Spotify has finally unveiled a new revamp that sees it bring Facebook integration and take a step closer to replacing iTunes on your computer.
The first major change is the addition of Spotify Social, which uses Facebook from within the music program to let you share your track choices with buddies.
The obvious benefit of this is that people can easily discover what their friends are looking at and listening too, as well as 'subscribing' to the people that you think have the greatest taste (you can easily spot these people: they're wearing sunglasses in their profile picture).
You got the power
Friends online with Facebook and using Spotify Social will be listed at the side of the screen, and clicking in will let you see their profile picture and track listings for easy music stalkage.
Spotify founder Daniel Ek spoke at SXSW earlier this year about the forthcoming social network integration, highlighting how it will make music more available to all users:
"We are looking at integrating some parts of the social aspect," he says. "If you think about the problem of how do you browse music – most people approach the problem by looking at genres. I could probably come up with 200 different genres, but I don't really know what 'neoclassical pop' is. What classifies neo-rock or neo-pop?
"Spotify is approaching 10 million tracks - how do you browse through 10 million tracks? Searching is one solution but it's not an optimum way of discovering new music. A social aspect is."
The other big feature with the new update is the option to import your music files from your computer to the Spotify interface, thus making it much easier to listen to the tracks you want to without having to search for them time and time again.
The new update will hit your computer later this week, but if you simply can't wait to try it out, head over to www.spotify.com/download and have a look-see for yourselves.
Check out the video below to see for yourselves how it all works:
Your comments (7) Click to add a new comment
bradavon
April 28th 2010
7. You can even share Playlists compromising solely locally stored music.
How will this work? Will the other person only get access to the files, when A: My computer is on? B: I've got Spotify open?
Will this mean the MP3s are streamed from my own computer? I don't like the sound of that.
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bradavon
April 28th 2010
6. Finally, I can play locally stored MP3s and Streamed Spotify music from the same App! I've been asking for this for ages.
Facebook integration will be handy too.
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lovlid
April 27th 2010
5. @ stevewiilliams.
"but iTunes is for downloading tracks and movies while Spotify is merely a streaming service"
But both amount to the same thing, Access to music. Makes perfect sense.
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tom.a.wrobel
April 27th 2010
4. This sounds good, as I've been playing with Songbird and others for a while trying to find an iTunes alternative (local music), which also allows Spotify's streaming service, all in one place.
I notice it won't sync with ipod/iphone, but how about an Android phone? It would be really nice to have the ability to keep everything in one place - so my local media could be synced to phone easily.
Anyone know about this?
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stevewiilliams
April 27th 2010
3. Davidosh But the downloads are not directly from Spotify D;
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davidosh
April 27th 2010
2. stevewilliams spotify is now aiming to beat itunes with the ability to upload files to the interface and the ability to now download tracks being a feature for a while now. All it needs now is a 'Genius' feature, movie downloads and itunes is beat in terms of functionality
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stevewiilliams
April 27th 2010
1. How can you say that iTunes is going to beat by Spotify? They're two completely different services with different aims and goals which do two completely different things. They are indeed both related to music but iTunes is for downloading tracks and movies while Spotify is merely a streaming service. How can you put two services with two completely different aims, goals and purposes in the same ring to fight against one another while maintaining a sense of logic? Sorry... but it just doesn't make sense.
Nevertheless I will be linking Spotify to Facebook as soon as I get home so everyone can see me listening to Taylor Swift ;D
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