spotify first impressions

What's this? Spotify has come to the US?  Something about music service or another?  This past week, there have been many posts and notifications around Spotify (and Klout and Google + and ... for that matter).  What's all the fuss?  Ah, well, I've been playing with Klout for awhile now - and they have this tab, "Perks" for Klout users, and recently I clicked that particular tab to find that Klout members get free memberships (not the premium kind right away).  So I signed up with my "special" Klout code.

Wikipedia says Spotify "is Swedish DRM-based music streaming service offering streaming of selected music from a range of major and independent record labels, including Sony, EMI, Warner Music Group, and Universal that launched in January of 2008".   So what's that mean?

I was originally on my newly acquired iPad when I was browsing around - so off I tried to download the software onto my iPad, which failed.  I had to get up and go grab one of two PC's I own to download the Spotify software.  It also works on Macs, by the way.  Linux users, looks like you're out of luck/gotta do some hacks to get it.  Once the Spotify had downloaded onto my PC - I immediately started searching for some music favorites that came immediately to my mind by Robyn, Blonde Redhead, Rihanna, Phoenix, and Johnny Cash.

Songs came up immediately.  Double-click.  Music to my ears!  Right click - and I can add it to a playlist.  A playlist?  I created one called, "Arry's Favorites".  Linked up my Facebook account by clicking the top right corner - and voila!  Suddenly all of my Facebook contacts with Spotify accounts appeared. Click on any of their profiles, and I can see any public playlists they have setup.

Well, that's as far as I've gotten - but I can see how cool this could potentially be.  I see the attraction and am tempted to upgrade to a premium account so that I can  have access to all my Spotify music and playlists via all of my devices (iPad, iPhone, PC's...).  What would be really cool is if all of my other devices would automatically get Spotify too (Nintendo Wii, my Apple TV, xBox, etc....) - nudge nudge for any of you out there with product influence.  In fact, same goes to those at Hulu/Hulu Plus, Netflix, Amazon, Pandora, Google, YouTube ...  - y'all should talk and figure your stuff out.  This about ME, the customer!  I'm sick and tired of services not playing nice and making me sign up for multiple accounts and manage all of these multiple accounts with all of my multiple devices.  Sounds like a headache, huh?

Welcome to the U.S., Spotify!  Glad you're here.

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