On the Spotify blog they have a video of the latest version of the Spotify iPhone app that has just been submitted to the iPhone app store for approval. Notice how on the video, the Spotify client is in the position on the home screen that the iPod app normally occupies. I wonder if Apple is going to like this.
Some of the interesting details emerging about the app are:
- Won’t be released in the US app store since Spotify is not available in the U.S (sniff)
- Free Download
- Only works for premium users
- Offline mode allows you to cache 3,333 tracks (!)
- Works on iPod touch
- Music stops when you switch away from the app
I’m really looking forward to being able to run this app. And rumor is that it won’t be long before people in the US get to play.
Music Machinery 
#1 by Mattias on July 27, 2009 - 10:24 am
You know you can re-arrange the icons on the home screen, right? :)
It’s gonna be interesting to see what happens – Apple is the good ol’ black box here, and once you’ve given them your application you don’t really know what’s going to happen – you might get approved, you might not…
#2 by plamere on July 27, 2009 - 10:27 am
> You know you can re-arrange the icons on the home screen, right? :)
heh – yeah – but isn’t that a subliminal indication that Spotify wants to replace itunes? (Which I think would be a pretty good idea)
#3 by Andy Baio on July 27, 2009 - 10:30 am
I’ll be absolutely stunned if Apple approves this, since they’ve already killed apps in the past that allowed local storage of audio (see Podcaster). Plus, it seems like a direct threat to the iTunes Music Store.
#4 by plamere on July 27, 2009 - 10:46 am
Andy – indeed, with podcaster we see how apple can exercise control of their platform and keep competitors away – however, I think Spotify, with its millions of users is a different animal. If apple rejects this app, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a European anti-competitive lawsuit – certainly there will be millions of unhappy iphone/spotify users.