Spotify

Gavin Scott · Sun 18 Jul, 2010 13.09

Pete wrote:so how come I've just started using this now? It's incredible! I'd always used youtube for music but this is so fast, better quality and without all the bottomfeeder comments. amazing.

The megamix of soap theme tunes I found the other night was amazing, will have to refind that one

I have the premium version so I can use the app on my HTC desire. I recommend it, its brilliant. Well worth a tenner a month for premium, and no ads to bug your happiness.

James L H · Sun 18 Jul, 2010 13.45

The iPhone app for Spotify is also fab. Got it on my Home screen along with Tapatalk.

Inspector Sands · Mon 19 Jul, 2010 00.52

Gavin Scott wrote:I have the premium version so I can use the app on my HTC desire. I recommend it, its brilliant. Well worth a tenner a month for premium, and no ads to bug your happiness.

I was a bit disappointed when I found out that there was no free mobile version. How well does it do on the Desire in terms of battery and bandwidth? I assume you can download them when you're in Wifi range and then listen offline?

Jamesypoo · Mon 19 Jul, 2010 03.50

Pete wrote:The megamix of soap theme tunes I found the other night was amazing, will have to refind that one

Was it this perchance?

steddenm · Mon 19 Jul, 2010 04.48

Brilliant - it's from K-Tel!

Gavin Scott · Mon 19 Jul, 2010 10.43

Inspector Sands wrote:
Gavin Scott wrote:I have the premium version so I can use the app on my HTC desire. I recommend it, its brilliant. Well worth a tenner a month for premium, and no ads to bug your happiness.
I was a bit disappointed when I found out that there was no free mobile version. How well does it do on the Desire in terms of battery and bandwidth? I assume you can download them when you're in Wifi range and then listen offline?

I was disappointed too, but I though I would take a punt and cancel after a month if I didn't feel the benefit.

But its worth every penny. I actually don't faff around with making anything offline, I just use it "live" over 3G. My data allowance is 500MB and I apparently didn't come close to that in my first two bills, so that's very reassuring.

I tend to listen while I walk places, so at most I'm consuming 30-40 mins at a stretch - and so far its been great. The quality is as close to perfect as any of my MP3s, the access time is instant, and only occasionally do I walk into a bad signal area where it drops out for half a minute. The battery life seems to be fine too. It slips down to the half-way mark but lingers there for the rest of the day.

What I've found is that I tend to be within WiFi where I'm browsing the net (as I'm usually sitting somewhere I'm familiar and have the WiFi password set), and using data over 3G when I'm walking - so its just Spotify I'm using for proper data guzzling.

Its just amazing to have access to anything you can think of as you're strolling along. And actually, now I have Shazam and have started using it, its really anything you *didn't* think of too.

Inspector Sands · Mon 19 Jul, 2010 13.49

Interesting, thanks. I might give it a try, but I think the amount I listen to music might not justify the price (i'm all about podcasts these days!).

Gavin Scott wrote: What I've found is that I tend to be within WiFi where I'm browsing the net (as I'm usually sitting somewhere I'm familiar and have the WiFi password set), and using data over 3G when I'm walking - so its just Spotify I'm using for proper data guzzling.

How do you work your data settings in general? I've had mine a couple of weeks and I've got into a routine of switching off 'mobile data' and Wifi unless I'm actually using it. Then I switch on whichever is most appropriate for my location (I have the wifi settings for work and my local pubs set up!). When I'm connected I'll 'sync all' to update everything

Battery life has improved a lot through doing this, although from what I read on various forums it does improve in the first few weeks anyway (especially as you fiddle with it less!).

Gavin Scott · Mon 19 Jul, 2010 14.26

Inspector Sands wrote:Interesting, thanks. I might give it a try, but I think the amount I listen to music might not justify the price (i'm all about podcasts these days!).

Gavin Scott wrote: What I've found is that I tend to be within WiFi where I'm browsing the net (as I'm usually sitting somewhere I'm familiar and have the WiFi password set), and using data over 3G when I'm walking - so its just Spotify I'm using for proper data guzzling.
How do you work your data settings in general? I've had mine a couple of weeks and I've got into a routine of switching off 'mobile data' and Wifi unless I'm actually using it. Then I switch on whichever is most appropriate for my location (I have the wifi settings for work and my local pubs set up!). When I'm connected I'll 'sync all' to update everything

Battery life has improved a lot through doing this, although from what I read on various forums it does improve in the first few weeks anyway (especially as you fiddle with it less!).

I never fiddle with it at all, save for one little issue - the BT openzones (which are everywhere) can cause a bit of a problem. Sometimes I get the wireless indicator telling me I'm connected - but of course I'm not, not without giving an openzone password. This can prevent the 3G connection from working for data.

In that event I disable wireless until the 3G comes back, and then I'm ok to turn wireless back on.

All other WiFi in pubs I go to are preset and they're seamless in their connection when I wander in.

I could probably push my battery life further if I switched things on and off - but I have a USB charger in the office and one next to my bed - so to be honest its never a big problem.

But as soon as I remember to do it I might buy myself an additional battery and one of those desk chargers that you can leave a spare hooked up to.

Sput · Mon 19 Jul, 2010 15.22

I'm just the same with openzones, and I'm so grateful for that fab long set of buttons you can have on your home screen that switch off and on various data fladgets.

Inspector Sands · Mon 19 Jul, 2010 16.43

(sorry for going off topic)
There's loads of Openzone Wifi spots around, do you need to be a BT subscriber to use them?

Gavin Scott · Mon 19 Jul, 2010 17.57

Inspector Sands wrote:(sorry for going off topic)
There's loads of Openzone Wifi spots around, do you need to be a BT subscriber to use them?

Not necessarily a BT subscriber, there are affiliate providers - apparently some mobile providers give you a username and password as part of your package. O2 is one I think. Didn't they used to be BT Cellnet though?