Spotify

, the European iTunes rival that’s attracted a huge fanbase, is now available in its much-anticipated iPhone version, the company has announced [iTunes download link]. An Android version is also available as of today (search the Android MarketAndroid Market

for “Spotify”).

Spotify is an awesome way to consume music, providing on demand access to 6 million+ tracks. The only catch: you can only use it if you’re in the European countries already served by Spotify (a US launch is expected soon). You’ll also need to be Premium subscriber to use either of the apps.

The most remarkable part of this story, however, is that Spotify has been allowed in the App Store at all: it appears to be a direct rival to iTunes, making us wonder if Apple would find a squirmy way to reject it. That hasn’t transpired, meaning that Spotify’s impressive feature set is now available to the iPhone and iPod touch addicts among us.

As we wrote of the app last month:

A demo posted to YouTube

last week (embedded below) shows off features that include offline playlists: you can store up to 3,333 songs in offline mode, making it ideal for listening to your music on the plane. The core selling point, however, remains the same as the desktop app: on demand access to 6 million+ tracks. Another neat feature: it syncs with the desktop via wifi…no need to hook up your USB cable. Even US reviewers are blown away: Wired’s Epicenter blog claims it’s so good that “you’d have to pry it out of my cold, dead iPhone before I’ll delete it from my phone”.

The app will only be available to those with paid Spotify accounts: with Spotify only available in Europe right now (although launching in the US very soon), that means we’ll get it first.

If you’re a Spotify user, what are you waiting for? Go forth and download!

 

via mashable.com

leider noch nicht im deutschen shop

By Danny Allen, 12:40 PM on Thu Sep 3 2009, 13,466 views (Edit, to draft, Slurp)

I still can't believe Apple hasn't approved Bluetooth keyboard drivers for the iPhone, but that hasn't stopped user-hacks, or products lining up to be ready. This latest effort modifies actual Apple Bluetooth keyboards, and adds app icons to the keys.

The F-keys have stenciled icons for the standard iPhone tasks (Mail, Safari, etc), and the keyboard letters have logos for some of the most popular iPhone apps. It actually doesn't look too bad, but there's no way to customize the icons. I've never used LinkedIn, so it would seem pointless blazoned all over my L key.

XSKN says that it's currently working with a U.S. engineering firm that specializes in "Made for iPod" stamps. Of course, it's also waiting on that pending Bluetooth driver—as are rivals like the $100 MacAlly BTKeyMini.

What's interesting, though, is XSKN's hopes to sell the iKeyboard by the end of this year for $160. Are they just being optimistic? (And I'm not just talking about that price). Do they know something we don't?

As a backgrounder: You may know XSKN for its keyboard skins and iPhone case leaks (one of which was on the money, while others were definitely not). So make what you will of their ambitions.

Either way, what the hell Apple? There are a bunch of fold up/roll up Bluetooth keyboards for other smartphones, and they can come in pretty handy for meetings and traveling. Sure, I could use my laptop in many situations, but is Apple the only one to not even give me a choice?