Existing Xbox Music subscribers are doubtless pleased today, if they carry their subscriptions on iPhones and iPads. The iOS version of the jukebox service released an important update that allows cacheing of playlists to the device, for offline listening. But — possible server crush broke our updated app. Continue Reading
Pandora is more than holding on to its 14% stock ascension yesterday, it has added another five percent as of this writing. Meanwhile, the silence around iTunes Radio resembles, well, dead air. How Pandora is trying to replace radio, and dominate Internet radio. Continue Reading
The NY Post reports unnamed sources indicating that Beats Music, headed for launch this month, will splash into the market with Super Bowl ads and other media purchases. Beats Music has a steep hill to climb, entering a crowded U.S. streaming audio market. Continue Reading
It’s a nifty cassette adapter that turns any stereo system which includes a cassette player into a Bluetooth-enabled streaming audio system. This handy conversion gadget turns old stereo systems into new streaming-audio systems, in the continued assault on home radio. Continue Reading
Pure, the audio company responsible for the Jongo line of wireless speakers, is having an eventful CES week. The company has announced additions to its product lineup, and taken square aim at WiFi-speaker market leader Sonos. Continue Reading
It’s press release week – err, I mean CES week – in our industry this week, a time when lots of folks gather in Vegas for the Consumer Electronics Show, and announce innovative products and projects. Two announcements in particular caught my attention yesterday. Continue Reading
Google, along with four car companies and a chip maker, has announced a consortium called the Open Automotive Alliance. The concept of Android cars is obviously desirable from Google’s viewpoint. For automakers, partnering with an established tech company solves a couple of serious problems plaguing the car industry. Continue Reading
From CES, Pandora announces a new in-car advertising initiative. Ford, BP, State Farm, and Taco Bell have signed on as anchor national advertisers. The new advertising launch applies to Pandora listening that is “natively” installed in cars. There are currently 130 car models which contain native Pandora integration. Continue Reading
Advertising technology company AdsWizz and audio company HARMAN have partnered to provide what are described as unique audio advertising solutions to HARMAN’s Aha Radio product. We talked to execs at both companies to find out why this might result in a unique advance in audio advertising. Continue Reading
Market-leading Internet radio service Pandora released its monthly audience metrics today, showing substantial growth across the board. As of this post, Pandora stock (NYSE: P) is spiking to the tune of 10% over yesterday’s close, bringing it market cap close to $6-billion. Continue Reading
Amidst the connected-car news emanating from the nine automakers exhibiting at CES this week, we can expect news from music app developers that are racing to claim dashboard territory in those new digital dashboards. Out of the gate is Clear Channel, announcing new distributions of its iHeartRadio platform in cars by Jaguar, Volvo, and Kia. Continue Reading
Chevrolet and OnStar teamed up for the second connected-car announcement of CES 2014. OnStar will provide high-speed (4G LTE) Internet connectivity in selected Chevy models. Along with the rolling Internet, Chevrolet will provide a bundle of built-in apps. Ford and Chevy are promoting opposing conceptions of the connected car. Continue Reading