Spotify's mobile app finally goes free

#1

Post by brt » Wed, Dec 11, 2013, 5:21 PM UTC

Spotify's mobile app finally goes free
news.cnet.com

Re: Spotify's mobile app finally goes free

#2

Post by tonylemesmer » Wed, Dec 11, 2013, 5:28 PM UTC

Except that what I think of as "Spotify" is the ability to pick a tune from their enormous library and play it with some ads thrown in.

What is actually free, today is the ability to play random songs. Basically no different to other streaming services. Massively caveated mobile experience which is not immediately obvious in the announcement.

I installed the Android mobile app. It took me about 10 minutes to work this out at which point I uninstalled it again.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Re: Spotify's mobile app finally goes free

#3

Post by dchuk » Wed, Dec 11, 2013, 5:30 PM UTC

The smartphone app, however, doesn't work exactly like the PC service. Users can access their playlists and music albums, but they have to scroll through their lists randomly using a "Shuffle Play" button. Users can't pick the exact song they want to play right away, and will have to shuffle through their playlists.

I pay for Spotify specifically for the mobile app (the ads didn't bother me) and I do not want these changes. I can't tell from the article, but will this pricing change have any effect on the way I currently use the app? I want direct access to songs on my phone, not a Pandora-like system...otherwise I would just pay less and switch back to Pandora...

Re: Spotify's mobile app finally goes free

#4

Post by nixy » Wed, Dec 11, 2013, 5:33 PM UTC

dchuk wrote: post #3

The smartphone app, however, doesn't work exactly like the PC service. Users can access their playlists and music albums, but they have to scroll through their lists randomly using a "Shuffle Play" button. Users can't pick the exact song they want to play right away, and will have to shuffle through their playlists. I pay for Spotify specifically for the mobile app (the ads didn't bother me) and I do not want these c…

I'm pretty sure these shuffle restrictions apply to users of the free service only.

Re: Spotify's mobile app finally goes free

#5

Post by spurgu » Wed, Dec 11, 2013, 5:40 PM UTC

This seems like a surprisingly dumb move. Making a virtual Ipod Shuffle will only serve to annoy users. Which on the other hand is their business model, but I think users will rather uninstall than upgrade to premium because of this.

Re: Spotify's mobile app finally goes free

#6

Post by deathcakes » Wed, Dec 11, 2013, 5:43 PM UTC

spurgu wrote: post #5

This seems like a surprisingly dumb move. Making a virtual Ipod Shuffle will only serve to annoy users. Which on the other hand is their business model, but I think users will rather uninstall than upgrade to premium because of this.

Agreed - I say this as a premium subscriber and have vast experience of the awfulness that is their paid for app, be it on android or ios.

Re: Spotify's mobile app finally goes free

#7

Post by tonylemesmer » Wed, Dec 11, 2013, 5:44 PM UTC

spurgu wrote: post #5

This seems like a surprisingly dumb move. Making a virtual Ipod Shuffle will only serve to annoy users. Which on the other hand is their business model, but I think users will rather uninstall than upgrade to premium because of this.

There is a mismatch between the 2 Spotify experiences (desktop free vs. mobile free) which is not obvious until you try it out. That's the annoying bit.

Re: Spotify's mobile app finally goes free

#8

Post by plg » Wed, Dec 11, 2013, 5:50 PM UTC

Spotify is currently not available in your country.

(canada)

boo

Re: Spotify's mobile app finally goes free

#9

Post by res0nat0r » Wed, Dec 11, 2013, 5:51 PM UTC

spurgu wrote: post #5

This seems like a surprisingly dumb move. Making a virtual Ipod Shuffle will only serve to annoy users. Which on the other hand is their business model, but I think users will rather uninstall than upgrade to premium because of this.

Why would you uninstall so you can listen to your music in order vs. unsubscribe?

I upgraded long ago to get rid of the annoying ads. I don't know if the mobile service has just the shuffle portion, or shuffle plus ads, but that would make me upgrade even quicker if that is the case.

I used Spotify all the time at work, and premium is a big part so I can listen to it via my iPhone in my car also.

Re: Spotify's mobile app finally goes free

#10

Post by rohansingh » Wed, Dec 11, 2013, 5:53 PM UTC

dchuk wrote: post #3

The smartphone app, however, doesn't work exactly like the PC service. Users can access their playlists and music albums, but they have to scroll through their lists randomly using a "Shuffle Play" button. Users can't pick the exact song they want to play right away, and will have to shuffle through their playlists. I pay for Spotify specifically for the mobile app (the ads didn't bother me) and I do not want these c…

Your functionality is unchanged. Free users who previously had no or limited mobile functionality have more functionality.