Google Play Music Comes To Canada
Google Play Music is now available to Canadians.
Canadians can now purchase music from this service and store their music library online in a cloud that can be accessed from computers and Android devices. But users of this service will of course be required to confirm their eligibility by using a credit card or debit card and will be required to install software on their computers and Android devices to access their library, Google Play music purchases and Google Play music subscription.
The price of individual track downloads range from $1.29 to $1.50 on this service whilst their music subscription service costs $9.99 per month ($7.99 prior to June 30th, 2014).
The initial set-up is relatively pain free though I suspect some individuals with low upload speeds will find it a bit time consuming.
Basically the Google Play music software scans your library for items Google doesn’t already have in their catalogue to download from your computer for your cloud and if you happen to have a significant number of these recordings the setup process may take some time.
Of the 2700 or so mp3 and iTunes recordings I have in my player ready directory, the directory where I store my very favourite music for easy transfer to my mp3 player, it recognised about 700. And the program didn’t accept a hundred or so DRM protected recordings so the process took about less than an hour using the highest bandwidth setting.
This means that people with a low upload rate will need to give the program time to download their recordings. But they shouldn’t have a problem doing something else while this happens in the background on a four core computer. And I listen to obscure French recordings so this can account for a large portion of the recordings that were not recognised.
I should also note that most of my recordings have a bit rate of 320 and the average mp3 has a considerably lower rate of 192 or 256. Google Play will likely recognise more of those 192 or 256 bit rate recordings and take less time to download the remaining lower rate recordings.
Errors in cataloguing were rare in my case. I had issues with a David Foster recording and a duplicate entry for Bjork’s catalogue, both of which included characters that were replaced with Asian fonts. But the rest of my library appears fine. And like on iTunes purchases are automatically added to the cloud when purchased on Google Play.
I will of course be testing the Android software on my tablet over the next few days and posting an entry if I encounter any issues.
Gift Card Offers
Mac’s Convenience Stores in the province of Ontario are offering 15% of $50 iTunes cards up to May 25th, 2013. Please consult your local Mac’s store for details and note that a contest for $50 iTunes gift cards can be found by clicking here.
Another offer can also be found at participating Target stores, who are also discounting $50 iTunes cards by 15% until May 8th. Please consult your local flyer for details.
More Gift Card Offers
Real Canadian Superstores and Target Canada stores are currently 15% discounts on iTunes gift cards.
Participating Real Canadian Superstores are offering this discount on $30 multipacks up to April 17th, 2014 with a special coupon obtained from their gift card display.
Participating Target Canada stores are offering their discount on all iTunes gift cards up to April 10th, 2014.
If you are unable to get this discount through your local Real Canadian Superstore or Target Canada location, then try your local Rexall Pharmacy. They offer a 10% of these gift cards until April 10th, 2014.
Gift Card Offer @ Target
Participating Target stores in Canada are offering 15% off iTunes cards until April 3rd, 2014. Please consult your local flyer for details.
Pono Music – A Week Later
It’s been a week and the response to Neil Young’s Pono Kickstarter project has been incredible.
They have now surpassed US$4 Million when their original goal was US$800,000. And many of their first Pono players have already sold out.
The official Pono Music site has been updated with a special video from Neil Young along with additional information on the player and music service.
By the way, a second VIP Dinner and Listening Party with Neil Young has been added to the project. This event will again happen in New York.
Pono Music Player Update
Neil Young is planning on starting a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for his new high fidelity music device on March 15th, according to his March 10th, 2014 press release.
The PonoPlayer, which was developed by engineers at Ayre Acoustics (of Boulder, Colorado), will feature a 128 gigabyte hard drive and will convert digital music files to analog.
It will retail for $399 and will be coupled with software and a music service that will sell 192 kHz, 24-bit recordings.
Neil Young is scheduled to speak about Pono at the SXSW 2014 Music Conference in Austin, Texas today from 5 pm to 6 pm, Central Time.
Update – The Kickstarter campaign was moved forward is is currently active. The device is currently available to people who donate $300 or more. Click here for details.