New iPhone app streams iTunes collections anywhere

[AppleInsider]

The developer of desktop software that lets users listen to their iTunes libraries from any broadband Internet connection now has a similar tool for the iPhone and iPod touch that eliminates storage limits.

Called SimplifyMedia (App Store), the app by the company of the same name uses a companion app for Mac, Linux, or Windows systems to share iTunes songs and playlists from both the user's own computer and any of 30 friends the user marks as friends.

Using the iPhone app itself is characterized as seamless and attaches visual song data as well, including album art and lyrics associated with each track.

Importantly, the software isn't limited to a Wi-Fi connection and will work (albeit not as quickly) over 2G and 3G cellular Internet access.

The software is potentially controversial for granting access to music that isn't owned by the user, though the company on its website claims it's legal; songs are only streamed and are only shared between a specific group of users rather than the public at large. DRM-protected iTunes purchases also won't stream through the program.

Hoping to spur a strong early reaction, Simplify Media is offering the iPhone edition of its utility for free to the first 100,000 to download it but will charge $3.99 per copy afterwards. The computer-based software is and remains free, regardless of platform.

SimplifyMedia for iPhone delivers on a remote streaming concept similar to one recently outlined in an Apple patent filing.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ] (http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=4497)

[CBA]

I've just downloaded it, even though I don't have an iPhone....will save me a bit of money so when I do get one I don't have to buy it, because by then I imagine 100k will have been downloaded!

[Kasper]

I've just downloaded it, even though I don't have an iPhone....will save me a bit of money so when I do get one I don't have to buy it, because by then I imagine 100k will have been downloaded!

It works really well. I have it steaming Pink Floyd on EDGE right now... Started in 30 seconds and has been progressing through the album without a hitch. If your connection is not strong enough, it will give you a sever connection error. Overall, it's pretty impressive. It's doing a number on my battery life, however. =P

K

[btitusjr]

I search for it but it is not coming up on my phone in the app store:???:

[Kasper]

I search for it but it is not coming up on my phone in the app store:???:

Search all as one word "SimplifyMedia" or scroll through the "Music" category.

I'll correct Aidan's post.

K

[btitusjr]

Search all as one word "SimplifyMedia"

I'll correct Aidan's post.

K

Ah thanks found it under music. Wanted to get this be 4 I get out of work and gots to pay for it. Or apple wises up and takes it away:\

[skottichan]

Got it, for free still.


I'm accessing my cousin's iTunes from my Touch (I'm in Ohio, she's in Scotland), this is cool as hell.

[ClemyNX]

If you click on the link given in the article it should work....
Works like a charm for me, that's a great app.
I will impress my collegues at work tomorrow!

[Dogcow]

Just tried it out. Works great over WiFi or 3G. Now can still access my phone music collection without even loading it onto my iphone. I wonder what it does to the battery life....

[Ireland]

Few things.


Still plays and goes onto the next song when iPhone is in sleep-mode, the WiFi stays active.
You can't fast-forward or rewind songs, and there's no scrubber.
iTunes does not need to be running on your Mac or PC, though you computer has to be on a connected to the internet.
The Simplified Media app has to be running however, which while kind of obvious to some, it is a hindrance to the apps usability if you ask me.
Headphones button doesn't work with the app, if pressed the iPod app takes over, quitting this app and starting up. Another little annoying thing.


In theory this is a revolution, but I don't need that much music on me at once, and I don't care what everyone else is listening to. All the music I'll ever need and more is in the iPod app, and when I hear a new song (new to me, not new in general) I can buy it from iTunes and throw in the iPod app.


Lyrics are cool.
Artist summary is cool too.

[iedsri]

It's unbelievable; works perfectly -- and it's free!

We have entered a new age!

Who needs a bigger hard drive on the iPhone now that I have access to my 250-gig music folder whenever I want it?

Now I just want them to add a video function so I can watch my 2.5-terabyte movie collection!

[solipsism]

Just tried it out. Works great over WiFi or 3G. Now can still access my phone music collection without even loading it onto my iphone. I wonder what it does to the battery life....

It took about 5-10 seconds to queue a song on 3G and EDGE took too long to load a 190Kbps audio. If you have a lot of higher bitrate lossy or lossless audio I suggest making using iTunes simple conversion option to make copies of your audio in a lower bitrate.

There is no way to FF through a song, but you can skip tracks. It doesn't carry your album cover or lyrics over but it does a nice job of supplying it's own data. You don't have to be running iTunes, but Simplify Media does have to be running to work so the simple interface of the app would be much better if made into a Menubar item, not a Dock Item.



http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3203/2764366540_bb5b2cee42_m.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3191/2763522379_14b32a9ffa_m.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3039/2764372506_4196f4e16d_m.jpg

[iedsri]

Funny, it's working fine when I plug in my headphones.

[tomlawler]

It's unbelievable; works perfectly -- and it's free!

We have entered a new age!

Now I just want them to add a video function so I can watch my 2.5-terabyte movie collection!

exactly! C'mon, SimplifyMedia! you CAN do it! With handbrake and simplifyMedia, we have it all! The dvr makers should get onto this, as well as apple tv!!!

[JeffDM]

Funny, it's working fine when I plug in my headphones.

Are you referring to the button on the earbuds that let you play/pause and skip, and it really controlled that app? Ireland didn't say headphones didn't work, it's the button that doesn't control the app.


Headphones button doesn't work with the app, if pressed the iPod app takes over, quitting this app and starting up. Another little annoying thing.

If that's true then I see no reason to even try it. iPhone's music playback is annoying without that button, I had to buy a cable with the button to make it decently useable to me.

[walshbj]

I expect an Apple app to do this before long. Maybe even integrated with the Remote app for iPhone and touch. I'm interested, but hesitating because it doesn't support iTunes purchases.

[joshamorrison]

It took about 5-10 seconds to queue a song on 3G and EDGE took too long to load a 190Kbps audio. If you have a lot of higher bitrate lossy or lossless audio I suggest making using iTunes simple conversion option to make copies of your audio in a lower bitrate.

There is no way to FF through a song, but you can skip tracks. It doesn't carry your album cover or lyrics over but it does a nice job of supplying it's own data. You don't have to be running iTunes, but Simplify Media does have to be running to work so the simple interface of the app would be much better if made into a Menubar item, not a Dock Item.



http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3203/2764366540_bb5b2cee42_m.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3191/2763522379_14b32a9ffa_m.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3039/2764372506_4196f4e16d_m.jpg

I don't know if this is what you meant but there is an option to use the application in the menu bar (under preferences iirc) but it will still open the buddy list once you select the drop down. I agree that the interface could be simplified , maybe with the use of a dashboard item.

[solipsism]

I don't know if this is what you meant but there is an option to use the application in the menu bar (under preferences iirc) but it will still open the buddy list once you select the drop down. I agree that the interface could be simplified , maybe with the use of a dashboard item.

Thanks. That is what I meant, but mine is greyed out so I didn't notice it. It requires Growl to be installed to have this option, which i have, but I was running it the DMG. Welcome to AI.

[shokk]

Awesome! This is what I've been waiting for! Now to load up on more movies and podcasts and less music. Had to uncheck a lot of tunes from my library when I moved from my 32GB iPod Touch to the 16GB iPhone. This makes up for it.

[cameronj]

Got it, still free

[voodooru]

what a disaster!

this app just totally fuked my phone up! i've tried rebooting the last 3 hours. LOL

good thing I'm 20 mins outside the 5th AVE NYC 24 HR store. heading there now 11:00pm - to go yell at somebody. i don't give a fuck if i dont have an appointment at the "genius" bar! bitches are gonna reboot this shit for me. lol


note to self - avoid apps. they're turning my iphone into a portable version of Vista!


disappointing!


:mad:

[wilco]

what a disaster!

this app just totally fuked my phone up! i've tried rebooting the last 3 hours. LOL

good thing I'm 20 mins outside the 5th AVE NYC 24 HR store. heading there now 11:00pm - to go yell at somebody. i don't give a fuck if i dont have an appointment at the "genius" bar! bitches are gonna reboot this shit for me. lol


note to self - avoid apps. they're turning my iphone into a portable version of Vista!


disappointing!


:mad:

Will your mommy let you out so late at night?

[solipsism]

what a disaster!

this app just totally fuked my phone up! i've tried rebooting the last 3 hours. LOL

good thing I'm 20 mins outside the 5th AVE NYC 24 HR store. heading there now 11:00pm - to go yell at somebody. i don't give a fuck if i dont have an appointment at the "genius" bar! bitches are gonna reboot this shit for me. lol


note to self - avoid apps. they're turning my iphone into a portable version of Vista!


disappointing!


:mad:

So you are angry that a 3rd-party app isn't working so you're going to yell at Apple Store retail staff as if it's their fault. I have a feeling that they have not even heard of the app yet.

[Contegni]

I can't find this app on the app store from my iPhone... Did apple yank it already?

[Postulant]

How long does it take to scan your library? I've been waiting 15 minutes.

[zenwaves]

don't know if it's because my iTunes library is over 27,000 tracks, or if it's because it is located on an external FW drive, but SimplifyMedia has been 'scanning libraries" for over an hour with no visible indication of any progress ...

[MadonnasManOne]

This is a great app. I'm glad that I read about it, here, so that I could get it while it is free. At any rate, there is one thing that I wish this app would do. Even better, it would be nice if ANY app would do it, and that is allow streaming of the great radio stations that are available in iTunes. I LOVE 80's music, and there are some great 80's stations in the Radio section of iTunes, and I would LOVE to be able to stream them to my iPhone 3G! Anyone know of any app that does this?

[gleep]

I LOVE 80's music, and there is some great 80's stations in the Radio section of iTunes, and I would LOVE to be able to stream them to my iPhone 3G! Anyone know of any app that does this?

Try Tuner Internet Radio (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=284205617&mt=8) by Nullsoft. The UI isn't perfect, but it does exactly what you want.

[netdog]

Anybody tried it on EDGE with Apple Lossless files yet? Wondering if it has the bandwidth to handle these files.

[MadonnasManOne]

Try Tuner Internet Radio (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=284205617&mt=8) by Nullsoft. The UI isn't perfect, but it does exactly what you want.

Thanks for the suggestion!

Does this app have the same 80's stations that are listed on iTunes radio? Also, it appears that they have raised the price from $4.99 to $5.99. Not a biggie, however, I've read the reviews, and people have been complaining that the update actually took away some of the functionality, and that they liked the older version, better.

Any other suggestions? Anyone here that uses this app?

Again, thanks for pointing this out to me, gleep!

[gleep]

Does this app have the same 80's stations that are listed on iTunes radio? Also, it appears that they have raised the price from $4.99 to $5.99. Not a biggie, however, I've read the reviews, and people have been complaining that the update actually took away some of the functionality, and that they liked the older version, better.

It has some of the same stations, but you can add your own stations if what you want is not listed. I've added several custom stations on my phone. All you need is the URL to the stream you want to listen to. Note that it does not support Real or WM.

I enjoy Pandora and AOL Radio as well, but both of those are mono streams if you aren't using Wifi. Nullsoft's Tuner plays whatever bitrate you choose -- though, obviously, if your connection cannot handle the bitrate, you are punished with constant re-buffering.

[MadonnasManOne]

It has some of the same stations, but you can add your own stations if what you want is not listed. I've added several custom stations on my phone. All you need is the URL to the stream you want to listen to. Note that it does not support Real or WM.

I enjoy Pandora and AOL Radio as well, but both of those are mono streams if you aren't using Wifi. Nullsoft's Tuner plays whatever bitrate you choose -- though, obviously, if your connection cannot handle the bitrate, you are punished with constant re-buffering.

Thanks, gleep! I appreciate the information. I LOVE Pandora. I've used it quite a bit. I'm not so fond of AOL Radio. It seems like the stations always have static. Of course, that was only from using it, right after I downloaded it. It just instantly turned me off, so, I haven't re-visited it. I've noticed that with Pandora, I always have a clear stream, even over 3G and Edge.

[lfmorrison]

I expect an Apple app to do this before long. Maybe even integrated with the Remote app for iPhone and touch. I'm interested, but hesitating because it doesn't support iTunes purchases.

Wasn't there a patent application unearthed recently where Apple was proposing to do something very similar? Maybe Apple's left hand (legal) doesn't know what its right hand (3rd-party app store verification) is doing. I'm thinking this is going to be shut down before too long.

[maederer]

This app seems silly. I for one have trouble filling the whole 16GB on my iPhone, especially with music. I would rather use the iPod app directly and save my battery.

This process of streaming would likely give you a 2-3 hour battery life, compared to all day with the iPod app directly.

[nacnud]

This app seems silly. I for one have trouble filling the whole 16GB on my iPhone, especially with music. I would rather use the iPod app directly and save my battery.

This process of streaming would likely give you a 2-3 hour battery life, compared to all day with the iPod app directly.

You obviously don't have very much music then, I find there is often a time I want to listen to something that isn't on my PMP and this would be a really nice feature. Plus it now removes the need to save files in compressed music formats. You just save everything as Apple lossless in cheap desktop HDD and stream from there to your player. Which also ditches the need for all the CD backups I have, just back up with another HDD. I think Simplify Media streams at 160bps so bandwith shouldn't be a problem.

Also don't underestimate having the ability to easily share your music with 30 other people, just a few people with tastes slightly different to your own and you end up with a vast library to browse.

I've been using Simplify Media on the desktop for years and love it.

[dontlookleft]

Is there a similar app for say your laptop?

I have an iMac and a windows laptop. I'd love to stream music from my mac to my laptop when not at home (the laptop only has a 50GB HDD).

I'm thinking there's something really obvious I'm forgetting about, but suggestions are VERY welcome.

[Mr Underhill]

So anybody want to send me an invitation??8-)8-)

Screen Name: mrunderhill

[MadonnasManOne]

So anybody want to send me an invitation??8-)8-)

Screen Name: mrunderhill

Mine is MadonnasManOne

I sent you an invite. :)

[nacnud]

@ MadonnasManOne and mrunderhil

I'll let you guess what my screen name is ;)

[Mr Underhill]

@ MadonnasManOne and mrunderhil

I'll let you guess what my screen name is ;)

Erm let me guess:???: :lol:

Thanks for the invites. Works a treat. You also have some really cool music.

[nacnud]

Is there a similar app for say your laptop?

I have an iMac and a windows laptop. I'd love to stream music from my mac to my laptop when not at home (the laptop only has a 50GB HDD).

I'm thinking there's something really obvious I'm forgetting about, but suggestions are VERY welcome.

Install Simplify Media from here (http://www.simplifymedia.com/) on both machines, job done. The Libraries will appear under shared in itunes. You can also use winamp and with Linux there is Rhythm Box.

[studiomusic]

Just got it. Still free!
I was just talking to some friends yesterday about an app that would do this.
Now my iphone can get at the 80gb of music I spent most of 2004 converting from my cd collection.
:D

[stukdog]

This app is quite incredible. We've just had a customer send in a new Mac mini with all of his music collection on it so he can get to it anywhere in the world at anytime without leaving his home iMac on.

[iedsri]

don't know if it's because my iTunes library is over 27,000 tracks, or if it's because it is located on an external FW drive, but SimplifyMedia has been 'scanning libraries" for over an hour with no visible indication of any progress ...

zenwaves, I've ecountered the same problem, with the same circumstances: an outboard 1-terabyte drive stores all my music, and it's 34,000 tracks. The Simplify Media software definitely has a problem with this situation.

I'm going to try uploading from another iMac tonight -- that one has an internal 1-terabyte drive, and that way I'll be able to see if it's just the FireWire link that causes the problem, or if Simplify Media just didn't write an app capable of handling SERIOUS music collections!

[sapporobaby]

zenwaves, I've ecountered the same problem, with the same circumstances: an outboard 1-terabyte drive stores all my music, and it's 34,000 tracks. The Simplify Media software definitely has a problem with this situation.

I'm going to try uploading from another iMac tonight -- that one has an internal 1-terabyte drive, and that way I'll be able to see if it's just the FireWire link that causes the problem, or if Simplify Media just didn't write an app capable of handling SERIOUS music collections!

They had server problems. Things are running rather smoothly now.

[solipsism]

They had server problems. Things are running rather smoothly now.

I wish they didn't through their servers. I wish their servers were just used for authentication before forwarding your IP address to the app. I wonder if the music itself does this or if that too goes through the server.

They would have a real winner if they can tie the iPhone's ability to read most documents to this app so I can access any documents on my system remotely.

[sapporobaby]

I wish they didn't through their servers. I wish their servers were just used for authentication before forwarding your IP address to the app. I wonder if the music itself does this or if that too goes through the server.

They would have a real winner if they can tie the iPhone's ability to read most documents to this app so I can access any documents on my system remotely.

I hear you. I think this might be planned. I do have to say that their customer service is top notch. They answered an email back with 20 minutes, explaining that they had server problems. They did not expect the demand that they got. The service has been a bit spotty but for the most part it is okay.

Just sending you a PM.

[dupreeblue]

Great app, and still free! Thanks!

One question though - I got my iPhone to see my iTunes library, but it's not seeing all of it. Big groups of tracks are missing from any given album. For example, Faith No More's "Angel Dust" has 14 tracks on my computer, but only 3 show up on my phone. All the files are valid, and will play through iTunes.

[solipsism]

Great app, and still free! Thanks!

One question though - I got my iPhone to see my iTunes library, but it's not seeing all of it. Big groups of tracks are missing from any given album. For example, Faith No More's "Angel Dust" has 14 tracks on my computer, but only 3 show up on my phone. All the files are valid, and will play through iTunes.

1) The larger the library the longer it takes to load and you'll have to exit the app and go back in as it won't yet auto update the list. You can see the progress in the SimpleMedia app which you can compare to your music library.

2) It won't do tracks purchased from the iTS. Or radio channels or videos.

[srdixon]

Downloaded the great app. Worked great until I did the iPhone update. Now when I try to use it on my iPhone, I bring up the app and I get a black screen for about 10 seconds and then it bounces me back to my original screen! Did the obvious, restart both, log out, login. Help! I really love this and want to use it. Anyone else have this issue?

[solipsism]

Downloaded the great app. Worked great until I did the iPhone update. Now when I try to use it on my iPhone, I bring up the app and I get a black screen for about 10 seconds and then it bounces me back to my original screen! Did the obvious, restart both, log out, login. Help! I really love this and want to use it. Anyone else have this issue?

Have you reinstalled the app?

[srdixon]

It won't let me. The install button is grayed out and says installed!

[solipsism]

It won't let me. The install button is grayed out and says installed!

Hold down the icon until it shakes, then hit the 'x' to delete it, and hit the home button to stop the shaking. Now reinstall it.

[srdixon]

It worked! Thank you sooooo much!!!

[teckstud]

I've just downloaded it, even though I don't have an iPhone....will save me a bit of money so when I do get one I don't have to buy it, because by then I imagine 100k will have been downloaded!

Thank you so much for this tip- I too got it and will have it when I get an iTouch next month.

[dupreeblue]

1) The larger the library the longer it takes to load and you'll have to exit the app and go back in as it won't yet auto update the list. You can see the progress in the SimpleMedia app which you can compare to your music library.

2) It won't do tracks purchased from the iTS. Or radio channels or videos.

1) That makes sense, thanks! Unfortunately (well, in this case), my iTunes library is pretty big. Now I can't even pull up my own library on my phone. I downloaded the desktop app, and it works great, hooked up with a few of my friends, now on my phone, their library is showing up and mine isn't. Even though she's in Boston and my phone & macbook are on the same wifi network and physically sitting 2 inches from each other. Bizarre. I'll keep trying though, because this is awesome.

One more question though - will the app time out every time my phone locks itself?

2) They're just standard .mp3s in this case. Some are .mp4s, but not from the iTS.

[sapporobaby]

1) That makes sense, thanks! Unfortunately (well, in this case), my iTunes library is pretty big. Now I can't even pull up my own library on my phone. I downloaded the desktop app, and it works great, hooked up with a few of my friends, now on my phone, their library is showing up and mine isn't. Even though she's in Boston and my phone & macbook are on the same wifi network and physically sitting 2 inches from each other. Bizarre. I'll keep trying though, because this is awesome.

One more question though - will the app time out every time my phone locks itself?

2) They're just standard .mp3s in this case. Some are .mp4s, but not from the iTS.

The word I got from the tech support is that they are having server problems. I think they are getting slammed. They probably did not count on this many people jumping on board.

[dupreeblue]

The word I got from the tech support is that they are having server problems. I think they are getting slammed. They probably did not count on this many people jumping on board.

probably not, but it's their own fault for putting out such an awesome idea of an app. ;)

[jowie74]

This app is quite incredible. We've just had a customer send in a new Mac mini with all of his music collection on it so he can get to it anywhere in the world at anytime without leaving his home iMac on.
:???: this doesn't really make any sense, sorry!:D Could you elaborate? Where do you work? Why did a customer send you a mini so that he can access his music?

[palomine]

Try Tuner Internet Radio (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=284205617&mt=8) by Nullsoft. The UI isn't perfect, but it does exactly what you want.

Try the AOL Radio app. It's great. I can even get my local radio stations, a few of them. Even better you can get radio stations from Boston, or Hawaii. When you open the app it has everything sorted by genre, and 60's thru 80's are at the top! Good luck!

[Funderling]

2) It won't do tracks purchased from the iTS. Or radio channels or videos.

I'm having the same issue as Dupreeblu, with not all tracks showing up - but issue doesn't seem to be ITS purchased tracks, as I'm seeing some of those in the list that appears... also, the list on the iTunes app itself shows all tracks as available, but the list on my iPhone only shows about half. I sent an email to tech support, we'll see what they say.

[sapporobaby]

I'm having the same issue as Dupreeblu, with not all tracks showing up - but issue doesn't seem to be ITS purchased tracks, as I'm seeing some of those in the list that appears... also, the list on the iTunes app itself shows all tracks as available, but the list on my iPhone only shows about half. I sent an email to tech support, we'll see what they say.

Had the same problem as well. Fixed it by just waiting. I think they are having massive server problems caused by the popularity of their app.

[lozz]

:???: this doesn't really make any sense, sorry!:D Could you elaborate? Where do you work? Why did a customer send you a mini so that he can access his music?

Check his Signature, I thought exactly the same thing. Absolute quality idea they have there, well in.

[jowie74]

Check his Signature, I thought exactly the same thing. Absolute quality idea they have there, well in.
Oh yeah - macminicolo - I've seen the website before. Should've known! :D

[nerdofamnesia]

if you want to download a program like this for free anytime you need look no further than Orb. I remember using orb more than 2 or 3 years ago being able to stream not only music but video and pictures as well. Actually i could pull up any files on my computer i wanted. There is an install you must do on your computer as well. And orb works through the internet so just make a bookmark on your phone to access it like a regular app. The layout has also recently been changed SPECIFICALLY for iphone users.

I have used this application for years on other phones and have been greatly impressed with what it can handle. Just go to www.orb.com to get an account set up and start streaming your music without paying for an app. Plus i think you also get the satisfaction of knowing that the app is pretty mature and got most all the kinks worked out hopefully.