming performance from the Rose Bowl in LA live on U2's YouTube channel.

Described as the first global concert webcast, those in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, Spain, the UK and US will be able to tune in live online on Sunday 25 October at 8.30pm PT.

There's also the option to join in with the "global listening party" via a Twitter gadget embedded on U2's YouTube channel.

Read

Tags: Audio U2 Media streaming YouTube Twitter Software Home Cinema Video

U2 concert to be broadcast live on YouTube originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:46:07 +0100

The UK division of online video service Joost has gone into liquidation.

Founded by the creators of Skype and Kazaa, Joost, although attracting big media investors with funding said to top $45 million, failed to sign agreements with major content providers.

The UK arm of the Netherlands-based company is said to have now been dissolved following a month on the market with no buyers interested in snapping up the service after a revamp in July.

Joost "failed to sustain a significant share of the internet video industry and was unable to address this effectively through a re-positioning of its services", says the liquidators.

Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, Joost's founders, are said to be busy setting up the typically vowel-light Rdio, an online music streaming subscription service for sharing and listening to music online or via mobiles due in early 2010.

Read

Tags: Software Online Joost Video on demand Biz Rdio Audio Media streaming

Joost goes into liquidation in the UK originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:42:31 +0100

MOG has announced that it'll shortly be launching a music streaming service. The website, which since 2006 has offered a music-oriented community and blogging platform will be rolling out the subscription-funded "All Access" scheme by the end of November.

It'll cost $5 per month for access to a catalogue of 5 million tracks from all four major labels and a host of independents. There'll also be a free trial offer, but unlike Spotify there's no ad-supported free option. A desktop version will be arriving "some time before Thanksgiving", and there will be iPhone and BlackBerry apps in time, too.

Bloggers who're signed up with MOG will get free access to the service to help promote it, and there's also talk of social features - users will be able to see what other people are streaming. Like other services, there'll be playlist creation and the ability to discover music that you don't already know.

What's not clear is how the service will differentiate itself from Napster, Rhapsody, and the soon-to-launch-in-the-US Spotify. Perhaps it'll be the network's ability to pull in content from its contributor blogs, but whether the content from those blogs will be strong enough remains to be seen.

When the service launches we'll bring you a full low-down.

Read

Tags: Audio MOG Websites Media streaming Online Music

MOG readies $5 music subscription originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:32:06 +0100

With Sky's announcement of the company's upcoming service, Sky Songs, we finally have proof that every man and his dog is getting in on the music scene. As a consumer, though, the picture just gets that little bit more complicated.

If you want all the music in the world for free, then that's still possible - just not necessarily legal. So, if you've a conscience and you're looking to listen to whatever you want and even keep it, then here's a run down of a few of the options open to you.

Sky Songs

Year launched

2009

Catalogue

4 million

Streaming

?6.49/month for ad-free, unlimited service

Downloads

Same ?6.49/?7.49 buys 10/15 tracks/month

DRM

No

Music Quality

Unknown

File available

MP3

Announced just today, the Sky service seems to have simplicity at its heart for a subscription model. There are just two options both of which provide an advert free unlimited stream of whatever music you choose plus the bonus of either 10 or 15 tracks to download and keep as MP3s each month. No mention of the level of quality but expect it to be around 256kbps with no choice on the matter.

Verdict - With all four majors on board and a low monthly payment, it's a very good option. If the catalogue can back it up, the "free" downloads act as a very nice bonus.

Spotify

Year launched

2008

Catalogue

8 million

Streaming

Free, ad-funded streaming or ?9.99/month for non-ad premium service

Downloads

courtesy of 7digital

DRM

n/a

Music Quality

160kbps (free service) 320 kbps (premium)

File available

n/a

The current people's champion, Spotify is both social and free which massive pluses to the public. Yes, the ads can be annoying, yes the catalogue does have a few gaping holes and yes, the audio quality of the basic stream is relatively low, but then you can always sign up for the ?10 per month and get it on your smartphone too.

Verdict - Still the best offering for the majority of people. Perhaps not for those looking to build a library of tracks.

eMusic

Year launched

1998

Catalogue

6 million

Streaming

No

Downloads

24/35/50 tracks for ?9.99/?13.99/?17.99 per month

DRM

No

Music Quality

192kbps on average

File available

MP3

At the other end of the spectrum eMusic provides a series of subscription packages and no music for free whatsoever. The structure is fairly rigid and unlike all good mobile phone plans of days gone by, the unused credits do not roll over to the next month. That said, it's one of the oldest, most successful services out there, has built up an excellent catalogue of independent labels and more obscure, hard to find tracks.

Verdict - Great option for collectors but the audio quality can vary quite a lot.

We7

Year launched

2007

Catalogue

3.5 million

Streaming

free, ad-funded streaming

Downloads

pay-per-track & free ad funded versions

DRM

No

Music Quality

256 & 320kbps paid; 192kbps free

File available

MP3

The most interesting thing about We7 as opposed to the others is that they do offer tracks to download and keep for free. The downside to this is that each contains a small piece of advertising, known as ablipvert, which plays every time with the track. You can pay to remove it and also for a higher bit-rate version too. A free streaming service is also available, so overall users get a lot of choice here.

Verdict - Good universal platform. Not such a large catalogue and slightly on the ad-heavy side.

7digital

Year launched

2004

Catalogue

8 million

Streaming

No

Downloads

pay-per-track

DRM

No

Music Quality

192, 256, 320kbps

File available

MP3/AAC/WMA/FLAC

7digital is a simple one on the outside - no streaming, no subscriptions, all downloads and all paid for. However, there's an excellent degree of flexibility once you start shopping. As with all the pay-per-track services, the songs are reasonably priced but what you get with 7digital is the option of how you'd like them downloaded. It's the only service which allows users to select both the audio quality and the file-type they'd like as well with the lossless FLAC, a noticeable intrigue.

Verdict - Good flexibility, good choice but could do with a few more tracks and some kind of free option too.

Amazon MP3

Year launched

2008

Catalogue

9 million

Streaming

No

Downloads

pay-per-track from 29p

DRM

No

Music Quality

256kbps

File available

MP3

With downloads starting at just 29p, a catalogue of over 9 million songs and each of them at an excellent level of audio quality, it's hard to ignore Amazon's recent step into the music world - especially as it's somewhere many of us do our online shopping in the first place.

Verdict - Very good value pick and chose option.

iTunes Store

Year launched

2003

Catalogue

10 million

Streaming

No

Downloads

pay-per-track: $0.69, $0.99, or $1.29

DRM

No

Music Quality

256kbps

File available

AAC

If AAC files are your thing, then the iTunes Store is the place to be. Over the air access via iPhones and iPod touches play a large part in its success as well as iTunes being the default music player for anyone with any kind of Apple PMP. Certainly not the cheapest but it's a tidy piece of software with a great catalogue and so much more palatable ever since they ditched the DRM.

Verdict - Expensive but very convenient.

Napster

Year launched

2003

Catalogue

8 million

Streaming

Unlimited, ad-free for ?5/month to PC or ?14.95 to portables too

Downloads

pay-per-track

DRM

No

Music Quality

128kbps streamed, 256kbps downloads

File available

MP3/WMA

So many years and so many changes, Napster will always be associated with the hay day of the Web and the way this place has changed over all these years. The new version of the service is slightly over-complicated compared to all the others, but once people get over the bitter taste that still surrounds the original site's shutdown, they might discover that the streaming service is wonderfully cheap - just not free.

Verdict - Great value streaming from a broad catalogue. Portable version much pricier.

?

Related links:

• News - Sky Songs music service officially announced

Tags: Audio Software Napster Media streaming Music downloads eMusic Spotify Amazon MP3 iTunes 7digital Sky Songs We7 Features

Which is the best online music service? originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:50:20 +0100

Following the news we brought you that the service was coming soon, Sky has officially announced it is to launch its Sky Songs online music streaming and download service in the UK.

4 million tracks are available via unlimited, ad-free online streaming, while DRM-free MP3 files can be downloaded and stored forever, for use on any MP3 compatible device.

There's music from the four major music labels (EMI, Sony, Universal and Warner) plus content from a range of indies including the Beggars Group, The Orchard and PIAS Entertainment Group.

Similar to how Microsoft's Zune Pass system works in the States, as well as the revamped Napster offerings (which is cheaper, but you get less) the Sky Songs service starts at ?6.49 a month, which will get users the unlimited streaming and then either a ?6.49 album or 10 songs to download and keep.

Paying ?7.99 a month will let users download either a ?7.99 album or 15 songs as well as the streaming while additional music can be bought on a per-track or per-album basis from 65p and ?6.49.

The service will launch on the 19 October at http://songs.sky.com/ and is available to any consumer in the UK with internet access and means to pay.

Tags: Audio Sky Sky Songs Media streaming Music downloads

Sky Songs music service officially announced originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:39:53 +0100

YouTube is celebrating its third anniversary of being bought by Google with the news that it is serving over 1 billion videos a day, showing that we all need our quick fix of the random and bizarre in video format.

"We're working hard to keep up with the fast pace of technology to bring you everything you would expect from the world's largest video site: better quality; a full spectrum of choices and tools for users, partners and advertisers; and ways to make the YouTube experience your own anywhere, anytime", said YouTube's co-founder Chad Hurley.

But what did Pocket-lint's editor Stuart Miles make of the announcement? He sat down with TechRepublic Editor in Chief Jason Hiner and TechVi's Randall Bennett to talk about where YouTube has found its success and what's in store to come.

Watch the video to find out.?

Read

Tags: Software Online YouTube Media streaming Google

VIDEO: YouTube serving 1 billion videos a day originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:05:35 +0100

Gosh - how time flies. Streaming music service Spotify is 1 year old today. The company opened up its service into private beta on 7 October 2008, and was roundly ignored by most of the world's media.

Following hyperbolic blog posts from the few people who'd managed to get invitations, the service ramped up slowly - both in terms of catalogue and in terms of adverts on the system - which originally featured the now legendary Roberta from Spotify (pictured).

The service launched publicly in the UK early the following year, launched a since-neglected API shortly after, and then launched a mobile application more recently in an attempt to bulk up its paying userbase.

The company said in a blog post: "Over the past year we've worked hard to continue to improve Spotify. We’ve more than doubled the size of our music catalogue over the year and work continues to add more content each week".

Spotify has also shared a few statistics about its service. Apparently listening to every song in the entire catalogue would take more than 34 years with no sleep allowed, more than one in nine Swedes are Spotify users, and it streams "billions" of tracks every month. Apparently tens of thousands of new users join each day.

But since the company's hype bubble burst, many have questioned whether the service can afford to keep up its free streaming long-term. CEO Daniel Ek tweeted the other day: "Thinking about writing about the state of ad-supported music. I know what the industry thinks, but I think they're wrong". Time will tell whether or not he's right.

Read

Related links:

• News - Spotify brings offline playback to desktop
• News - Spotify Premium subscriber percentage not double digits

Tags: Audio Music Spotify Media streaming

Spotify is 1 year old originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:16:02 +0100

Napster has decided to revamp its UK music offering, making it significantly cheaper than its old subscription service. The company is now offering unlimited streaming of tracks via the Web and through a desktop application for ?5 a month, and it's throwing in 5 free MP3s each month to sweeten the deal, too.

Previously, users paid ?10 per month for streaming with no MP3s, or ?15 per month for streaming and unlimited download of DRMed music files which wouldn't work on an iPod. With the prices halved and free MP3s chucked in too, the new offering should prove significantly more attractive.

The catalogue comprises 8 million tracks from all four major labels as well as a smattering of indies, and - if you don't know what you want to listen to - there are also playlists, radio stations and recommendations offered. Napster is talking up the revamp as "the best value, legal music service you can access anywhere".

Napster's service can be accessed on mobile phones - the company has a mobile site which allows you to preview and download MP3s onto your handset, and a backup copy gets sent to your PC too. The service will work with Logitech's Squeezebox, Sonos' music systems and Terratec's NOXON iRadio.

As previously reported on Pocket-lint, subscriptions will be bundled with Dell PCs that entitle the user to a year's subscription to the service. Certain Dell laptops in ?the Studio and Inspiron ranges will be offering the deal later in the month.

This is a developing story, so check back later on for updates.

UPDATE: Napster has also announced a deal with the Carphone Warehouse. The retail chain is owned by US electronics giant Best Buy which also owns Napster. The music streaming service will get a retail presence in 817 Carphone Warehouse stores that'll offer pre-paid cards with 3, 6, and 12 month subscriptions for ?15, ?30 and ?60 respectively.

The stores will also be offering free trial cards that'll give a month's usage of the service - complete with five free MP3s - for nothing. Napster reckons that if it can get users to give its music streaming offering a try, then they'll be convinced and sign up long-term.

Existing Napster subscribers have been transitioned to a ?10 per month package which has unlimited streaming but also offers 12 free MP3s per month. That offer will be available to new subscribers too, but not until later this year. Later this year, the catalogue will also be expanded to 10 million tracks.

Napster's Senior Marketing Manager for the UK, Dan Nash, told Pocket-lint that the company's target is younger, more casual music listeners who aren't prepared to shell out ?10 each month, so this second service may well be a concession to the hardcore music fans.

Once the launch is complete, the company will be focusing on adding social media integration, as well as opening up an API so that it can expand its device integration. Napster's VP Sales & Marketing for Europe, Torsten Schliesche, said that the company was very interesterd in IPTVs to get music into the living room without resorting to a PC.

Oh, and for the audiophiles amongst you, we demanded to know the audio quality of the offerings. Napster's streaming service runs at 128kbps and its MP3 downloads are 256kbps. For comparative purposes, Spotify's free, ad-supported service offers 160kbps OGG Vorbis q5, whereas paid subscribers get 320kbps.

Read

Related links:

• News - Napster announces Dell partnership

Tags: Audio Software Napster Media streaming Music downloads

Napster revamps UK music offering originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:00:55 +0100

Napster has entered into a partnership with Dell that'll see the latter's laptops coming with a free year of Napster Unlimited. That subscription entitles the user to a year's worth of unlimited on-demand listening from one of the better catalogues in digital music, as well as 60 free un-DRMed MP3s.

Certain laptops in the Studio and Inspiron ranges will be sold with a Napster icon on the desktop and a bit of bloatware called Dell Dock that'll let you redeem your subscription. The idea behind the move is that consumers get their 12 months free and then don't feel the need to install a rival service like Spotify.

Napster's president, Brad Duea, said: "Napster is pleased to be working with Dell to deliver a valuable and easy music experience for customers", and Rachna Bhasin, GM Strategic Partnerships, Dell consumer, said: "People want the ability to personalize their PCs, and music is a great way for them to do that".

The deal begins later this month, so if you've been eyeing up a Napster subscription and need a laptop too, then you might want to hold on just a little longer.

Related links:

• News - Napster confirms no streaming music iPhone app

Tags: Audio Hardware Laptops Dell Online Napster Media streaming

Napster announces Dell partnership originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:03:25 +0100

It's been well over a year since UK broadcaster Sky officially announced plans to create an unlimited music service, and it's only now just about to go into a limited beta testing phase.

Called "Sky Songs", there's a website up and running now with a "coming soon" banner claiming it will offer "a new way to discover music" but provides no timescale as to when it will be publicly available.

Since Sky's plans were revealed in July 2008, the online music market has changed considerably with the UK launch of Spotify making streaming a more popular choice. In the same time period the similar service We7 has hit 2 million users.

Sky had previously said that for a monthly subscription fee, users would be able to download tracks to listen to later and "to own forever" with tracks said to work on any MP3-compatible device, including iPods, MP3 players and mobile phones, which suggested the songs would be DRM-free.

We do know Sky's offering will be made up of a catalogue of more than 4 million songs from all of the major labels as well as over 100 independents.

How much Sky plans to charge, how usable the site is, and just how unlimited those unlimited claims turn out to be will all be crucial to the success of Sky Songs, especially considering its delayed entry to the market. We will keep you posted.

Read

Related links:

• News - Sky announces plans for unlimited music download site

Tags: Audio Sky Sky Songs Music downloads Websites Spotify We7 Media streaming

Unlimited music service Sky Songs hits beta originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:30:19 +0100

Not only do we have news of a new Asus product for you, but also a video of the new device as demonstrated by a charming Aussie nymph.

The new O!Play HDP-R1 is a networked, high-def capable media player and NAS storage device that can hook up to your television for video and music playback.

It offers an "ultra-fast eSATA interface", Ethernet, a music shuffle function and extensive file support.

Hit play now to see the device being unboxed and in action, while it's on sale now in the UK for around ?85.

Read

Tags: Hardware Asus Home Cinema NAS Networking Video Media streaming

VIDEO: Asus O!Play media player demoed originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:10:33 +0100