Google’s Music service, which enables you to upload and stream your own music collection, has ended its invite-only period and is now allowing anyone to sign up. Anyone, that is, who resides in the United States. There’s no option for Australian users yet.
If you visit the Google Music site from Australia, you’re still greeted with this message:
While you could potentially work around this using a VPN, it seems that Google is facing the same issue as Apple’s iTunes Match: the need to negotiate global licensing agreements. That affects both the streaming service and its new Android-based music store. Grrr.
Republished from Lifehacker
BenDTU
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 9:49 AMSigh.
Any way we can access it, even if just to browse what they’ve got?
Dave
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 9:51 AMIf you go to the music page via a US proxy, you can get your Google account linked and then you can visit and play from Australia. You can even add the free tracks. You just can’t purchase new music yet.
alexeiw123
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 10:00 AMmight try that proxy thing later. I’m a bit excited to see that in aus, along with the features for up and coming artists. anyone esle think triple J unearthed?
BenDTU
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 10:01 AMJust tried it via proxy, looks decent enough. The range is a bit bizarre, lots of artists I listen to with only one full album and lots of half-albums.
DarkAura
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 10:06 AMMy God this is annoying! I just watched the live event and Google Music is really everything i need from a music system. I want it and i want the same joint features across all other android systems.
Anyway I Giz I know its important to bash Google on this one as were an Aus page but can you also remember to put up the benefits of the new service along with the bad so we know what to expect in 10 years, I watched the live event but i was working to 3am and my mind is jelly so i need a refesher.
Cheers
Chris
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 10:27 AMWindows phone 7 and Zune for the win in Australia. I would much rather be able to download songs that can be played offline than having to stream everything
DarkAura
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 10:38 AMHi Chris,
From what i saw you can download an offline version of the files you have brought or upto 20,000 of your own mp3s. This is to every android device you own.
Unless i’m missing something.
Guys do you have any futher details on the proxy steps?
MotorMouth
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 11:02 AMOn a realted note, Zune Music finally went live yesterday. I spent a couple of hours playing around in it last night and was largely underwhelmed. It is quite iTunes like really. The range seems quite good, they even have one of our albums (iTunes has all 3), but the experience is nothing special without band bios and photos and the “more info at zune.net” link actually takes you to the front page of MSN’s Shopping site, which is completely useless.
It is also REALLY expensive. There were a few albums I would have bought, except they cost 1800 points, which is $30, and I can get the freakin’ CD delivered from amazon for half that. Some albums are as cheap as 900 points ($15) but most are more than that. Single songs were anything from 99 points ($1.65) to 299 points ($5), which is ridiculous. Of course, they get you in by selling you slabs of points, so once you’ve bought some, you forget about how much each item is costing you. It is the old-school Microsoft at work and I want no part of it, thanks.
rufusluves
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 12:40 PMUnblock-us will give you access to google music and s heap of other stuff. I highly recommend it.
Glenn Mortimer
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 10:26 PMunblock-us is good, i use it to get access to Netflix on my xbox, and all my other devices at home.
Glenn Mortimer
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 10:25 PMi have been using google music for about 3 or 4 months now, it works a treat. uploaded all my music, it keeps updated from my pc, i can play any of my music anywhere at any time. i dont care for the ability to purchase music from them at this stage. would be nice if it had a built in shazam like feature though.
MotorMouth
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 11:17 PMReally? Even when there is no wi-fi or 3G? I would need almost a year’s worth of bandwidth just to get all my music to the cloud. I can’t imagine how clunky it would then be trying to browse for something to listen to.
John
Friday, November 18, 2011 at 4:44 PMJerry’s card now has a new service where you can buy prepaid credit cards from him and link it to the account. so then you can just use the gift card thing from then on (plus the cards have a 8 year period so it will be a long time till you need to buy another) http://bit.ly/txIJUD so you can use itunes match
Nobong Barrientos
Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at 9:03 PMFor this no access problem there is a solution. If you want to download 20,000 free songs from Google Music without using your Credit Card, here is your guide, http://blog.buraga.org/2011/11/how-to-easily-use-google-music-outside.html