A major update to Spotify allows users to sync their MP3s and playlists from the music-streaming service to iPods, iPhones and Android handsets -- even if you don't pay a subscription.
As of today, you can sync Spotify with your iPod classic, iPod nano and iPod shuffle as well as via the apps for iPhone, iPod touch and Android. You'll still need to pay for Spotify Premium to listen to streamed music, but the software is now an effective competitor for iTunes as a desktop music manager -- and much less of a system hog.
The Swedish company also announced synchronisation will soon work over Wi-Fi -- something iTunes doesn't do, which had been top of users' request lists for ages. No cables required: your smart phone or iPod will just appear under a new Devices menu in the desktop software.
A revamped music store lets you download bundles of MP3s for as little as 50p per track, almost half of what iTunes charges. A bundle of 10 tracks costs £7.99, 15 costs £9.99, £25 will bag you 40 songs, and a bundle of 100 will set you back £50. A new feature for playlists lets you buy everything on it with one click, as the video below explains.
Over the next few days, existing Spotify users will receive an automatic upgrade. Does this make iTunes redundant? Does it make up for Spotify Free being hobbled recently? Tell us what you think in our comments section below or on our Facebook wall.
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Comments 8
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anonymous 4 May, 2011 17:04
I'm pretty sure you have this story all wrong... In order to have 'Spotify Free' on your iPod/iPhone you'll need to pay for the track.
Nick Hide 4 May, 2011 18:15
@Paul
"Spotify allows users to sync their MP3s" - you have to own the MP3, yes. Sorry if that wasn't crystal.
ace9988 5 May, 2011 01:02
whats the point in streaming on an mp3 player since the whole point of the mp3 player since the point of buying one in the 1st place is to store music and they come with hard drive sizes that cater for everyone, phones yes...mp3's no in my opinion
Nick Hide 5 May, 2011 09:14
@ace9988 You don't stream to an MP3 player. Spotify lets you manage your MP3s so you don't have to use iTunes any more. Again, sorry if that wasn't clear.
Anonymous 5 May, 2011 16:39
don't get the point in all this. can't see what help it is
Anonymous 18 May, 2011 10:00
Only being allowed to listen to each track a max of 5 times sucks. Spotify is dead. Long live ...?
Anonymous 22 June, 2011 18:06
Paul, you can do CD Ripping, so what?
-techytbone
Anonymous 10 July, 2011 16:13
I'm not remotely a techophile so excuse the utter ignorance. I have just upgraded to Spotify premium and downloaded the android app for my Google Nexus S. Am I correct in thinking that while I am able to listen to whatever I want on my laptop with a monthly subscription via streaming, in order to be able to listen to music on my phone, I would have to purchase and dowload my playlists? So there's a monthly subscription to contend with plus a cost for dowlonading each song before you can actually listen to anyhting? Can I not just use spotify on my phone in the exact same way I use it on my laptop, without ever puchasing songs to own?