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Spotify has launched a music download store for its users, added iPod syncing to its desktop application and opened up its mobile apps to non-subscribers.

Up until now, Spotify was a streaming-only service; while it was possible to upload your Spotify playlist on an iPod as audio files, it was not an easy task. Now, Spotify lets you manage your iPod classic, nano or shuffle in its desktop application, sync your playlists with these devices and download MP3s through Spotify’s new download service.

As far as pricing goes, you can buy 100 tracks for €60, 40 tracks for €30, 15 tracks for €12.99 or 10 tracks for €9.99. If you choose the biggest bundle, the price for the single track is just €0.60.

Finally, Spotify has opened its mobile apps to users of its free service (so far, they were only available to premium subscribers). Now, Spotiy Free users can download and install the Spotify iPhone and Android app, buy tracks and wirelessly sync their MP3 playlists from their computer to their phone or iPod touch.

With its 9 million users in Europe and these new features, Spotify has become a full-fledged competitor to iTunes, but it still hasn’t solved its biggest problem yet: licensing and availability in the U.S. Once Spotify manages to overcome that obstacle, it’ll be interesting to see Apple’s response.

The new features will begin being rolled out to users today as part of an automatic update.

More About: apple, ipod, music, music download, spotify

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Continue reading: Apple iPod Liquid-Damage Policy Changed; Additional Inspection for Liquid Damage Now Required [AppleCare Employees Will Now Look at Both Liquid Contact Indicators & Other Signs of Water Damage on iPods Before Determining if Warranty is Void]

Comment | View latest news in Mp3 Players & PMPs | TFTS Home.

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1. Apple Media Event: New iPod shuffle, nano, touch, Apple TV, iTunes, iOS 4.1 & 4.2 [In Case You Missed It: Apple Unveiled New iPod Lines, New iOS Versions & a Hobby Turning Pro] by Chris Smith
2. New iPod touch 4G (Music) Event: What to Expect Today? [Apple to Unveil New Products: iPod touch 4G, iPod nano 6G, Apple TV, iOS 4.1, iOS 4 for iPad & New iTunes Features] by Chris Smith
3. 11.6-Inch MacBook Air Coming in September Along with New iPods? [Apple Is Rumored Again to Launch a Smaller MacBook Air in September; Air Refresh to Arrive Along with New iPod touch & nano] by Chris Smith
4. iPod DJ Mixer from Urban Outfitters [Combine Music From 2 iPods, Spin Function, Digital Effects] by Robert Lesher

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Continue reading: Apple Rumored To Roll-Out iOS 4.2 Update On November 7th [Apple Promises To Fix iOS Alarm Bug, Rumors Suggest Fix Will Come In The Form Of iOS 4.2 For The iPhone, iPod touch & iPad]

1 Comment | View latest news in Mobile/Cell Phones | PCs, Notebooks, Netbooks & Tablets | TFTS Home.

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1. New iPhone 5 to Come In Different Form Factors [New Rumors Suggest Apple Is Currently Developing More Than One New iPhone Version Which Could Ship Earlier Than Expected] by Chris Smith
2. Supposed Apple iPod Nano Cases Support Rumored Touchscreen Refresh [New iPod Nano Cases Leak Out, Support Rumored All Touch Screen Form Factor] by Jeff Baker
3. iPhone 4 Jailbreak Update: BackUp SHSH Blobs; iOS 4.0.2 Is Coming [Apple Rumored to Release iOS 4.0.2 & iOS 3.2.2 for iPhone, iPod touch & iPad; Jailbreak & PDF Exploit to Be Killed in the Process] by Chris Smith
4. iPad iOS 4 (Multitasking), iOS 4.1 & New iPod touch 4G & nano Coming This Month? [Apple Rumored to Host Special Media Event in Mid August to Announce iPad iOS Update, iOS 4.1 & Brand New iPod Models] by Chris Smith

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A Tokyo commuter train was delayed Friday due to a burning smell that was caused by an Apple iPod owned by one of the passengers.

The train was stopped in western Tokyo’s Setagaya Ward for eight minutes — quite a long time for Tokyo’s busy train schedule — at around 8:20 a.m. local time. “When a member of staff went to investigate inside the train, a passenger came over showing him that the iPod she was listening to had burst apart,” the spokesman of the rail line operator Tokyu Corp told Reuters. No injuries were reported.

The timing is bad for Apple, with Apple Japan recently admitting overheating problems in first generation iPod nanos and offering replacements to customers. The exact model of the iPod that caused the accident on the train, however, remains unknown.

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GetAFreelancer is looking to redesign their logo.  Submissions are accepted until September 30th 2009 (midnight EDT) only via the online submission page. Artists can submit multiple entries.

The prizes offered are quite substantial :

• Grand Prize : US$10,000 & Master Logo Designer Insignia added to user’s profile.
• People’s Award : US$1,000 and Master Logo Designer Insignia
• Second Prize : US$1,000 and Specialist Logo Designer Insignia
• Third Prize : Adobe Illustrator CS4 and Specialist Logo Designer Insignia
• Fourth Prize : Apple Ipod Touch 16GB and Specialist Logo Designer Insignia
• 5th-10th Prize : US$25 Apple iTunes Voucher and Specialist Logo Designer Insignia

Find freelance jobs or post freelance projects on GetAFreelancer

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What is important for a product to succeed? Being released first? Having the most advanced technology? Having more features? Some of these questions are always asked either we are about to launch a new service, product or even for our design jobs. The Zune case is very interesting. Even though it has a better hardware, more features and even, I believe, more money invested in promotion, it has not been able to beat the iPod.

It is very interesting to follow these battles between brands, such as Coca vs. Pepsi, iPod vs. Zune or even Mac vs. PC. We have been posting some articles showing some of this strategies, and today let’s talk a bit about the iPod x Zune.

I believe everyone knows the Apple iPod and probably the Microsoft Zune as well. When Apple released the iPod, they showed to the world that you don’t need neither the best hardware nor the most featured equipment to succeed, rather, what matters is the user experience. With a nice strategy of highlighting the simplicity, with slogans such as “1000 musics in your pocket”, the iPod became a hallmark in gadgets history.

“Microsoft launched several campaigns to jump-start the Zune. The company had a major campaign to promote Zune with “Music the way it wants to be” as a major theme and “Welcome to the social” as an advertisement tagline. Also, the company enlisted about 300 “Zune masters” to advertise the device on American college campuses, to promote the item, and to run Zune-related events. In exchange, they received free merchandise, including a Zune…”

Microsoft saw the potential market, a bit late as usual, and decided to release their own Mp3 player which they called Zune. It has always had many much better hardware (along with the money investiment for promos). Even with all that, it was a failure. With slogans such as “Welcome to the Social“, they tried to sell how cool it was the fact that Zune had wi-fi built in and allowed to share songs with your peers.

“The choice of branding and distribution were part of the Zune as a decision of two strategies in the market right now: cross-brand ecosystems… and singular brand ecosystems… The former is gaining in share and units sold, but the latter has enormous share and won’t give that up easily.”

In terms of marketing and sales Zune wasn’t able to beat Apple and the iPod, however in terms of investing in creative people to promote their service, Microsoft, without any doubt, put together a legion of amazing designers and digital artists to create ads for them, guys such as Adhemas Batista, Doug Alves, Si Scott and many more….

One thing is clear: in this battles, the only winner is us consumers, who are in the middle of a war, but in a good way. A war to see which company will be able to please us with the best product. Talking about slogans, I didn’t many Zune ones, so that makes clear that Microsoft doesn’t try to make it look good as much as Apple does. There’s a full section in Wikipedia dedicated to Ipod slogans. Here are some:

IPOD Slogans

• “1,000 songs in your pocket.” (2001) used to promote the first generation iPod’s large storage capacity and compact design.
• “The best keeps getting better” (2004) used to market iPod fourth generation.
• “10,000 songs in your pocket.” (2004) used to market iPod fourth generation.
• “Life is random.” (2005) used to market iPod shuffle.
• “Enjoy uncertainty.” (2005) used to market iPod shuffle.
• “Which iPod are you?” (2006) used to market iPod family.
• “Clip and go.” (2006) used to market the second generation iPod shuffle.
• “Now there’s even more to touch.” (2008) used to market the iPod touch firmware 1.1.3.
• “Play more than music. Play a part.” (2008) used to market the iPod (PRODUCT) RED.
• “Everybody Touch” (2008) used in the new iPod Touch commercial.
• “The funnest iPod ever” used on their website to promote the second generation iPod touch
• “Millions of songs. Thousands of videos. Hundreds of games.” used on their website to promote the second generation iPod touch
• “Small Talk” used on their website to promote the new iPod shuffle

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Here are some cool videos both from Ipod and Zune. I didn’t post everyone I’ve found… I’ll post them some other time.

Also, we’d like to know what’s your opinion about Zune’s and Ipod’s campaigns. How do you like it? Which one do you prefer? Would you change anything? Tell us! Cheers!

About the author

Hello, everyone! I’m Paulo, a 24 years old designer from Porto Alegre, Brazil. I work as a webdesigner since 2006, but websites and blogs have been a hobbie for me since 1999. At Abduzeedo, I try to bring only the hot stuff for you guys… and hope that all of you enjoy my posts! Cheers! *Now on Twitter.

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