Spotify now open to all in the UK -for Free!
 

www.spotify.com

GO

GET

IT

NOW!!!

It is bloody fantastic!


And no this isn't a spam post, although it looks like one (oops)

But it is very very good - and it's free

It's almost A Kind Of Magic

---------- Post added at 17:53 ---------- Previous post was at 17:52 ----------

Honestly ;)

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

At first look this looks pretty good straight into listening to Lily Allens new album. Quality is great. Just waiting to see how restrictive the ads are :tu:

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

impressive :)

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

found its flaw unless im missing an adult setting its censored

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

Nice!

Cheers :tu:

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

Ok so they have some instances where albums are censored and they also have the PA version so if you do not want dumbed down versions look and make sure you get the right album

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

This is fantastic. So quick and easy . . . but am still waiting to see what form the adverts take.

Thank you Ben

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

the ads appear to pop up on the right hand side of the player

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

You also get the odd audio one, but it's no worse than you would get on the radio

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

just had first audio jobbie. I think its cool I will use it to decide what I want in my collection 7 tracks before I got it

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

If you have a last.fm account it can also hook into that - and as in my original post you can link directly to your favourite songs.

If you already have spotify you get links like this - Heaven for Everyone

or the HTTP version if you prefer - Heaven for Everyone

And yes I'm a big fan of Queen :D

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

glad you didnt typo it as queens then lol

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

Great find - I really like this :tu:

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

Ditto - Great Find. Currently listening to Superstar by the4 Carpenters, really clear quality :)

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

Ok, I created an account, mailinator accounts are acceptable apparently :)

What's the download? A dedicated player?

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

Yes

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

spotify is great, the tracks stream fast and the choice is just amazing

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

A bit of info. The client uses P2P as well as direct streaming so there is some impact on your bandwidth, there doesn't seem to be any controls available for bandwidth management. It also seems to store files locally so hard drive space is an issue if you use a netbook or similar but that is controllable by the interface. It looks like the files are encrypted (split over 4 different files) tho' I can't be sure. Quality is up to 160kbps.

It is a very nice system with comprehensive music coverage; if you can bare the adverts that is. If you regularly buy from iTunes or similar and are not bothered about having a permanent copy then the premium version looks pretty good value and I can imagine it being a long-term success.

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

Its worth mentioning that this has been open for a while now, but only now has it come to the media's attention.

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

There is also www.we7.co.uk if you are worried about the P2P - I haven't tried it myself so I'm not sure how good that is

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

Not off to a good start :(

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7925455.stm

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

Just signed up, look great :)
Let just hope it doesn't happen again

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

Been using it for about 2 weeks now. I find it extremely good. why download from the normal locations ;) when you can just stream it via spotify.

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

Becuase the "normal" locations don't have any adverts during you're listening experience... ;)

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

I know right, I haven't plugged my HDD in of acquired music in since I started using Spotify back in early January.

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

And the normal locations let you have great quality rips (v0, or my preferred, flac+log+cue)

All my CDs are backed up onto the pc anyway so this service is useless to me.

Having ads in audio is a big no no.

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK -for Free!
 

Ooh, and by complete coincidence I'm searching the forum looking for threads on Spotify whilst listening to that very album. Track 7, Gimme the Prize, to be exact. :D

This is an absolutely superb app. Highly recommended. Is anyone else here using it? Has anyone paid for any of the subscription only service levels?

There can be only one!

---------- Post added at 12:47 ---------- Previous post was at 12:44 ----------

Why is it such a huge problem? There are fewer ads - far, far fewer - than on any commercial radio station. And no irritating DJs. So far I seem to be getting one advert every 20-30 minutes or so, plus occasional visual ads in the application window. It's thoroughly unobtrusive.

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK -for Free!
 

My thoughts exactly. I was using it the other day, and I got 4 ads in an entire afternoon. Plus, if I really like an album, I will buy it anyway (on CD) as I prefer the sound quality. It's great to discover new music and try before you buy imo. Much better than the virus ridden p2p applications where you may struggle to find certain tracks anyway.

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

Well, today I have generated myself a huge playlist, plugged an FM radio sender into the Mac, and am receiving my Spotify service on a small radio upstairs where I'm decorating. Absolutely perfect. Whoever designed and created this service deserves to make a mint out of it. :tu:

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

I listen at work all day on this and the ads are not intrusive at all.

Very highly recommended service.

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

Depends how picky you are i guess, my PC is hooked up to my 7.1 sound system, stream audio sounds like crap anyway.

Music is my life, i listen to it everyday...

It's like TV, it has adverts, i wont watch, simple as, rather download the x264 ;)

Spotify
 

just downloaded this and Im really impressed with the sound quality , others like finetune and the likes sound was very tinny but this sounds just like wmp with dfx sound enhancer on . Howd they manage to do this then ?:dunce:

Re: Spotify
 

It uses the ogg Vorbis codec, -q5 setting (nominally 160kbit). Sounds about the same as any other competently compressed audio... ;)

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

Anyone else experiencing the first part of the songs wizzing through until it stops and starts playing it properly?

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

Nope ... I've seen BBC iPlayer do that for the first 5 seconds or so of a programme but I've never experienced it with Spotify. Using it now, absolutely fine.

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

Not doing it so much now with the playlist. sometimes it'll shoot all the way through to the middle.

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

No issues at all on Spotify and I love it. Been using it ever day since it came out of closed beta.

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

Have just set myself up a new playlist to listen to while I work. Lovely.

---------- Post added at 12:56 ---------- Previous post was at 11:35 ----------

Here's an entry from their FAQs that might help you:

http://www.spotify.com/en/help/faq/

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

I have just given it a go. MMMmmm.... not bad.

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

its a great peice of software this, they have songs that iv been searching for, for years! and i dont mind the adverts haha

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

Been using it for a month or two. A very nice programme.

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

Is "Unfortunately some artists have opted not to be added to Spotify at this time, some frequently requested artists that are not in Spotify include Metallica, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, ACDC and Led Zeppelin, etc. " still an issue with spotify?

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

Beatles are on there as are Metallica and Pink Floyd

Led Zeppelin aren't nor are AC/DC

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

The closest you'll get to Beatles tracks on Spotify (or any streaming or digital d/l service) are re-recordings that McCartney's done for his compilation albums.

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

ah - They have a proper 'The Beatles' catagory, so I didn't look carefully enough as what is in - sorry

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

Yes. I can't think why though. It's not as if they're at the height of their fame and still earning a bucketload of cash selling their own albums. I can only imagine it's inertia on their part: they don't need the money, they don't need the exposure, they can't be bothered.

In the case of the Beatles, their recordings are going to end up out of copyright before very much longer, so it will be open season on them then!

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

No they won't http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7244928.stm

Bit more up to date - http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/72e08ae0-3...nclick_check=1

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

Nah, I think the Music Artists recently open a copyright extension for songs so the Beatles catalogue is protected for a good while yet! Although The Beatles should be up on Music stores soon, Apple (the Record Label) have said they are in the process of digitising the recordings while Sir Paul McCartney has said iTunes should be selling them by the end of the year. They are making the Beatles Rock Band game due for release in September as well.

Seems like they were resisting the technology but have come around and seen the benefits (or the writing on the wall that physical record sales are falling).

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

I'm not sure there's any provision in English law to extend the copyright in a recording beyond 50 years Damien. That's why Sir Cliff and others have been campaigning on the issue recently. Do you have a link for that info?

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

I linked to them here

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

... MEPs supporting the idea doesn't make it UK Law - not by a long way. It has to go to the European Council and get ratified there, and then it needs to come to the UK Parliament and be ratified here.

If that doesn't all happen by 2012, it will be open season on Love Me Do. :D

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

I hate that song! Well, Not hate..more indifference...

Octopus's Garden is easily the best song..

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

Well the copyright in the recording of Abbey Road isn't up until 2019, so you have a long wait before you can legally download it for nowt ...

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

Cool, thanks for the heads up.

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

I know this is an old topic but I didn't want to start a new one.....this has went to invite only again so I was wondering if anyone has an invite I could possibly have please?

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

I've never had any - looks like have to pay to get invites too! :(

How do I get new invites?
Getting invites is one of the benefits of being a Premium subscriber in one of the countries where Spotify Free is available. You receive two new invitations each time your Premium account is renewed (yearly or monthly, depending on your payment method).

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

Wow that's a pretty poor trick to pull by Spotify :(

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

Well obviously the advertising they rely on isn't bringing in enough revenue.

Everyone is chasing a finite amount of advertising revenue these days.

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

Hiroki, I have an invite I can send to you - drop me a PM and we'll get it sorted.

---------- Post added at 01:57 ---------- Previous post was at 01:24 ----------

I'm going bed. If you PM I'll whisk you a code over tomorrow.

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

Just to let you know I have sent over a pm and thank you very much in advance :D

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

Grooveshark is just as good, if not better.

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

wow i like it!, but how do you rewind and fast forward

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

You need VIP status, $3 a month (£2.18) or $30 a year (about £18)

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

Thats who I use to. Never used Spotfiy but I dont see what all the fuss is about. There plenty of similar services out there for free.

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

Just trying Grooveshark now. Not terribly impressed, I have to say. It's slow, the interface is trying to be extremely clever and as a result is just cluttered, and it is missing functionality because I haven't paid. With Spotify it is fully functional and all I get is about 30 seconds of adverts every 15-20 minutes or so.

---------- Post added at 17:43 ---------- Previous post was at 17:42 ----------

Oh, and the Spotify client application will allow you to set a massive local cache, so just about anything you've ever listened to will replay instantly. Very handy for those of us on slow and variable ADSL services.

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

The ads on Spotify are a 30 second ad after 5 songs played I think

Re: Spotify now open to all in the UK
 

Turns out I actually had an account that I didn't know about as my gf had already registered one for me when it was open....doh!

Still thanks to Acathla for the offer :)