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Last.FM audio streaming

Posted by Tyler on August 5, 2008 – 3:05 pm  Share
closeThis post was published 1 year 3 months 17 days ago.
It\'s is possible that the information within this article is now out of date or updated.

Some of you (myself included) are probably highly disappointed with the fact that Pandora does not have a Windows Mobile client.  They have clients for AT&T dumbphones and the iPhone but nothing for Windows Mobile.  In prior correspondence with Pandora, they’ve kind of hinted that they’re not really interested in creating a software_winWindows Mobile client, at least at this time.

What some of us haven’t really taken into account is that Last.FM, being a lot more user friendly of a website, has a more open API (their scrobbler program is open source) and thus a bunch of enthusiasts have built a mobile scrobbler program specifically for Windows Mobile.

I’ve been using OpenPandora for the longest time

and thus I’ve used the integrated Last.FM module to scrobble my Pandora tracks, meaning I already had a list of songs that I frequently listened to and otherwise.  More after the break.

So I took the plunge and installed the mobile scrobbler software (called Pocket Scrobbler) and started up my station, which I set to "User" then my username.  Immediately it started caching songs locally then after a few short seconds it started playing an set of songs that I like.

 sshot001 It does take a while to cache songs, and I was even teathered locally via Windows Mobile Device Center to my high speed house internet.  Wireless internet service may take even longer, but if you’re willing to be patient, it’ll cache the songs and really start cranking out the tunes.

It’s not perfect obviously but it surely is nice to have streaming radio that’s adapted to your own personal preferences on the go.

Missing features are the ability to love/ban songs which is rather disappointing.  However it does indeed scrobble songs for you, albeit you typically have to tell it to do so, thus not using any of the data you don’t want it to use.

Also it seems to integrate with HTC Audio Manager and Windows Media Player Mobile sshot002which is good if you like to scrobble.

So if the shortcomings haven’t turned you off to the software, then why not go ahead and install the software.  Just download the CAB from the project’s website and install as normal.

Also keep in mind that you’ll need a Last.FM account for this to function.  The accounts are free however but it is something else to sign up for.

The project seems to be maturing at least so hopefully we’ll get those additional features we were looking for, and maybe we’ll even get a Pandora app at some point, but until that point this is what we have, which is disappointing that Windows Mobile devices are kind of being shoved into the background.

Project Website
Last.FM

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  • andylock
    One aspect of a comprehensive search engine optimization implementation is the use of optimized video content. Google having come up with new algorithms alongwith universal search features, now one will do best to optimize not only the said website but also all available digital assets, such as videos. Additionally one can, for example, embed on one’s site the videos placed on You Tube. (Google seems to give them most relevance!)
  • picaresque_
    Thanks for introducing your readers to our little application. I'd like to confirm that the caching issues you described will be fixed in the next version. Banning/Loving of tracks will be available, too, and you will be able to tag tracks/artists on the road.

    Finally, let me point out that even with the current version it is possible to have tracks scrobbled instantly if the users wishes to do so.

    If you like to see other feature in future releases, feel free to post the Pocket Scrobbler group's forum.
  • Jericho
    Check out http://lastfmmobile.profusehost.net from PocketIE. Works really well. I like PocketScrobbler but it takes awhile to cache and start streaming.
    Re: Pandora, I posted a question about support for Windows Mobile to an interview with Pandora's CEO and his response was:
    "They are hard at work on a Windows Mobile client." see the full interview here: http://www.centernetworks.com/pandora-founder-t...
    However, I recently got a reply back from one of Pandora's "listener advocates" and she replied that they had no plans to support Windows Mobile. Confused yet???
  • Mike B.
    A program i use is called select radio. It is amazing, it has radio clients like radioio accuradio, sirius, XM, inside jazz,BBC, Streetiq, and alot more. You guys should check it out if you want a really good radio client and you have sirius or xm.
  • Eric
    I discovered Last.Fm last week. Very cool for listening to satellite radio in the car. Doesn't have too many hiccups.
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