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Napster replacement?
#359674 11/29/11 04:13 PM
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cb919 Offline OP
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I just logged in to my Napster Canada account and received a notice that the service is shutting down. Arrrgh. Now I am looking for a good replacement service. I have been happy with Napster for a few years now so didn't bother checking out other services.

Any recommendations for a replacement service that has good quality streaming and let's me choose what I want to listen to specifically? (i.e. not a Pandora or Aupeo style service). I am willing to pay a subscription fee.

Thanks!


Dan
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Re: Napster replacement?
cb919 #359676 11/29/11 04:31 PM
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Originally Posted By: cb919
I just logged in to my Napster Canada account and received a notice that the service is shutting down. Arrrgh. Now I am looking for a good replacement service. I have been happy with Napster for a few years now so didn't bother checking out other services.

Any recommendations for a replacement service that has good quality streaming and let's me choose what I want to listen to specifically? (i.e. not a Pandora or Aupeo style service). I am willing to pay a subscription fee.

Thanks!


A couple of months ago I purchased a stereo internet radio from a company("Grace Digital Audio", Canadian HQ in Peterborough). It is quite amazing to see what you can receive, even for free, when you have access to all the streaming methods; MP3 Tunes,Sirius XM Internet radio(mthly fee), 365.com etc. Unlike Pandora and Rhapsody, the fore mentioned are available in Canada. Check out the Grace Digital Audio website, it gives a good rundown of what services are available on the web.

Last edited by casey01; 11/29/11 04:31 PM.
Re: Napster replacement?
casey01 #359752 11/30/11 03:18 PM
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cb919 Offline OP
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Thanks Casey. I took a look into them but they appear to be focused on internet radio which is not what I am lacking in my current setup.

As a replacement to Napster (play what I want when I want) I have uncovered potentially Slacker Radio (with a premium subscription) or Rdio services. Does anybody use these services? Any feedback on them or other suggestions?


Dan
On-Wall M5HP LCR, QS8 & EP500 in 7.1
Re: Napster replacement?
cb919 #359992 12/02/11 07:24 PM
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cb919 Offline OP
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Well, in case somebody out there is interested, I went ahead with the Slacker option so we can keep the tunes flowing along with the beverages over the Xmas holidays. Slacker premium service was the same price as Napster ($10 per month) and lets me do everything Napster did plus is better suited to exploring new music such as similar artists/songs. Also has a Pandora like 'build a radio station' structure. Seems OK so far. It's not audiophile quality (128kbps MP3 streaming) but will do for casual listening and party background music.


Dan
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Re: Napster replacement?
cb919 #360033 12/03/11 02:15 AM
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Sounds like I might have to try it out myself, thanks.


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Re: Napster replacement?
jakewash #360163 12/05/11 04:35 AM
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Is Spotify available in Canada? Their app/interface is average at best but their content is great.

Re: Napster replacement?
INANE #360167 12/05/11 02:31 PM
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cb919 Offline OP
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Just checked and it is not available in Canada yet. However it looks like they're gearing up for a Canadian launch so I'll be watching and will check it out when it becomes available.

Thanks for the suggestion.


Dan
On-Wall M5HP LCR, QS8 & EP500 in 7.1
Re: Napster replacement?
cb919 #360985 12/15/11 01:49 PM
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cb919 Offline OP
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Update - I've been using Slacker for a couple of weeks now. I have to say I am impressed with the functionality. I get way more than I ever did with Napster for the same $10 per month. Content seems to be good so far. The UI is a bit confusing at 1st, but as with anything, once you figure it out it's ok. What really impressed me is the ability to cache radio stations or playlists onto my blackberry. You can do this over WiFi so when you're travelling and not in wifi range you can listen to the locally cached songs. I thought that was really cool. I have been on a Porcupine Tree kick for a few weeks and have built a radio station centered around them and discovering other similar style artists. I was really happy to cache this discovery of music and listen in my hotel room last night without incurring any extra data costs. So far this is looking like a keeper.


Dan
On-Wall M5HP LCR, QS8 & EP500 in 7.1
Re: Napster replacement?
cb919 #366873 02/16/12 04:35 PM
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cb919 Offline OP
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Another update - several weeks later still using Slacker. I am not as impressed with the online content, there seems to be several labels that won't allow streaming in Canada, although main stream stuff is there and lots of fringe too - I just see many list items greyed out as I troll around on a discovery quest. It still keeps the music discovery happening though which is what is important to me. However now that I am building up a history what I find neat is that I have a long list of songs from many genres that I have flagged as 'loved'. With a couple of clicks I am listening to a radio station that is based on all of my favourite songs - so it plays those songs plus I can let the station wander around a bit for even more exploration. I know none of of this is really ground breaking but it is really working for me. Since Pandora is just not an option in Canada (well officially anyway wink ).

Cheers,


Dan
On-Wall M5HP LCR, QS8 & EP500 in 7.1
Re: Napster replacement?
cb919 #366875 02/16/12 04:49 PM
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Originally Posted By: cb919
there seems to be several labels that won't allow streaming in Canada

So much for Free Trade.

Bren R.

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