Streaming

Rdio to launch new ‘Select’ streaming music tier for $3.99 per month

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Rdio is planning to launch a new budget tier for its streaming music service soon, BuzzFeed reported on Wednesday. CEO Anthony Bay tells the publication that they are calling the new tier 'Rdio Select,' and it will give users limited access to the streaming service for just $3.99 per month.

“We’ve all been flying airplanes that had business class only,” Bay quips. “There is no coach.” The $4 tier will include two components: the first is a Pandora-like streaming radio offering without ads and unlimited skips, and the second is on-demand music with a daily allowance of 25 songs.

Try before you buy: Apple’s new music service to offer lengthy trial periods and free song samples

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Apple's new music service could include multiple ways to listen for free, Recode reported on Friday. Citing sources familiar with the project, the site says that while the service won't include a typical 'free version,' Apple is hoping to offer a lengthy trial period and free song samples.

The trial period could range anywhere from one to three months, depending on the outcome of Apple's current negotiations with record labels, which would give users a lengthy look at the service. It may also allow music owners to upload a sampling of songs that others could listen to.

Apple still missing key licensing deals ahead of rumored Beats Music relaunch

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Apple is really cutting it close if it wants to relaunch Beats Music at its developer conference next month. Citing sources familiar with the company's plans, Billboard reports that it is still missing a number of key licensing deals it would need to secure to unveil a new streaming music service.

"A June launch is still attainable," one source tells Billboard. "If any company can do it, they can." However, another source at a major record label tells the publication that there is no way Apple will be able to pull off a June launch for the new service, saying simply that "the deals aren't done."

Amazon’s Instant Video for iOS can now stream content in HD and over cellular

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 30, 2015

Amazon's Instant Video client for the iPhone and iPad has received an update Thursday, bumping version number to 3.0 and bringing out several improvements to streaming video quality.

Users can now stream Instant Video content on their iOS device through their carrier's cellular network while controlling their mobile data usage settings. In addition, the ability to watch video streams in high-definition has been added, too.

YouTube is going ad-free… for a monthly fee

Cody Lee ∙ Updated June 21, 2018

It looks like the rumors were true, YouTube is readying a new subscription service. In an email obtained by iDownloadBlog, Google tells video creators it wants to offer an ad-free version of YouTube for a monthly fee, which has yet to be determined. The service will offer features like offline playback, kickbacks for content creators, and could be ready to launch as early as this year.

Twitter gives Periscope verified badges, Follower Only mode, new Global section and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 8, 2015

Twitter on Wednesday issued a second update to its live-broadcasting app on iOS, Periscope for iPhone. The new build brings an additional three new features along with a few enhancements and bug fixes making your experience more pleasing than before.

In addition to easier blocking and major scrolling improvements, a new Follower Mode can be now turned on before starting a broadcast to limit comments to only viewers that you follow.

Apple said to currently not have 4K plans for new Apple TV

Jake Smith ∙ April 5, 2015

So you thought the new 4K television you paid ridiculous amounts of money for during Christmas was going to be supported by Apple soon enough? Sorry bud, maybe a couple more years.

Apple scoopster John Paczkowski of Buzzfeed reports that when Apple's next-generation Apple TV is released to the market later this year, it will lack 4K video capability, even as the television industry grasps onto the new technology that provides a more detailed and immersive viewing experience.

Twitter’s Periscope app receives its first update with live broadcast improvements

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 2, 2015

Twitter's live-streaming software, Periscope, was released in the App Store a week ago and today the app has received its first feature update. Periscope 1.0.1 fixes issues with chat not working sometimes and addresses performance concerns when watching broadcasts with many users.

Now people you follow who are live-broadcasting appear at the top of your feed, allowing you to jump into the action with just a tap. Video streaming and in-app maps showing broadcaster's location have been enhanced as well.

Jay Z, other prominent artists look to take over music streaming with Tidal

Jake Smith ∙ March 30, 2015

Shawn "Jay Z" Carter has banded together a formation of artists looking to take on the music streaming industry with Tidal, the music streaming company he bought for $56 million. With fierce competition from Spotify, Google, Rdio, and soon Apple, Jay Z has put together an elite list of artists that want the value of music to be recognized again. The group detailed their plans at a media event on Monday evening.

Sony’s PlayStation Music goes live in 41 countries with Spotify integration

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 30, 2015

After years of trying to make a dent in the music space with its ill-fated services like Music Unlimited, Sony back in January threw in the towel by announcing a partnership with Spotify, the leading music-streaming service.

Monday, the Japanese company has delivered on that promise with the launch of the new PlayStation Music service with Spotify integration. Available on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 console as well as on Sony's Xperia smartphones and tablets, the service brings 30 million songs to users in 41 markets around the world.

Meerkat 1.1 gains better search, in-app streaming alerts and other enhancements

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 30, 2018

Meerkat, an app which kicked off the live broadcasting craze by letting you stream live video from your iPhone to all of your Twitter followers at once, has released its first major update since its App Store debut a little more than two weeks ago.

The app is now more stable and user friendly and comes with nearly a dozen improvements related to searching, following other people, getting notified about their activity, discovering new streams and more.

Twitter releases live-streaming app Periscope

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 26, 2015

Ever since Twitter shut down Meerkat, the popular live-streaming app that cleverly uses Twitter existing account and social graph infrastructure, it became clear that the micro-blogging startup was about to launch a similar service of its own.

Indeed, on Thursday the company announced immediate availability of Periscope, a live-streaming video service it acquired back in January.

The free iPhone app, like Meerkat, allows users to start live-streams from their device in an instant.