Rhapsody approved for iPhone

If you were hoping for Apple to announce a subscription-based music service for the iPhone and the iPod Touch on Wednesday like I was, suppress your disappointment: early this morning, Apple approved Rhapsody for iPhone, and it's available in the iTunes Store.

It's the second such service Apple has approved, but the first, Spotify, is not available in the United States. (The Rhapsody application is not showing up in search results quite yet, but it is showing up within iTunes.)

(Credit: Rhapsody)

Rhapsody was a pioneer in subscription-based music, and I'm a big fan of the service; in 2005, it was the first one to turn me on to the thrill of chasing your whims and surfing randomly among genres, which you can't do with per-download services like iTunes.

In my most recent trial late last year (in conjunction with the Sonos multiroom audio system), I wasn't able to find any significant gaps--if anything, there was too much music, including more versions of the novelty song "Kung Fu Fighting" than I ever imagined--and there is some excellent curation and editorial work, particularly for indie rock artists.

The iPhone app is pretty straightforward: you can search for songs, surf genres and chart-toppers, and create queues and playlists. If you're a fan of Pandora, you'll also appreciate the Rhapsody Radio feature, which creates tailor-made stations built around particular artists or genres. As long as you have an active Wi-Fi or 3G connection, the music should keep playing without interruption.

It's a free download, but to use it, you'll need a Rhapsody to Go subscription, which costs $14.99 a month. That's not quite as good a deal as Microsoft's Zune Pass, which costs the same and gives you 10 permanent MP3 downloads a month, but of course that service requires a Zune, which means that it applies only to about 1.1 percent of the MP3 player market (according to a statistic that Apple snarkily included in its presentation Wednesday) and exactly zero mobile phones.

Apple appears to have seen the light, as it is now allowing subscription-based music to come to the iPhone. It makes my phone's 8GB storage size seem a lot less limiting.

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[buddesatva]

This is not a firebomb commentary. Rhapsody is a rip-off. This is an unbelievable choice by Apple. Music payed for and downloaded from Rhapsody becomes unavailable after a few months. I lost over $400 dollars worth of music. Their technical support is an out and out joke and they make no appology for their activity. DO NOT use Rhapsody unless you want to lose the music you download.

[ZetaZeta_]

You signed up for the subscription based service with the expectation that you'd keep the music when you stop paying for its subscription? This isn't even a case of "You should have read the EULA"... this is the most basic structure of the service.

[cpopken]

I don't understand how you could lose $400 worth of music when you didn't even pay for the music in the first place. You pay $14.99/month for the right to stream and download unlimited songs. If you stop paying, the songs stop working, it's as simple as that. <br /><br />Anyway, I don't see what is wrong with giving people the option of subscription music. Some people like it and others don't. It you don't like it, don't pay for it and buy songs individually.

[stevenredd8]

Umm..you're talking about Real Player, not Rhapsody. You've never been able to download and SAVE music from Rhapsody. I know cuz I did the same thing. Their branding was a little cross-purposed and confusing for a while, but they got that straightened out (I also gave up and switched to iTunes). But I lost about $150 worth of music because my hard drive crashed and I couldn't go back and re-download it, but that's the way of it. Caveat Emptor....either back your music up or be ready to be at the whim and caprice of electronic objects. Rhapsody rocks.

[rich12313]

This ranks as one of the dumbest comments ever.

[eeee]

Is there an app that changes me into a Borg drone with the tubes and the eye piece and no will of my own and no individual thought? <br />The metallic forehead stamp also please <br />I await such an existence.... <br /> <br />After all; why be out in the good weather riding a bike, swimming laps at the pool, walking or hiking with friends, having conversations IN PERSON, or helping others?..when I could be obsessing Ad nauseam about apps and our blind subservience to a fruit named gigantic corporation filled with similar drones and mantra spouting corporate snitches?..

[cazzottone]

I love Rhapsody, I have been using it for several years and they really do a good job at sorting songs. They also give you free on-demand 25 songs a month to listen.<br />Rhapsody also, in some ways, is an alternative to iTunes, you can use your iphone or ipod.<br />Way to go Apple!

[ZetaZeta_]

A little harsh on Zune, but I suppose it's not exactly false.<br /><br />Subscription-based music over 3G is pretty exciting.<br />Rhapsody has a fairly extensive collection of Trance and Progressive and being able to tap into subscription based music on demand, wirelessly, anywhere (and not just on a PC) is just huge.<br /><br />I'd definitely enjoy it. All I need is a Rhapsody app on Android and an Android phone on Verizon. -__-'

[Stopper90004]

I am with you Zeta - I love Rhapsody. Between four of us in my family, we must download over 100 songs a month... I have avoided buying the iPhone simply because I would not have access to a music rental service like Rhapsody or Napster... now I am tempted. Unfortunately, AT&#38;T have the WORST network in existence, so i am waiting for the Verizon/motorola Schules phone (Google Android system) to get Rhapsody on a reliable network.

[filipiak]

@ Stopper90004<br /><br />"... AT&#38;T have the WORST network in existence ..."<br /><br />There is absolutely no way you, nor anyone, could ever know such a thing to be true. You have not been around the world testing all mobile networks, with all mobile devices, so you should not make such a claim. Stick to facts. While AT&#38;T may not offer the best coverage in your house, or at your place of employment, or with your particular mobile device, that does not mean the same is true for all people/places/devices.

[justinc1019]

@filipiak <br />I've traveled all over the country and several places overseas and I can tell you that AT&#38;T's network sucks. Period.<br />I finally switched to Verizon.<br />The iPhone is a great device, just as long as you don't want it to be a great phone. Unfortunately, that's on AT&#38;T, not Apple. <br /><br />At least my Blackberry Storm always has good coverage, and I've been able to snych it with Rhapsody since day 1.

[bigmc6000]

@ justinc1019<br /><br />I have also traveled all over the US and I can tell you that in experience AT&#38;T's network is more reliable and provides better coverage than my Verizon phone ever did.<br /><br />As filipak said - just because that's your experience that doesn't mean that's the same experience that the rest of us have...

[bischofb]

I've been using Rhapsody for two years now. I used to spend $10/mo on iTunes and had to listen to those stupid 30 sec previews to decide if I liked a song enough to buy it or not. Now I just get all the music I want for one price. My friends love coming over to my house and making a playlist for the night of any song they want. It rocks. For those who complain about losing the music after the subscription runs out, I don't plan on canceling (I'd rather cancel my cable tv subscription than Rhapsody). Or you can Google Tunecab as well. That does the trick.

[davidmcelroy_dotmac]

I'm glad the choice is there for people who want it, but a LOT of people's music listening habits are much different -- and most of us just don't WANT to keep paying to keep our music. Call it psychological or whatever you'd like, but I like having my own copy of something that nobody can make go away if I quit handing them money. I'm not criticizing the rental model. If that works for you, great. But for MANY of us, it's never going to be the way we choose to go.

[WileySkier]

Good points. I can't quite understand why people are stuck on the "own" thing but you're def right about that.<br /><br />I use Rhapsody and have for years. This is the same concept as your cable "subscription"...both TV and Internet access. If you stop paying your cable bill, no more TV or Internet. Of course, you could listen to the radio for free, but that's not quite the same right?<br /><br />If you don't want to keep paying $15 / month to carry around however many songs your non iPod mp3 player can handle, stop paying. If you want the music again, turn back on the subscription. I don't miss $15 / month for unlimited music.

[shetaan819]

You neglected to mention this is only streaming at 64kbps....still think this is worth it ?

[Stopper90004]

Yes... we listen to music on a PC and through our motorola phone in the car... no need for anything better. Buying music at a $1 pop is INSANE when you can download 100+ new songs a month (with teenage kids, it happens, trust me!)

[Seaspray0]

But what quality will the device itself output? I'm guessing below the 64kbps rate. I doubt you would even notice the difference if they streamed at a higher bitrate, but I'm glad you brought up that fact (something people should be aware of). <br /> <br />Do I still think it's worth it? That's a good question everyone must ask themselves and make their own individual choice. A straight up yes/no answer does not apply to everyone and my choice only applies to me. <br /> <br />I'm glad they are making the subscription service availalble. There are alot of people who use it and love it on other platforms, and it's about time the apple community has the choice. Good for you guys. I suspect a few people will be changing their tune on subscription based services now that they have the opportunity to try it now.

[sonicsmoke]

This is a disappointment that streaming is limited to 64kbps. This seems like a strategic move on Apple's part to basically have people preview full songs on low quality using the Rhapsody app, then if people really like the songs or albums, they would most likely buy the MP3s from iTunes.

[minimalist]

This is the deal killer for me. I was excited to hear that Rhapsody would work on my iPhone when I was driving or at work but 64kbps just sounds awful. I suspect this is an AT&#38;T thing because all my iPhone radio stations used to stream at 96 and 128 and even 192 kbps (even over 3G) and now they have all been downgraded to 64 (even over wifi). <br /><br />A 64kbps stream sounds like someone sucked the stereo separation out of the music and then shaved most the high frequencies off the top. A trashy FM transmitter connected to an iPod sounds better than this (and that's not saying a whole lot).

[balanced]

One large omission to this story is that the bit rate is only 64 kbps. So much for that CD quality sound.

[marylandisformusic]

I've used Rhapsody for over 2 years now, and although the interface with mp3 players can occasionally be glitchy, I absolutely love the service. For $14.95 per month, this is what I get: <br />1) each of my kids and I can transfer as much music as we want to our mp3 players-between the three of us, we have over 4,000 songs on our players right now; <br />2) all three of us can search for any songs we've heard of or about, or any bands we're interested in, listen to ALL of every single one, and decide to add some or all of them to our mp3 players without paying a dime extra <br />3) using their interface, we can spend as much time as we like listening to all of any song we come across, and follow trails of "similar artists" to our hearts content. Over the past two years, we've collectively found hundreds of new bands we had never heard of, listened to their songs (in their entirety, and without ads of any sort) and added countless of them to our devices. <br /> I get that the argument that you want to own your music. But how many discs do you have that you had to buy and don't listen to any more? What percent of your collection will you listen to in 5 years? With Rhapsody, I can add a entire albums to my device, listen to them in their entirety at my leisure, keep and delete what I like, and never pay for something I don't end up listening to. For the cost of-at most- 18 discs a year, I can listen to 10,000 discs, and hold them on my player for as long as I like. If you are a music lover, I don't see how Rhapsody can be beat.

[dbar2]

marylandisformusic.... yes yes yes yes...you are 100% here...

[bischofb]

I forgot to mention that I have over 200 CDs I bought during the 80s (I'm guessing I spent ~$3,000 total?). Know how many I listen to today? Nada. Well, there are probably two or three I might pop into my computer once a year, but that's about it. Hell, the CDs I bought a few years ago (e.g. Akon) never get played anymore. I still can't believe I even bought that Akon cd. Getting unlimited downloads of all the latest music and not having to worry whether I threw away good money or not is great.

[dbar2]

bischofb you speak the truth ! :)

[um...]

Wooo hoo! I've been using rhapsody for years. It's the best way to explore music and accomodate the ever changing music tastes of your kids. For the price of a CD they can download endlessly. We've purchased sansa mp3 players just for that reason, and the price of a download to own is still reasonable. yay!

[rdelfin]

I'm a Rhapsody user, have been for years. <br /> <br />The thing that bugs me (and that has stopped me from becoming an iPod owner), is that you are still NOT able to download tracks for off-line listening, which is not the case with the other "Rhapsody To-Go"-compatible players.... So the Apple's iPod is *not quite there* yet, but a one step closer in the right direction.

[bischofb]

Not being able to download songs directly onto my iPhone is huge disappointment (probably an apple restriction). Maybe they will add it in for v2? But still, being able to stream any/all music on the web onto my iPhone rocks. This will be great when I run.

[darkpoet25]

Okay so you can't download a song from Rhapsody straight to the iPhone/iPod, but can you tag that song so it can be bought on iTunes, assuming it's available on iTunes? I know that with some of the internet radio apps like Yahoo Music, AOL, Pandora and I think Slacker allow you to do so.

[Jasmineflower]

As one person mentioned, this is unfortunately a restriction of the iPhone/iPod (implemented by Apple), rather than by the service--definitely a bummer in my book. And not necessary: look at the X-Series Walkman with its Slacker app and caching capability. No doubt Apple has its own reasons, however.

[Sabroson]

I applaud Apple for opening up to other music services.

[FranklinH10]

I had Rhapsody and Rhapsody to go for years until my iriver died.What hasn't been made clear here is that, in addition to the unlimited downloads of music which stays playable as long as you keep up your susbcription, you can also pay $.99 a track for "burn rights" for some tracks to put them on a cd you can play anywhere and keep even if your computer dies or you cancel your subscription. These are not mp3-they are rax files when you get them and they will quit working if you cancel the service. So what you must do is burn these to cd as soon as you buy them, then rip them back to WMP as mp3 or wma and tag them. This was a bit of a pain but it was the only way I knew of to not lose them if my pc died.

[sonicsmoke]

The way you described purchasing MP3s from Rhapsody has long since changed. You can now buy DRM-free MP3 tracks from Rhapsody if you feel you really must own the MP3s. Actually, Rhapsody went DRM-free long before Apple did.

[chipmaga]

Ummm hello, its called soundtaxi, download the tracks and strip the license, you pay per month, why not take some tracks permanently.

[bischofb]

Tunecab does it too.

[renzska]

And/or MuvAudio.

[MekonsRule]

I had really been looking forward to this. First, it took me a while to realize I was a Rhapsody Unlimited, not a Rhapsody To Go subscriber. After I fixed that, nothing loads -- my artists, my searches, any browsing or searches, I just get an endless "loading. . ." message. <br /> <br />By the way I am one of those that use this to constantly review new music and buy what I want. We exist.

[kxmmxk]

The majority want to own their music. Therefore rhapsody is no threat to the iTunes Store, so why not have it? People can make up their own minds. I might be interested as a way to preview new songs if it were cheaper, but $15 a month is a bit steep.

[ParSeven]

Tremendous point. But, I'm sure that they meant to say that T was "the worst network in THEIR world (home, work, etc.) which millions can claim. Add it up. deduce. extrapolate. move on. Or, in fairness... <br /> <br />Perhaps for someone, somewhere, on some device, under some conditions at some time it MAY be the best network... - hey, maybe T could capture that in a sales pitch!?

[bhavin4ads]

# Top 10 iPhone Apps for Bloggers<br />http://viral-stuff.blogspot.com/2009/09/top-10-iphone-apps-for-bloggers.html

[Ray180]

Um, No. This does not quality as having subscription music on the iPhone. Until you can pay a regular monthly fee AND have access to millions of songs AND download them to the iPhone so you can listen to them anytime, anywhere, it is not a subscription service. This app requires you to have a wi-fi connection and you can only stream the music and it's less than cd quality? Is this some kind of joke?

[rebeccaindy]

Right now I am listening to steaming Rhapsody on my iPhone using Sony MDR-V6 headphones and it sounds great. I'm pretty picky. When I first logged in it sat on Loading... for a while then said it would try again to connect, and it did just fine. Since then I've been searching and playing songs with no problem whatsoever. I have a Napster to-go sub I will probably cancel. The album I'm listening to is mostly 30 sec clips on Napster, but totally available on Rhapsody. <br /> <br />I just discovered and LOVE the Top Tracks feature in the iPhone Rhapsody app. I usually like to listen to albums, but this is great if I've got a concert to go to soon. <br /> <br />The cheapo iPhone dock I got for Christmas sounds pretty terrible, but I asked for that to stream onDemand NPR, not music. But it will work in a pinch when my husband and I are both home doing dishes and whatnot and want to have music playing in the background. If we want good quality sound filling the house, we should plug into the receiver or invest in a better dock. The $80 Sony dock at Sam's Club sounded pretty good, way better than the $50 iHome dock. I hate it when the drum hits sound scratchy, but somehow others around me just don't hear that. <br /> <br />I love the subscription model. I really really hope that Rhapsody adds the ability to transfer DRM files to the iPhone in a future release. I did a support chat with Rhapsody and asked how my iPhones are supported on a single Rhapsody To-Go account and unfortunately if one person logs in, anyone else using it on another iPhone gets booted out. I sure wish if were the 3 To-Go *transfer* devices. But it's a good start, I think.