Spotify

Spotify Connect unveiled: AirPlay-like streaming, but without overhead

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 16, 2018

The popular Swedish streaming music service Spotify on Tuesday announced a compelling new feature for audiophiles which takes the best ideas from Apple's media streaming technology called AirPlay, and then some more. Called Spotify Connect, the service is being billed as "the new way to play at home".

It's a lot like AirPlay, but with the key difference: there's no overhead as the feature streams songs straight from Spotify's server to supported wireless speakers. I've included more information and a nice promo clip after the break...

Spotify introduces new curated playlists

Cody Lee ∙ August 5, 2013

Streaming music services aren't just about the music these days. Aside from obvious bullet points like price and availability, users are also looking for features like discovery and smart playlists. And Spotify just made a huge play in this regard.

A few hours ago, Spotify took the wraps off its new 'Browse' page, which now features what it calls 'expert playlists.' These are essentially curated playlists that promise to deliver 'music for every moment,' from workouts to dinner parties...

Spotify’s Discover tab finally makes its way over to Apple devices

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

The Swedish streaming music startup Spotify has finally updated its iOS client today with a new Discover tab which made its way into the Android build back in December 2012 and four months later into the web interface.

Basically a music recommendation engine, Discover suggests similar songs based on your listening history and your playlists. Oh, and iPhone users will be happy to learn that Spotify now lets them fully customize their playlists.

This feature was previously inexplicably reserved only for the iPad client. Oh, and they just flattened the app icon so it fits better on your iOS 7 Home screen...

MiniPlayer 2.1 is a beautiful update to a great jailbreak tweak

Jeff Benjamin ∙ May 10, 2013

You know how they say some things get better over time? Wine falls squarely into that category. MiniPlayer does too. The upcoming 2.1 version, which is being submitted to Cydia's BigBoss repo today, is a more refined experience than its predecessors.

The first version of MiniPlayer had potential, but left a lot to be desired in the avenue of designed. Now that Surenix has stepped on board with the project to help out with its design, the tweak has come into its own.

Music controls have always been a part of a crowded market in Cydia, so it takes a lot to make any particular tweak stand out in this space. I'm happy to report that not only does MiniPlayer stand out with its latest 2.1 update, it shines. Check out our full video walkthrough of the latest version of MiniPlayer right after the break.

Spotify is now compatible with Ford’s SYNC AppLink vehicles

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 26, 2017

We love Spotify here at iDB as much as the next guy. Personally speaking, I rarely buy music files these days from iTunes and instead choose to pay ten bucks a month to stream my music. And with approximately twenty million songs available for streaming, Spotify pretty much has me covered.

With today's update, the popular Swedish music startup has become more useful, especially should you happen to listen to music while driving (who doesn't?) and own a Ford vehicle supporting the company's SYNC AppLink solution. Just like BMW's ConnectedDrive Apps platform, the AppLink platform from Ford allows iPhone, Android and BlackBerry devices to run approved applications using the car's steering wheel buttons, radio or voice commands...

Spotify could rival Netflix with own video service and original content

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 25, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwd3aCXYncM

Spotify, which recently updated its iOS client with a brand new biography feature in the artists view, is reportedly considering getting into video with a rumored streaming product meant to take on the likes of Netflix and HBO. Conveniently enough, the Swedish startup has kicked off its first-ever advertising blitz around music as it steps up efforts to sign up more people to its service.

Spotify battles Pandora and Rdio (and quite possibly Apple and Google soon) and has emerged as the most popular streaming music service out there. It offers two basic tiers that bring the best of both worlds, an ad-supported free desktop streaming and a $9.99 a month premium tier for unlimited ad-free music.

Though the firm does have lots of experience negotiating media deals and moving chunks of data through Intertubes, a full-blown video streaming service would be an entirely different pair of shoes, one marking a radical shift in strategy for the young company...

Spotify 0.6.1 update brings images and biographies to artist view

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated May 2, 2017

Less than one month after its awesome 0.6.0 update, which brought along a brand new app interface, Spotify has been updated again. Version 0.6.1 adds a brand new biography feature to the artists view. Now you can see a photo of your favorite band, along with a link to a written biography.

This brings the iPhone version of Spotify closer in line with the desktop version, which has had images and biographies since its inception. The 0.6.1 update also brings a new bug fix. Check inside for more details.

Spotify redoes iOS app, squashes Lock screen bug

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Not to be outdone by Amazon's new Cloud Player app and Apple's roll-out of iTunes in the Cloud in a dozen European markets, Spotify, the popular Swedish music streaming startup, has revamped its iPhone and iPad client with a brand new interface and a handful of fixes, most notably squashing the annoying bug (no, not that one) which displayed the wrong track on the Lock screen...

Spotify and record labels in talks over free streaming on mobile devices

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 20, 2013

I get literally 90+ percent of my digital music through Spotify. Just ten bucks a month buys me unlimited, high-quality, ad-free streaming. Apple's à la carte iTunes downloads just don't stand a chance. But Spotify isn't the juggernaut of Apple's calibre so no wonder record labels have limited free streaming to computers and notebooks. That could change now as the Swedish startup is reportedly in talks with content owners over extending free streaming to smartphones and tablets like iPads and iPhones...

AssistantLove receives an iOS 6 update

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated February 25, 2013

One of my favorite jailbreak tweaks, AssistantLove, just received an update for iOS 6 compatibility. AssistantLove was featured in our top jailbreak tweaks of 2012 list, and would have been added to my "perfect iPhone" feature, if it had iOS 6 compatibility at the time.

If you're a Spotify user like I am, then you will really appreciate what AssistantLove brings to the table. Along with allowing you to integrate GPS apps with Siri, and launch apps using shortcut names, AssistantLove meshes Siri with Spotify. This means that you pretty much search for any song or artist you can think of using your voice.

Browser-based Spotify music player in beta rolling out today

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 15, 2012

I've always loved iTunes, but I must admit that nearly all of my music discovery, purchasing and sharing is on Spotify these days. Why pay ten bucks for a whole album when Spotify provides unlimited access to its 20+ million-strong catalogue for $9.99 a month?

Spotify subscribers have enjoyed both the official desktop and iOS apps, the latter recently updated with support for the iPhone 5. Word on the street is that Spotify is due to launch a beta of its upcoming browser-based music player later today.

The web application will allow people to access and stream their cloud music from supposedly any device with an HTML5-compliant browser, like Safari on iOS and OS X...

Spotify app finally receives update for iPhone 5

Cody Lee ∙ Updated August 24, 2016

Spotify users rejoice, the cloud-based music service has finally pushed out an update to its iOS app that makes it compatible with the iPhone 5's new 4-inch display. The company has taken a lot of heat from its subscribers over the past several weeks, as it was the last out of the big three music-streamers (Pandora and Rdio) to optimize its app for Apple's new handset...