listenrapp:
That’s right. I’ve decided to make the app free for the time being. The plan is to add some super awesome paid features in upcoming releases, but the core functionality of Listenr will remain available pro bono. Much thanks to everyone who supported me by purchasing the app over the last few months. Now on to the new features:
The two big ones this time are Last.fm Scrobbling and Search. Also, all avatars and post metadata is stored locally on your phone, so this should result in a snappier experience.
To enable Last.fm scrobbling, just head on over to the Settings App, and under Listenr, flip the switch to ON. The next time you open the app, you’ll be asked once for your credentials. Rest assured, Listenr never stores your Last.fm password.
Enjoy! Leave a nice review if you dig the app. And if not, pop me an email or a Tumblr message. I’m always open to suggestions.
Huzzah! And I’m working on reblog support, among other things, as I type this.
A few members of the Spotify team wrote a paper describing their architecture. It’s very readable if you’re remotely aware of how TCP works. I had no idea the service was using a Peer-to-peer network to do its heavy lifting. It makes a ton of sense, and I hope Apple’s impending streaming service is equally well-engineered. I have my doubts given the legacy of Mobile Me, but hey, companies are capable of change.
Either way, I hope Spotify makes its way to the United States very soon. It’d be a shame for such a wonderful service to miss the boat to the Goliath of Cupertino (or Google… or Amazon). The more competition we have in this space, the better consumers fare. I’ve been using Rdio for the past few months, and I’m generally very pleased with its offerings. But I’d love to see how much innovation we could squeeze out with another large contender on our shores.
Addendum: The very fact that the Spotify team was willing to publish this paper demonstrates how confident they are in their offering. Spotify is (albeit at a high level of abstraction) telling competitors exactly how its service works! They’re begging Amazon and Google and Apple and the likes to copy their model. Those are some cojones.
(Source: news.ycombinator.com)
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140 Plays
I am just now discovering that Sister Suvi is dead. I wish I could have seen them live.
One day, someone will write a book about all the bands that did not quite make it. They will travel the world, from Rio to Austin to Irkutsk, and ask the people: “What was your greatest band that never was?” The author will collect stories, testimonies, oral histories of the indie-rockers, folk-singers and go-go crews that exploded listeners’ hearts right open—and then called it quits. The tale of all the groups that only live on in legend.
Sing a song for Sister Suvi at McSweeney’s
Of all the bands I’ve listened to in my short human tenure, Sister Suvi is the best that never was. Their one and only album, Now I Am Champion, is still available for purchase here.
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60 Plays
Making Me Nervous by Brad Sucks. Once again found on MeFi. The man behind this operation, Brad, is extremely rad. Read the about page on his website and prepare to agree with me. He created the default sounds for Pidgin. You can’t get any awesomer than that. Oh wait, yes you can: did I mention he gives away his music for free? Because he definitely does (click download all for link to zipped album).
Brad, the only thing you suck is the teat of excellence.
Via: Listenr App
