New York — Popular music streaming service Spotify on Thursday unfurled a beta version of its first Android app, which has been completely revamped easier navigation, high-res images, and more social media integration for devices running Ice Cream Sandwich.
Spotify is on fire with announcements these days. Spotify for Android is bringing a whole new look, the refurbished app includes full support for Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, a top-to-bottom redesign with easier navigation and a feature that allows you to check out friends’ profile pages, hi-res images and best of all a useful “related artists” view, a feature available for the first time on mobile, Spotify said in a blog post Thursday.
Although, some other features include an all-new navigation system, related artist recommendations, and an “extreme” sound setting for 320kbps listening, but it would not be live in the Google Play store yet, for now, it is only available for download as a preview mode for users with premium subscriptions (though premium subscriptions are available for 30-day trials).
“That is not the end of it,” Spotify’s Diego Planas Rego says in a blog post. “We are working hard on adding further features, including folders and Last FM scrobbling, before the app goes live in Google Play.”
However, to gain access to the Android preview, users must also set their phone to allow installation from ‘Unknown Sources’ by going to the Settings > Applications > Unknown sources menu. When finished, click the button below to get the update.
Apart from recently announced alliances with various brands, last week Spotify launched a tool for music enthusiasts and web editors to embed playlists, songs or albums to a website or blog for free. The Spotify Play Button was designed to give users a way to legally share music online.
Obviously, users are delighted that the app is here, but they want more. In some comments on that blog post, Ben Beckford recommends the addition of notification bar play controls, lock screen play controls, landscape mode, better use of screen size on tablets, syncing between apps and desktop version and use of offline tracks as ringtones.
Moreover, Apple iPad users are still going to have to wait a little while for a Spotify app. At a press event on Wednesday Spotify CEO Dan Ek said that the company is working on an iPad app, but declined to provide any other details. Also, at the event, Spotify also announced a “global partnership” with Coca-Cola. As part of the association, the beverage giant will launch an app on Spotify and integrate the streaming music service on its Facebook page. Coca-Cola will also leverage its global presence to help Spotify expand into new markets.
Lastly, Spotify also recently unwrapped plans to keep the service free in the U.S. indefinitely. The company initially granted U.S. consumers access to the platform with no restrictions for six months. For those who did not sign up for a premium package–ranging from $4.99 to $9.99 a month–the site would be limited to 10 free hours of streaming music each month. It is unknown how long the streaming service will remain free in the U.S.