iTunes is dead, long live free music

Last month, American band The Presidents of the United States of America released an iPhone app. For $3, users gain streaming access to the band’s entire back catalogue of music as long as they have a WiFi or 3G connection. They’ll also get access to exclusive outtakes, live recordings and more. The really amazing thing about this app though isn’t the fact that it streams music over a cellular connection, it’s the fact it was approved by Apple in the first place. Apple are notorious for rejecting iPhone apps that mimic the functionality of pre-loaded apps on their phone. And of course while this app doesn’t directly mimic iTunes functionality, it certainly diverts the revenue stream of PUSA songs away from Apple and back towards the band themselves (who co-developed it). The main gain for Apple will be a small share of the revenue from sales of the app itself.

Slacker: One who is antimaterialistic, purposeless and apathetic

Dodgy name aside here is a rather nice extension of an existing idea from a San Diego startup. If like us you’re a fan of Pandora or Last.fm style personalised radio streaming, Slacker could be right up your street. Currently the site offers a very slick looking Pandora-style service but the real kicker is the portable device scheduled to arrive soon that offers the same functionality on-the-go via WiFi and Satellite coverage. A great way to discover new music without being tethered to your desk. The player will also be able to cope with your existing music collection should all those new tracks begin to melt your brain.

Is Last.fm changing the way we listen to music?

Ok ok, so I like the new Justin Timberlake single but I just can’t bear to have it blight my otherwise thoroughly respectable recently listened tracks list. Yet another example of the daily struggle I face having installed last.fm’s audioscrobbler.