Spotify launches iPad app | Hacker News Reader

Spotify launches iPad app

spotify.com

45 pointsabhinavsharma32 comments

About damn time, i've been waiting for this for ages. I abandoned MP3's when i signed up for spotify years ago. I like using my iPad and my bluetooth speakers as a stereo system with a decent remote control so having a proper interface now makes the experience much better.

Well done spotify! Now go sort out the record labels that dont like streaming so i have a full library.

Even if they get the rights to more music from more labels (and maybe even as a result of that), there will still be a decent amount of independent artists who simply won't put their music on Spotify for multiple good reasons.

I'm not going to demonize Spotify for doing these things, but if their business practices mean that I can't listen to the music that I want, then I have no reason to use their service.

[1]: http://www.stevelawson.net/2011/12/why-ive-taken-my-music-of...

[2]: (warning: will autoplay video; important bit is the linked comment) http://www.youtube.com/comment?lc=nDvhKYygZTshP0TGDq8ZjxVo0M...

[3]: http://gigaom.com/2011/12/11/why-spotify-can-never-be-profit...

I used to be a subscriber to Spotify, back when I had to jump through crazy hoops to be able to subscribe to it from Germany (involving a VPN, entropay and paypal with a fake address).

I have since moved on to Rdio, which does not have as good a music selection (in Germany) but this awesome "artist radio" feature, which is kind of like Last.fm or Pandora, but better. I absolutely LOVE this feature.

Does Spotify have something like this? It did not when I last checked.

Also, does the iPad app work with AirPlay without going through the multitasking switcher?

I think Spotify has by far the best music selection out there. Also, that high-quality option is very much appreciated.

Yes, Spotify has a radio feature.

I can't find it in the iPad app, so if it does have a radio feature it's not very accessible one.

It is only on the desktop version.

Now, if they only could sort out the iPhone app as well. It uses a lot more CPU (and corresponding battery) than other audio players (probably due to its Vorbis use), and skips as soon as the os is busy doing something else.

Indeed! The current iPhone app is very buggy...

The new app is a universal binary which also includes iPhone updates, so it might be worth downloading the update and seeing if it fixes any of your issues.

It doesn't seem to fix anything, unfortunately, as far as I can tell after a quick test.

I loved the little video they made for it. Especially the x2 joke at the beginning.

Has anybody tried their Linux preview? I am thoroughly impressed, so far its the best app on my Ubuntu in terms of UX.

Yes, I use it all the time. I believe it's QT app, which might help explain the robust UI.

I also use it, and confirm it uses Qt and QtWebkit. Other than some finicky setup to get it to play local MP3s on Arch, it works wonderfully.

Also, for Gnome-using friends, I created a python wrapper for Spotify to map Gnome's media key events to the type that Spotify is expecting, so that I can use my keyboard to control the music. https://github.com/jreese/spotify-gnome

Hey I sent you an email about a small issue I had setting up this wrapper.

Does it work for free users yet? Last time I tried it didn't. I would like to test their service before I pay them.

It worked for me on ubuntu as a free user, even though the site said it wouldn't. I did experience issues with the ads getting stuck visible over the interface, but the audio worked fine.

That's surprising because I moved away from the Wine version specifically because the ads used to get stuck over the interface, even when Spotify was not in focus. With the Linux preview I never faced those issues again.

Yes, it works for free users now - at least it worked for me (I have since gotten an account.) I was using the Windows client via Wine, which worked surprisingly well until an update killed it a few months ago. During the same update, however, the Linux Preview began working for free users. I'd try it again if I were you.

Like the iPhone version, you need to be a premium subscriber to steam anything. Myself I have the cheaper plan that's only good for the desktop app.

I'm definitely liking the iPad version. It's way easier to navigate compared to the iPhone version. I'm very pleased with the app overall.

spotify.com's "Sign Up" button takes me (in USA) to the "Not Available [in your country]" page. Any insights?

Same here. Picking international, and then USA doesn't change anything. As of now, a worthless app on the iPad. Perhaps first day launch issues?

It's a known issue and is being worked on, last I heard.

Fixed. And you must consent to it using Facebook:

"You need a Facebook account to register for Spotify. If you have an account, just log in below to register. If you don't have a Facebook account, get one by clicking the 'create an account' link below."

This includes letting it post messages as you. Guess I won't be using it.

I was put off by this as well, but there is a setting to stop it posting the updates to your timeline within the app.

Finally, spotify should transition marvellously to the bigger form factor - AirPlay enabled would be great to

Airplay should indeed be available for you in the iPad app - see http://www.spotify.com/us/about/spotify-on-ipad/

It also enables the AirPlay button in the iPhone app. So now you dont have to fiddle with the built in iOS controls. It also seems to work better now, the music starts faster for example.

Now if they only enabled AirPlay in the Mac app...

Is this any use to users on the lower tier subscription? (ie. desktop only streaming, not mobile)

This is great news. The iPhone interface was woefully inadequate on the iPad.

Impressive work! It’s a really nice app, not just normal and boring, not a visual mess, a joy to navigate. If only I could convince myself to pay.

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