Hotmail
New app enables music streaming
Online service lets people send music to PCs and web-enabled phones
Tech Holiday Gift Guide |
 Top 10 Black Friday Web sites Here's a list of Web sites you'll want to keep an eye on for Black Friday deals, so sync them across your computers with Chrome bookmarks, save them to delicious or just store them in your favorite browser. |
Real Women’s Guide to Technology |
An MSN special that focuses on consumer technologies that can benefit women. |
 | Tech and gadgets videos |
 Border crossing app causes concern Nov. 28: A new cell phone application is drawing criticism from the border patrol. KNSD's Catherine Garcia reports. |
 | Video |
 |
Auto Tech |
A better economy may lure buyers, but these trends could seal the deal. |
LOS ANGELES - A new online music service lets people share music stored on their PCs with other computer users or those with Web-enabled mobile phones.
Using the free Avvenu Music Player launching this week, users can select tracks they wish to share and send links to friends via e-mail. Recipients click on the link to listen to the songs for up to five days on standard Web browsers.
Avvenu supports audio files in MP3, AAC and WMA formats, but only tracks that are free of copy-protection restrictions can be streamed with the service, said Richard French, chief executive of Palo Alto-based Avvenu Inc.
Music files are sent to Avvenu and streamed from its servers when the sharer's computer is off. Otherwise, audio files are streamed directly from users' computers or phones.
Avvenu officials insist their service is legal because recipients don't retain copies of songs — the streams only work when there's an Internet connection, and only for five days. The Recording Industry Association of America had no comment.
Users sharing their collections must have Apple's iTunes music software on their Windows or Macintosh computer, although Avvenu has no direct relationship with Apple. Mobile phones must run Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Mobile software.
To share songs, users also must download and install the Avvenu software — the beta version allows users to share up to 250 tracks for free through Avvenu's servers, though direct sharing imposes no limits.
Recipients do not need to have iTunes or the Avvenu software on their computers to play back tracks.
Avvenu plans to release a revised version of the service within three months. French said later versions should work with other music libraries besides iTunes. The company plans to ultimately offer a subscription service with a free basic offering.
- Discuss Story On Newsvine
-
Rate Story:
View popularLowHigh - Instant Message
MORE FROM TECH AND GADGETS |
 Tech and gadgets Section Front |
| Add Tech and gadgets headlines to your news reader: |
Resource guide