Sony debuts Music Unlimited streaming service

[Emil]

In partnership with Omnifone, Sony has announced "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity," a cloud-based digital music service with six million songs, a number that will of course grow over time. The content comes from the four major labels: Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and EMI Music, as well as leading independent labels and major publishers worldwide.

Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity is available in the UK (£3.99 for basic and £9.99 for premium) and Ireland (€3.99 for basic and €9.99 for premium). The basic plan works as an infinite ad-free radio station with the ability to skip songs. Subscribers can listen to dozens of personalized channels, categorized by genre, era, and mood. The more you listen, the more uniquely personalized your music channels become since the service studies your listening habits, your like/dislike song ratings, and analyzes your existing music collections. The premium subscription plan lets users listen in full to every song on demand, create personal playlists of favorites, and gain access to premium Top 100 channels that are regularly updated with the latest hits.

The service lets users listen on a wide variety of Internet-connected Sony devices, including Sony's 2010 models of network-enabled BRAVIA TVs, Blu-ray players, Blu-ray home theater systems, PlayStation 3s, as well as VAIO and other personal computers. It will also become available on a wide range of Sony's portable devices, as well as on Android-based mobile devices. Users can also synchronize their existing music files and playlists from other media players to enjoy their existing music at any time across all compatible devices. Service availability will hit Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, New Zealand, and the US in 2011.

The "powered by Qriocity" refers to a series of services offered by Sony: the company debuted a premium video streaming service called "Video On Demand powered by Qriocity" in the US in April 2010 and expanded the service to France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK in November 2010. That service lets customers rent thousands of Hollywood blockbuster movies across Sony's 2010 models of network-enabled BRAVIA TVs, Blu-ray players, and Blu-ray home theater systems.

"As we continue to expand Qriocity globally, these services 'powered by Qriocity' offer a single ID log-in and wallet solution, and empower users to easily consume content including music and video across a growing number of integrated devices," Kazuo Hirai, Sony's President of Networked Products & Services Group, said in a statement. "Seamless accessibility to content through these fresh user experiences will enrich Sony's network service offerings and continually add value to the unique aspects of Sony's network-enabled products."

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/41691-sony-debuts-music-unlimited-streaming-service.html

 

[TomSEA]

I really like these streaming music options, except for one thing. The quality is AWFUL. Like MP3 80-100kbps levels. Barely even qualifies as high fidelity.

 

[db119]

sounds pretty interesting

 

[db119]

I'd like to have some more options than itunes

 

[Burty117]

TomSEA said:
I really like these streaming music options, except for one thing. The quality is AWFUL. Like MP3 80-100kbps levels. Barely even qualifies as high fidelity.

Agreed, I've heard that Spotify is in the proccess of upgrading the quality of its store but I haven't actually noticed any difference? then again, this is round my friends house who doesn't have exactly the best headphones or speakers.

Being Sony though I assume they'll use some patented encoding system that hopefully will squeeze some more quality out.

 

[lawfer]

Ok, that sounds cool and all, but having a service such as Grooveshark, why on earth would any rational person choose this instead?

Sometimes I don't know how these companies think, it's like they are completely oblivious to real customers needs...

 

[Burty117]

lawfer said:
Ok, that sounds cool and all, but having a service such as Grooveshark, why on earth would any rational person choose this instead?

Sometimes I don't know how these companies think, it's like they are completely oblivious to real customers needs...

Very good point, Grooveshark is very good! they almost got an iphone app going as well!
I just wish I didn't have to Jail Break in order to get it

But Groove Shark is free, advert free and doesn't even use an installed App it just is a web page!

Problem is after reading through the Grooveshark Blog you have to question to legality of the site?

 

[lawfer]

burty117 said:

lawfer said:
Ok, that sounds cool and all, but having a service such as Grooveshark, why on earth would any rational person choose this instead?

Sometimes I don't know how these companies think, it's like they are completely oblivious to real customers needs...

Very good point, Grooveshark is very good! they almost got an iphone app going as well!
I just wish I didn't have to Jail Break in order to get it

But Groove Shark is free, advert free and doesn't even use an installed App it just is a web page!

Problem is after reading through the Grooveshark Blog you have to question to legality of the site?

Grooveshark isn't ad free, to be ad free you need to purchase VIP subscription or something. And as for the fact Grooveshark being a web page, well, isn't that what this new Sony service is going to be? Even if it turns out to be a Zune-like service, you would still need to be connected to the internet to acquire songs; not that much different from Grooveshark.

Also, blame Apple for not approving the Grooveshark App. Grooveshark is legal; it doesn't you give you the music, it lets you, what I would call, "infinitely preview" it. If you like it, they offer various links to Itunes and Amazon so you could buy the music, and all of the profit goes to their respective owners. Even when you play a song, money goes to the owners. Besides, the fact you can upload your own music, and also put it out there and possibly sell it is great for up-and-coming artists. And all of this is FREE of charge.

That's how I don't know why people would use this crappy attempt at music monopoly from Sony...

 

[Burty117]

Ok my mistake, Grooveshark has no banner ads if you use ad block plus anyway.
I also doubt this Sony attempt will be like Grooveshark unless anyone has a link to a screenshot?
Also I was comparing Grooveshark to Spotify in regards to installing an app etc...

Yeah, I know Apple dissaproved it. Which is bizzare considering they allow Spotify? Thats the main reason I was question its Legality because that to me makes no sense, Hell Apple could actually make money from having Grooveshark if it includes links to its iTunes store to buy the music!

Overall I agree though, I prefer Grooveshark over these otherones just because of the ease of loading it up. I used to listen to them on Grooveshark then buy them on iTunes but didn't realise that there was links! Cheers dude, think I might start using it more often.

 

[tonylukac]

@People complaining about streaming quality. Did you ever listen to vinyl? Do you actually use all 5+ channels of your speaker system? I know, it's the 21st century.