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July 17, 2008 12:23 PM PDT

Last.fm gets a makeover, but can't stay standing

by Caroline McCarthy
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A look at the new Last.fm homepage.

(Credit: Last.fm)

Social music site Last.fm has unveiled a new look: a slick new design, an iPhone app, a partnership with Logitech to stream music to compatible home stereo systems, and a host of new features.

With the new features, members can receive music recommendations instantly by naming a few bands and artists they like. Previously, they had to hook up their music libraries so that the site's engine, or "scrobbler," could read and analyze what songs they'd listened to recently. The site's music charts now also update in near-real time.

Unfortunately, when I tried to load the new Last.fm, the site had crashed. TechCrunch's Erick Schonfeld said he experienced problems, too. (Update at 12:33 p.m. PDT: the site loads but unreliably.)

That said, we certainly have seen recently that server outages aren't limited to Twitter. Ironically, I managed to get Last.fm's iPhone app working just fine.

(Disclosure: Last.fm is owned by CNET News parent company CBS Interactive.)

Caroline McCarthy, a CNET News staff writer, is a downtown Manhattanite happily addicted to social-media tools and restaurant blogs. Her pre-CNET resume includes interning at an IT security firm and brewing cappuccinos. E-mail Caroline.
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by chuckdafonk July 17, 2008 3:47 PM PDT
Also it looks like the content management / promotion / statistic tool for artists, known as "Music Manager" has gone missing in the redesign. I have an email into their help group to see what the deal is. And also the music players are not loading on user pages.
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by chuckdafonk July 18, 2008 12:43 PM PDT
The "Music Manager" feature has finally been restored, under the redesign.

Why didn't they notify users and artists in advance of the redesign so we could have our heads up for it though ? User education is always helpful...
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by chlamydia-test July 21, 2008 2:21 AM PDT
Glad it's been restored. Thanks for the heads up.

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http://www.chlamydia-test.co.uk
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CNET News' Caroline McCarthy is a downtown Manhattanite who believes that, despite popular opinion, the Web can actually help your social life. She's happily addicted to fun social-media tools from Twitter to Yelp to Facebook, sends an inordinate number of text messages, and has a tendency to waste time at the office reading restaurant blogs. Here, she explores all facets of the Web's gregarious side, as well as the unique tech culture in her home city of New York. (Don't call it Silicon Alley.)

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