Filed under: Internet, iTunes, Software Update, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch
Remote media sharing tool Simplify Media updated
The Simplify Media app for sharing your music libraries across the net or to your iPhone has been updated to version 2.0 (previous coverage here). If you have the app installed on your Mac, PC or Linux computer, you'll see an update notice real soon now. The update includes stability improvements, the ability to share only selected playlists, and a much-desired feature that lets you send your shares to Sonos, Roku or XBox 360 devices. The app now supports FLAC, in addition to the usual MP3, AAC, WMA and Apple Lossless codecs.Simplify has also added a version 2.0 for the iPhone. The original app will continue to work fine, and it's free. The new version, Simplify Music 2.0 [App Store link], is $2.99US and adds the ability to search your music library from afar, tag tracks as favorites, create on-the-fly playlists and a 'scrub bar' so you have more playback control in podcasts and audio books.
I had no issues with the install on my desktop Mac, but the software irritatingly and without warning put a new share in iTunes called 'Simplify Demo' with an album by Brad Turcotte. I could have lived without it, and can't figure out how to send it back to the netherworld from which it came.
Update: I wasn't the only person ticked off about the demo share the software installed. Check the comments at the bottom of this page on the Simplify Media site. What were these guys thinking? What a creative way to ruin a good reputation. Also, a couple of our readers correctly point out that version one of the iPhone app was free, but is now $3.99.
A further update: Paul Joyce of Simplify Media tells me they will release a new build with an 'off' switch to get rid of the demo share. Good move. It's nice to see a company acknowledge a mistake and move quickly to fix it.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Todd said 4:16PM on 4-29-2009
How does the Roku box see this?
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Josh said 4:28PM on 4-29-2009
You can't remove that 'Simplify Demo' yet, check here (http://www.simplifymedia.com/blog/?p=68) in the comments for the latest talk.
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Chris K said 6:56PM on 4-29-2009
Version 1.0 was $4 in August 2008.
Version 2.0 is $3 eight months later.
Subscription-based software fees on the iPhone? NO WAY! What's next, the old "upgrade insurance" scam?
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alfriede said 5:32PM on 4-29-2009
yeah, i'm not too happy about the demo showing up uninvited either! if you're going to give me something for free, then do just that. don't slip something in under the radar and not expect to piss people off. i LOVE LOVE LOVE sm and have been using it for months now, as well as have signed up many friends and family on it too, but this is way uncool!!!
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sev said 5:36PM on 4-29-2009
Just tested this out and it works for accessing your shares on the PS3 as well.
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David said 6:23PM on 4-29-2009
So we are to ignore the first few months when the original app we paid for didn't work right? What makes me mad is that the developers are charging for features that should have been there in the first place.
They are trying to get around the AppStore mechanisms to stop the very thing they are doing, i.e. charging for minor updates.
They change the name to Simplify Music (2.0) instead of Simplify Media (The Original) to make it appear a different product. Both are still available, who would buy the original when the new one is out? Of course when you are cheating the system these types of issues come up.
I have already written Apple about it and I encourage everyone else to do so.
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Matthew Heidenreich said 6:38PM on 4-29-2009
i think this service is great, but I won't use it for the stupidest reason. I HATE there logo with a passion. The "S" in the box is hideous.
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badjoke said 12:04AM on 4-30-2009
I just hate when people can't get they're/their/there right.
YodaMac said 6:53PM on 4-29-2009
"Simplify has also added a version 2.0 for the iPhone. The original app will continue to work fine, and it's free."
The original app is NOT FREE. It was only free briefly when first released, and now costs $3.99 in the App Store (as of this minute)!
Talk about alienating those who bought the first one. Now you have to buy a second one???!!1
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cb said 10:01PM on 4-29-2009
this app sucks anyway. took them a year to get simple track seeking working. album art is smaller, interface blows. pretty bad developer overall. now they are charging for an update which makes the broken app mildly useful.
i can't wait until apple implements this natively in the iphone os.
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badjoke said 12:06AM on 4-30-2009
The one thing I want from this app is for it to be able to stream from iPhone to client. I have my iPhone synced to my desktop, but I don't want to constantly sync my laptop to my desktop for the music. It would be nice to turn the client on, and get music straight from my phone.
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