music

• Android
• music
• PMP
• DP-X1
• Onkyo

Onkyo’s high-end DP-X1 media player runs Android and isn’t too expensive

Abner Li Apr 27 2016 - 8:56 am PT

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When Sony released a high-end Walkman in 2015, it choose Android to run the device. Known for high-end audio equipment, Japanese company Onkyo is also using Android to power its first (via The Verge) portable media player (PMP): the DP-X1.

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• Google Chrome
• music
• Chrome experiments
• Chrome Music Lab

Chrome Music Lab teaches kids about sound and shows off the power of the web

Abner Li Mar 9 2016 - 9:59 am PT

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As part of Music in Our Schools Month, Google has released a cool Chrome Experiments that helps kids learn about various aspects of music. The Chrome Music Lab teaches lessons on rhythm, melody, and oscillations in a neat visual and interactive way that is accessible to anybody with a phone.

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• Google Play
• 9to5Toys
• Tech Industry
• deal
• music

Take 50% off any album purchase from Google Play

Nov 25 2015 - 8:39 pm PT

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You can save 50% on any one album from Google Play this weekend. Go through this special link to activate the coupon and then the discount will be automatically applied at checkout. This is a great chance to save on music that isn’t available on any streaming services including Adele’s new critically acclaimed album. Deal expires at midnight on December 1. If for some reason Google Play does ask you for a coupon code, just enter 50ALBUM2015.

Terms and Conditions are as follows:

Get 50% off any one album of your choice. Select any album on Google Play and redeem your offer by midnight December 1, 2015. Your discount will be applied at checkout.

Must be redeemed on Google Play from compatible Internet connected devices using a Google account. Limit 1 per user. Age restrictions apply. Valid in AU, BR, CA, DE, FR, GB and US. Nontransferable. No cash value. Cannot be used in conjunction with other offers or discounts. See Google Play Terms & Conditions

• Google
• YouTube
• Ads
• music
• youtube subscription

Report: YouTube will place some content behind paywall when subscription service launches

Cam Bunton Oct 19 2015 - 6:52 am PT

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We’ve read many times over the past months that YouTube is planning to launch a subscription service. The company itself has announced as such, and is already nearly all the way to getting enough partners onboard with the new monetization method. In return for a low monthly fee, likely $10, YouTube wants to give you access to all the videos and music you can manage, and without showing any ads of any kind. Google is planning announce this new service at an event this Wednesday, October 21st.

What Google has said all along, however, is that customers who don’t pay can still watch all their favorite videos, but with the ads (as normal). What it hasn’t stated publicly, is that it may be holding some exclusive content back, for the eyes of subscribers only. In a report from Re/code, it’s rumored that when YouTube kicks off its new paid service, the streaming site will also place content that it funds behind a paywall. Regular non-payers won’t be able to watch it.

It’s unclear when you’ll be able to see the new programming YouTube is announcing. Sources say some of the stuff YouTube is paying for hasn’t been created yet, and won’t be available until 2016. In September, I reported that industry sources expected YouTube to launch its subscription service near the end of this month, though it could slip past 2015.

The timing of YouTube’s planned subscription service launch is still, clearly, up in the air. But it will be interesting see how the streaming platform delivers the service, and how many long-time YT users sign up. Will YouTube be able to tempt enough people to subscribe with its own funded and exclusive content? Those questions remain unanswered for now. Let’s just hope the launch happens sooner rather than later, if only to satisfy my curiosity.

• Android
• Google Play
• Google Play Music
• update
• app

Google launches Google Play Music All Access Family Plan w/ 6 users for $15 per month

Stephen Hall Sep 29 2015 - 9:38 am PT

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Google has today launched a new Google Play Music All Access family plan at today’s September 29th event. This is a move to take on competitors like Spotify and Apple, and will allow users to use the service across 6 accounts for just about $15 per month… Expand
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• Android
• Apps and Updates
• Chromecast
• update
• app

Some users already noticing Chromecast support in the Spotify Android app

Stephen Hall Sep 29 2015 - 8:40 am PT

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As we exclusively reported earlier this month, Spotify is teaming up with Google to — finally — introduce support for the Chromecast. Now, as the event is nearing kickoff, some users are already noticing their Chromecast devices appearing in the Spotify Connect list, although the feature doesn’t seem to be working quit yet.

As you can see above, it looks like Spotify is going to include Google Cast devices in the same list as other Spotify Connect devices (via Reddit). However, as of right now at least, try to cast your stream to a Chromecast simple results in the following error message: “Spotify is not support on this device right now.”

Google is sure to make mention of Spotify’s new support for its platform at its event scheduled to kick off at 9 AM PT. If you want to keep in the loop on this as well as new Chromecast hardware, new Nexus devices, and more, be sure to head over and watch the livestream when it becomes available.

• Android
• Apps and Updates
• Apple
• apps
• rumors

Site claims to be offering Apple Music for Android beta access

Cam Bunton Sep 28 2015 - 5:46 am PT

1 Comment

UPDATE: One of our readers, with experience of using Betabound commented the following: “Centercode, who runs Betabound, has been around for over a decade running software/hardware betas. I have been through numerous tests with them. I understand the skepticism but this is a legit company.” Perhaps then, we can be a little less skeptical of the beta test.

Apple shocked the tech world back in June when it announced that its music streaming service, Apple Music, would be making its way cross-platform. Up until now, the company has kept all of its mobile products in-house, and hasn’t offered anything on the Google Play Store except for the ‘Move to iOS’ app, and we all know how that turned out. In an unusual move, it looks like Apple may have signed up a third party to get early beta testers onboard its first media app for Android.

Members of Betabound.com have received emails inviting them to apply to test Apple’s music app for Android. Little detail is given in the email, except a short paragraph and a linked questionnaire which hopeful testers have to fill in. Betabound, a Centercode company, proudly labels the test as an exclusive.

We’re excited to invite you to come test Apple Music for Android. If you’re a current Android user that would like to join the beta for the new music streaming service, you won’t want to miss this opportunity. To learn more and apply, click the link below. Best of luck! The Betabound team.

There are plenty of reasons to be skeptical. First off, Apple tends to manage its beta testing in-house, even to the point of offering a public beta of iOS 9 to anyone and everyone who wanted to try it before launch. Why then would it go with a third party company, especially one which is seemingly so unknown? It definitely seems weird. Perhaps the Android community’s response to its last app prompted the Cupertino-based tech giant to try a much quieter launch of Apple Music for Android. Perhaps it only wants a small number of testers onboard, and so isn’t announcing anything. Perhaps, it’s just a way for Betabound to get their name out there and isn’t a genuine beta test.

• Google Play
• music
• free
• download
• mp3

Download 10 tracks of Latin Vibes for free over at Google Play

Jared Weintraub Sep 14 2015 - 12:54 pm PT

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Google Play has 10 tracks of Latin Vibes Free for a limited time. Just head on over and download the full album. 

We can honestly say we are only familiar with one artist in this collection (I think you can guess who), but the price is just right.

• Android
• Apps and Updates
• apps
• Twitter
• music

Twitter introduces Music on Vine: Better audio controls and music discovery on Vine app

Cam Bunton Aug 28 2015 - 1:28 am PT

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Last night, Vine announced that it’s bringing greater music controls to its popular video-looping app on Android. While users have always had the ability to include audio of any kind in their Vines, this new update makes it far more precise. The biggest update is a feature called ‘Snap to Beat’ which enables users to more easily create a seamless loop, or perfect loop where you can’t tell the beginning of the audio from the end.

To get Snap to Beat working for you, choose a song by tapping on the music note in the ‘Details’ screen. Snap to Beat automatically identifies how much of the song to use to make a seamless loop, then trims the video to fit that music clip. If you don’t want it happening auto-magically, you can switch off Snap to Beat and edit the audio manually yourself. This gives the user complete control over how much sound to include in the Vine, and which part of the video it should play over.

[protected-iframe id=”d900916b42d3ba16839a9ad6ea03cd99-22427743-89100566″ info=”https://vine.co/v/ejVEvtP0l0O/embed/simple” width=”600″ height=”600″ frameborder=”0″]

As a part of Vine’s new-found focus on music, there’s also a new audio discovery tool within the app. First up is a new ‘Featured Tracks’ section which you can explore when you create a new Vine and tap on the music note to add a song. What’s more, you can use Vine to detect what you’re listening to while watching other Vines. If a musical note icon appears beneath a Vine, tap on it, and it’ll show you the name of the track, and the name of the artist performing.

[protected-iframe id=”f27ac4650c551da7488dfbe008f3d023-22427743-89100566″ info=”https://vine.co/v/ejVEavAvKvA/embed/simple” width=”600″ height=”600″ frameborder=”0″]

The Music on Vine updates will be rolling out to Android from today and will be available to download from the Play Store for free.

• Apps & Updates
• Android
• Google
• Apps and Updates
• Google Play Store
• update

Xbox Music’s ‘Groove’ name-change hits Android in redesigned app

Cam Bunton Jul 29 2015 - 1:37 pm PT

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Xbox Music changed its name to Groove at the beginning of this month, and today, the rebranding has made its way to the music app on Android’s Play Store. It’s free to download, and is available right now.

Along with the new look and name, the app has had a couple of new features added. More devices can now download tracks for offline listening thanks to newly added compatibility. Music stored in your OneDrive folders will automatically show as music in the new Groove app. What’s more, you won’t need a paid subscription to make use of the app, although you will need one to access the entire streaming catalogue ad-free.

As per the Play Store listing: Expand
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• Apps and Updates
• music
• Shazam
• Coldplay
• Alicia Keys

Updated Android app lets you see the music your favorite artists are Shazamming (Video)

Ben Lovejoy Jun 30 2015 - 4:03 am PT

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[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IzK9qtb8Gc]

If you’ve been following your favorite artists on Shazam, you can now find out what music they are checking out using the service. An update to the Android app due to roll out today lets you see which tracks they are identifying via Shazam.

Shazam says that the feature is available for hundreds of artists, including Alicia Keys, Coldplay, Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull, Shakira, Adam Lambert, Fifth Harmony, Clean Bandit, Maroon 5, Nick Jonas and Jason Derulo.

Don’t expect to catch any of them Shazamming anything terminally uncool, however: artists have the option of keeping individual searches private. The updated app hadn’t yet gone live at the time of writing, but check for it on the Play store later in the day.

Shazam finally made it to Android Wear last month.

Via Engadget

• Google Play
• Google Play Music
• music
• stream
• Heavy metal music

Entire Metallica catalog now available on Google Play

Chance Miller Apr 2 2015 - 7:41 pm PT

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Heavy metal fans rejoice: the entire Metallica discography is now available for streaming on Google Play. Previously, thanks to harsh distribution agreements, none of the classic band’s catalog was available from Google. All of the albums are available for purchase at $9.49 each now, however, with individual tracks costing the standard $1.29.

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• Google Play
• Google Play Music
• Tech Industry
• music
• sale

Google Play year-end sale lists dozens of albums $1.99 and up

Stephen Hall Dec 23 2014 - 10:14 am PT

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From 9to5Toys.com:

We’re now nearing the end of the year, and it looks as if Google is already ready to celebrate, offering a collection of dozens of albums on sale at prices $1.99 and up. There’s a lot of great music being offered in this sale, from Modest Mouse to Paramore to Skrillex—there’s something for basically anyone.

Here are some notable offerings:

• Paramore – Paramore ($2.99)
• Pure Heroine – Lorde ($5.99)
• Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy ($5.99)
• Recess – Skrillex ($2.99)
• This Is All Yours – Alt-J ($2.99)
• Kind Of Blue – Miles Davis ($6.99)
• 5 Years of Deadmau5 – Deadmau5 ($2.99)
• Greatest Hits – Motely Crue ($3.99)

As for albums coming in at the base $1.99 pricetag, there are a couple country offerings:

• Dustin Lynch – Where It’s At ($1.99)
• Jason Aldean – Jason Aldean ($1.99)

To check out the rest of what Google has listed, be sure to check out “The Big Sale” promotional page on Google Play.

• YouTube
• Google Play
• Google Apps
• music
• All Access

Google says Play Music subscribers automatically get access to YouTube Music Key starting next week

Stephen Hall Nov 14 2014 - 9:27 am PT

6 Comments

When YouTube Music Key was announced earlier this week, we were left with many details about the service unexplained. Of these, was the question of whether or not current Google Play Music subscribers were going to have access to the service automatically. While the announcement said that subscribers of Music Key would be getting All Access subscriptions included, it wasn’t exactly clear whether or not it worked the other way around. Now we have the answer:

Starting next week, as a Google Play Music subscriber, you’ll get free and complete access to the YouTube Music Key beta, a new service from YouTube where you can watch ad-free music videos, and keep the music playing in the background or when you’re offline. The Google Play Music app will also include ad-free music videos alongside select tracks. Stay tuned for more information.

In an email sent out to Google Play Music subscribers this morning, the above snippet of text explained that those who already subscribe to Google’s music service will be getting access to the Music Key beta starting “next week.” The service promises ad-free listening to music on YouTube, offline playback, and the ability to listen to music in the background on your mobile devices.

If you’re not a Google Play Music All Access subscriber and you still want to get access to the Music Key beta, head over to the Music Key splash page and hand over your email address.

• Android
• Wear OS
• SmartWatch
• music
• smart watch

Sonos beta-testing music player controller for Android Wear smartwatches

Ben Lovejoy Oct 31 2014 - 6:16 am PT

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Sonos is beta-testing a remote controller for its music systems on Android Wear. A user in the Sonos support forum noticed controls showing up on his Moto 360 watch while running a beta version of Sonos Controller for Android.

Sonos already works on my Moto 360 !!

OK, only pause, next and back. No volume control.

Sonos owners can sign up for the Beta Program here.

Google recently rolled out an update to Android Wear which included support for both offline music–allowing music to be stored on a smartwatch–and GPS.

Via Zatz Not Funny

• YouTube
• Video
• music
• subscription

YouTube CEO once again confirms a music service is on the way as company investigates paid video subscriptions

Mike Beasley Oct 27 2014 - 10:31 pm PT

1 Comment

Susan Wojcicki, YouTube’s CEO, said tonight during Re/code’s Code Mobile conference that the video site is still working on a subscription music service that was originally said to be debuting later this year, although the company may or may not end of meeting that estimate as it continues to hammer out the details of the offering.

YouTube confirmed in June that the service was on the way, so Wojcicki’s admission doesn’t come as much of a surprise. The service will reportedly be called YouTube Music Key and tie in with Google’s existing Play Music service.

Wojcicki indicated that the company is still trying to work out all of the details, but says she’s “optimistic” about a near-future launch, although she wouldn’t give any specific dates. The service has been under construction since 2013, and YouTube is apparently in final stages of figuring out how exactly to price it.

The CEO also said that YouTube is considering other ways to make money, perhaps by offering users the choice of a paid subscription that would eliminate ads from the site. From her remarks it seems that this isn’t something that will be launching any time soon, but is an interesting idea that’s currently being toyed with.

• Apps & Updates
• Apps and Updates
• music
• Twitter for Android
• sharing
• audio

Twitter introduces new audio card, allowing in-line audio playback in mobile apps

Mike Beasley Oct 16 2014 - 1:49 pm PT

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Twitter announced a change coming to its mobile apps today that allows users to play music directly from a tweet. The new Twitter Audio Card will allow certain users (there’s a list on Twitter’s blog) to share audio uploaded to SoundCloud with users in-line. Users will be able to listen to these embeds while they continue browsing their timelines.

Twitter says it’s just starting to test the feature right now and plans to roll it out to more content creators and partner audio sites in the future. You can try it out in Twitter for Android right now.