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Simplify Media, a Mac favorite, bought by Google

We were wondering what happened to Simplify Media, the well-regarded software that offers your Mac ubiquitous access to your DRM-free music and photos via iTunes, an iPhone or iPod touch.

In March, we reported that the company was "heading in a different direction," which turned out to be a sale to Google. The Simplify Media app was removed from the app store, and the ability to share your iTunes library with others was removed. The sale was just announced this morning at the Google I/O conference.

Google intends to use the product on Android Phones, and it will be a component part of an iTunes-type of service that's in development.

If anyone had any doubts about Google offering competition for Apple, this should remove it. Competition is good, and this will be most interesting to watch. The nasty part is that Simplify Media for the Mac ecosystem is likely gone for good.

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Multimedia

We were wondering what happened to Simplify Media, the well-regarded software that offers your Mac ubiquitous access to your DRM-free music...
 

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Drifter71

There is an alternative that I use on my ipod touch. It's called orb. Not expensive, and it does video too as well as documents. If you use the web interface, it works too and doesn't cost anything. Haven't tried it that way except on a computer but the app is awesome.

Unfortunately it sucks on my Android phone, but alas, I have Verizon.

May 21 2010 at 2:29 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
rNOT

As some have already stated, it still works. As I agree that there are some issues, such as long syncing times to update your library (almost an hour over wi-fi) after you refresh the desktop/server app on larger libraries, Simplify still works well for what it's intended. It streams my music on Edge, which still sounds better than FM radio. I hope they support their current user base or at least until an alternative becomes available.

I hate to think that I've purchased this and it's only supported for just over a year. I think they're obligated to at least support it for at least two. Hopefully, I'll find a better option by then.

May 21 2010 at 11:26 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Emailaddress3

Why wouldn't the App store include a non-compete clause in all their agreements? It would have prevented this.

May 21 2010 at 7:46 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Juaquin

I was never able to figure out if Simplify was streaming my FLAC files directly, or transcoding them to ~128kbps MP3 for easier transmission over the net. The files sounded worse so I'm assuming so. Right now I'm using a UPnP server (FUPPES) on my little server and PlugPlayer on my iPhone to stream full-quality on my network.

May 20 2010 at 5:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Juaquin's comment
Brett

They definitely transcoded the files, though I found the quality to be fine (not an audiophile).

I'll miss this when it's gone... guess it's time to start looking into alternatives.

May 20 2010 at 6:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rego

@Mel Martin
"The nasty part is that Simplify Media for the Mac ecosystem is likely gone for good."

Not a big deal!

Another will take their place and probably do it better.

May 20 2010 at 3:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
now4real954

my wonder is how long it will continue to work now that OOOGLE owns it...

we shall see

May 20 2010 at 3:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Josh Carr

Son of a B....

I liked the concept of Simplify Media and they were working on some really cool stuff. Then they had to get bought out by Google for a project that will most likely never apply to Apple users.

May 20 2010 at 3:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Marcos

I've had Simplify for a long time. It's not that great, especially on the iPhone. I have a large library that takes half an hour to show up. Streaming works, but iTunes internal database is not updated (for example, the play count info). That's annoying.

May 20 2010 at 2:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
3 replies to Marcos's comment
Adam Rice

FWIW, I've found the streamToMe/serveToMe combo works better than Simplify—faster, better interface, better features.

May 20 2010 at 2:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ben

Why don't they just buy everything...

May 20 2010 at 2:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to ben's comment
Microdot

QUIET! dont give them any ideas. i dont want to have to reinstall chrome on my macoogle pro.

May 20 2010 at 2:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
str1f3

Give them time. They are well on their way.

May 20 2010 at 2:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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