Google's Free Music Streaming Service Goes Live

Google has released all kinds of new goodies today at their I/O keynote today in San Francisco, this time Google has announced a new music streaming service called Music by Google. It's currently in beta and on invitation only basis. The whole point of Music by Google is to let you upload your music collection to Google's cloud storage and then you will be able to stream and listen to your music online and on your Android device using the Android Music app, for free. Songs that you've already fully played will be cached on your device and will be available for offline listening. Possibly the best thing off all is the ease of use, users will be able to directly upload their music library straight from iTunes or any music folder. What are you waiting for? Go request a Music by Google invite, it's free! 

Amazon Launches Cloud Player For Web & Android

This is big news coming from Amazon, they just launched their new cloud service for music streaming called Amazon Cloud Player. Amazon members in the US can now upload their music purchases to their cloud storage called the Cloud Drive with a 5GB capacity with optional paid plans of up to 1TB of Cloud Storage. The service is free for streaming music on your computer and Android running devices using the Android app.

iSkin Announces earTones Headsets

iSkin's new earTones look like an improved version of Apple's iPhone headsets that we all know are mediocre to say the least. iSkin promises serious, high-definition sound quality suitable for watching movies, playing games and of course, music listening. The earTones have a slim inline mic compatible with iOS devices, Macs and BlackBerry devices. Unlike most earphones on the market, the earTones are not in-ears but rather earbuds and do not get inside your ear canals. For comfort, iSkin designed the earTones to have a flexible tip called FlexFit which promises a more comfortable and easy fit. The earTones are available now in six different colors for $39.99.

Microsoft Zune Is Dead

Too bad, the Zune product line is now officially dead says Microsoft. Microsoft will no longer produce any Zune players but might actually keep investing in the Zune software and put it to good use elsewhere. So if you're not a fan of the iPod, you might as well get yourself a Zune until they're all sold out. 

iTunes in the cloud soon!

 

When Apple bought Lala, everybody thought that iTunes in the cloud was just around the corner, and now this rumour has new light, well acording to BGR's "reliable Apple sources."  So what BGR's sources are saying it that iTunes will have these 3 things:

1. Streaming music and movies from Apple’s servers to your computers, devices, etc.
2. Streaming music and movies from your home computers to your other computers, remote devices, etc.
3. Wireless iTunes syncing with devices

The first one is relatively simple to understand. It would stream iTunes content which you have bought over the internet to your iDevice, thus eliminating the need for a lot of local storage. Secondly, Apple will apparently let you stream your own content over your WiFi network to any of your own computers and devices. And last but not least, wireless syncing of for your iDevices.

Wireless syncing,  apparently works seamlessly and it will work much like the WiFi Sync app that got rejected from the app store and is now in the Cydia store. So any apps you buy for instance on your iPhone will immediately sync to your computer, changes to your calendar, or notes, or contacts will also automatically update on your computer as well. 

So all sounds great but when will we see it? I'd put my money on it coming in iTunes 10 when it gets announced alongside the new iPods in September.

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Source BGR

Apple Kills Lala

On May 31st, Apple shut down the servers for the music streaming site Lala, which Apple bought about 5 months ago. Now if you use Lala, you must be wondering what will happen to all the money you have spent on the service. Well, you will get an iTunes Store credit code sent to you by e-mail and Apple says that it will round refunds under $10 up to the nearest $1 and refunds of more than $10 to the nearest $5.

However the question on everybody's lips is: What will replace Lala?

Well, Apple didn't just spent $80 million just to shut it down. So many people are speculating if Apple is going to release a streaming service of it's own? The Wall Street Journal was told by “people familiar with the matter” that Apple will launch its own version of Lala’s music streaming service. If the WSJ’s sources are correct, you’ll be able to upload your iTunes library to Apple’s servers so you can listen to them on other computers or a devices like an iPad, iPhone or iPod touch, but as long as you have Internet access.

But when will this come? Many are saying that it will be announced at WWDC in light of it being shut down a week before the keynote. So I guess we will all have to wait until June 7th to find out.

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