Apple Actually Approves Music Streaming iPhone App
The internet has basically been daring Apple to approve the iPhone app for Spotify, the frankly amazing streaming music app that seems like an obvious threat to iTunes, since you can cache tracks and create fully customised playlists.
Well Apple just approved it, “and they hope to add the app to the more than 65,000 apps on the app store very soon”. The service itself still ain’t available in Australia yet (boooo), but it’s a good sign Apple approved an app that seemed oh-so-ripe for rejection, a la Google Voice. [PaidContent via 148apps]
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Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
@Muscar: No, it's not UK only. But European only. Spotify is created by a Swedish company. Personally, I'm not a big fan of the service since it's plagued with commercials. Songs get cut of to play commercial and you get commercial banners flashed in your face unless you become a "premium" member paying ~$10 a month... Not a big sum, but for the service provided, it still isn't worth it (Missing a lot of musing, artists etc... )
I use simplify every day and i dont understand why this functionality isnt built into iTunes. Maybe people buy less songs on the go when they can access their library?
bboothy
Apple's approved tons of streaming music apps before. Look in the app store for apps by "nutsie". (They suck, honestly - it's all shuffle only, there's a huge pause while it buffers at the start of every song, etc.
Worf
About a month ago the major record companies bought 4% each of Spotify for a ridiculously low sum of money. iTunes relies on it's the record companies, so this doesn't come as a surprise. Smart move by Spotify!
Adam Gerthel
@Arstus: Ah, sorry, didn't realize that.
sneakypoo
@jjdaddyo: Except if you look at how the Spotify app works it lets you select music to store locally on your phone so it works even w/o a network connection.
redfood
@Dween: Dude I thought you guys already had socialized health care.
It could be show of good faith to developers and/or simply trying to cover there asses for any pending anti-trust investigations.
They approved it because they know damned well (or hope) it wont get passed in the US the same way it was overseas.
They figure it'll end up another Pandora...and they are probably right.
If it DOES become available in the US untouched, count on it getting pulled on the grounds of any one of a million arbitrary rules Apple picks and chooses to enforce whenever they need to kill off some competition, or some limitations being introduced anyway.
@fastm3driver: That's the European Commision's job.
(Starman) AnalysisDialysis
I love, actually I LOVE how the UK finally gets something decent before the USA.
Dween
Why is the FCC not looking into anything Europe gets but the Us doesn't? Easy barometer in my mind.
fastm3driver
@sneakypoo: The app doesn't work with the free version, it's for premium accounts only.
Arstus
That is so awesome! best news of the week! I love Spotify and with this I will get real value for my 16$ per month!
krisve
Is this UK only? Sucks if so.
Muscar
They can approve all the streaming apps they want, they still have to run on ATTs shitty network- OOPS! FAIL!
jjdaddyo
This is also great news for those of us waiting for the Rhapsody app here in the states. Can't imagine they'd approve Spotify, but not Rhapsody.
Chris Littmann
Come on Lala app! If Spotify can make it, Lala should be able to do it.
Chooch
@OMG! Ponies!: Maybe there's just no pleasing Apple.
@Noobs-R-Us: Ad sponsored version is free. They've been ramping up the frequency of ads lately though.
sneakypoo
@matt buchanan: Nothing beats the headline "Apple Sitting On Facebook App"
This is Europe saying "HA-HA!"
At 10 Pounds a month I think I'll pass. It's not THAT good!
Noobs-R-Us
@matt buchanan: Two Facebooks is plenty.
@OMG! Ponies!: I agree with both of you.
@OMG! Ponies!: Maybe you need less Facebook.
But still no Facebook 3.0