Have you heard of Spotify? If not, research it!
It's a program that streams music in real-time, any song you want(95% are usually available), has search functions, and drag-drop playlists. When you click on the artist, it goes to the artist's page and gives you a list of all the albums he/she's ever been involved in including the top hits they've had, and the songs in those albums (which can also be drag/dropped into your playlist btw).
It also has a radio function. You choose the time period (from the before the 50's rangint to 00's) and the genre, then it plays random songs that fit in the categories you chose.
It's programmed SO well that it automatically detects the media keys on your laptop.
FURTHERMORE, once you create your username, it stores all your playlists server-side so wherever you log in in the world, it uploads your playlist to that version of Spotify.
Now the catch? It's free only if you are located in the UK or France, BUT don't fret! I know how to get around this little "problem."
One more thing. Logging into Spotify when you're NOT in the UK/France, you will have a 14 day period where it allows you to listen to their music, but once again, don't fret! There are two workarounds for this:
VOILA! FREE SPOTIFY!
It's a program that streams music in real-time, any song you want(95% are usually available), has search functions, and drag-drop playlists. When you click on the artist, it goes to the artist's page and gives you a list of all the albums he/she's ever been involved in including the top hits they've had, and the songs in those albums (which can also be drag/dropped into your playlist btw).
It also has a radio function. You choose the time period (from the before the 50's rangint to 00's) and the genre, then it plays random songs that fit in the categories you chose.
It's programmed SO well that it automatically detects the media keys on your laptop.
FURTHERMORE, once you create your username, it stores all your playlists server-side so wherever you log in in the world, it uploads your playlist to that version of Spotify.
Now the catch? It's free only if you are located in the UK or France, BUT don't fret! I know how to get around this little "problem."
Step 1. Find a good UK proxy. Easiest will be web-based, since you'll only have to use it to register. I used:
http://www.htmlblock.co.uk/anonymous_web_browser
Step 2. Through the proxy, visit
https://www.spotify.com/en/get-started/
Step 3. Register. You're going to need a UK postal code, the one I used is LS18 5AZ, but you might find another one on Google.
Step 4. Download the installer. It should give you a link, otherwise use
http://www.spotify.com/en/download/windows/
http://www.spotify.com/en/download/mac/ for you mac users *shudder*
Step 5. Install it and enjoy your music. No need for any proxies or anything, you're just enjoying free music. One extra pro here is that if you listen to it through an unsupported country there are no ads!
http://www.htmlblock.co.uk/anonymous_web_browser
Step 2. Through the proxy, visit
https://www.spotify.com/en/get-started/
Step 3. Register. You're going to need a UK postal code, the one I used is LS18 5AZ, but you might find another one on Google.
Step 4. Download the installer. It should give you a link, otherwise use
http://www.spotify.com/en/download/windows/
http://www.spotify.com/en/download/mac/ for you mac users *shudder*
Step 5. Install it and enjoy your music. No need for any proxies or anything, you're just enjoying free music. One extra pro here is that if you listen to it through an unsupported country there are no ads!
One more thing. Logging into Spotify when you're NOT in the UK/France, you will have a 14 day period where it allows you to listen to their music, but once again, don't fret! There are two workarounds for this:
Spotify allows the use of proxies, so if you go into the proxy settings fo your Spotify, you can find a UK/French proxy that you can log into every 2 weeks or so.
The SECOND method is one I inadvertantly found myself (not sure how popular this is, and I'm hoping they don't fix it). You can use a firewall to block the incoming connections going into Spotify, which blocks the region-check part of the program.
The SECOND method is one I inadvertantly found myself (not sure how popular this is, and I'm hoping they don't fix it). You can use a firewall to block the incoming connections going into Spotify, which blocks the region-check part of the program.
VOILA! FREE SPOTIFY!
with built in last.fm scrobbling too!
http://www.spotify.com/en/download/mac/
This program failed the litmus test. That's a pretty staple song really, by a huge band. It only had covers and versions done by individual members of the band and no original full-band version.
That's a pet peeve for me - any search return that doesn't have the original right at the top is an absolute shambles and an insult, if you ask me. Scissor sister's terrible cover version smiling at me from the top and no original.
So i did another search for "pink floyd" and got absolutely nothing. No music by pink floyd. Lots of covers though!!!!!!!!
Uninstalled
dirtbombs! oblivians! quintron! strange boys! it's got it all
I'd just like to say i installed this just now and searched for "pink floyd - comfortably numb" and various alternatives.
This program failed the litmus test. That's a pretty staple song really, by a huge band. It only had covers and versions done by individual members of the band and no original full-band version.
That's a pet peeve for me - any search return that doesn't have the original right at the top is an absolute shambles and an insult, if you ask me. Scissor sister's terrible cover version smiling at me from the top and no original.
So i did another search for "pink floyd" and got absolutely nothing. No music by pink floyd. Lots of covers though!!!!!!!!
Uninstalled
Blame Pink Floyd's record company, not the program itself.
*edit* added the mac link for you mac users (god have mercy on your souls you blasphemers)
Spotify is currently available in Sweden, Norway, Finland, the UK, France and Spain. "