Xdrive Does Music Streaming for Palm OS

Posted By: Ryan Monday, February 7, 2005 11:08:00 AM

Xdrive, an Internet storage company, today announced the availability of a new service that allows people to stream a digital music collection to a Palm OS Smartphone or handheld with a wireless connection.

Similar to the Apple iPod, Xdrive's music service allows people to listen to music on the go, create play lists and personal albums. But unlike the iPod, users don't need to carry an additional device because the music is actually stored on a personal, virtual hard drive at Xdrive and streamed live over a wireless Internet connection.

To use Xdrive's music service, Xdrive members should follow these steps:

Install a music player on your Treo or PDA that supports the streaming of .mp3 (audio) and .m3u (playlist) file types. Xdrive recommends Pocket Tunes Deluxe.
Upload music files to Xdrive, and use Xdrive's features to create a playlist. Members can have Xdrive's tech team upload their songs by using the Mail in a Disk program.
Download your playlist to your local computer and use the palmOne Quick Install software to transfer the playlist file to your phone.
Locate the playlist on your phone using your music player, and play.The music will stream from Xdrive to your phone.

"Xdrive is no longer just a storage box for your files," states Xdrive CEO Brett O'Brien. "As today's digital lifestyle becomes more pervasive, we are creating platforms and applications for people to do more with their files. Last year we launched a digital video sharing service, this month we launched Xdrive Music, and next month we plan to roll-out a photo album service similar to Ofoto and Shutterfly."

"Pocket Tunes will turn any Palm OS 5 device into a portable audio player," states Tim Norman, founder of NormSoft, Inc. "Xdrive enables Treo and Pocket Tunes customers to enjoy thousands of songs through their cell phone, as opposed to the limited number of songs that the typical cell phone has room to store."

Xdrive costs $9.95 per month for 5 gigabytes of space (roughly 1,000 songs). For avid music fans, Xdrive offers 10 Gigabytes for $19.90. There is no additional fee to use the Xdrive music service. Xdrive offers all new subscribers a 15 day free trial period.

Thanks to Mike Cane for the tip.

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Why?

RhinoSteve @ 2/7/2005 2:19:53 PM #

So why should I do this over say a Napster or iTunes? Hell, build a smartphone with a regular AM/FM radio in it instead.

RE: Why?

hkklife @ 2/7/2005 2:38:29 PM #

Well, 2gb SD Sandisk Ultra II cards are coming anyday now at $170-$180 price points (and dropping daily). Get one of those and fill it up with tunes. Sure, it's 1.5x as much as the 5gb Xdrive service but you don't have to worry about bandwidth/airtime usage and you be guaranteed excellent sound quality and flexibility.

It's a nice concept on paper butI just don't see the real-world benefits justifying yet anohter monthly fee. I used to have one of those personal online storage lockers and I ended up never using it. I find it far easier to carry around a 1gb flash drive in my pocket since USB ports are now ubiquitous.

RE: Why?

RhinoSteve @ 2/7/2005 2:46:41 PM #

Exactly, about the only thing I see this "on line storage" good for is some sort of enterprise implementation with a central office updating the contents. But then, a good Internet-enabled conduit connecting to an FTP site is just as good.

RE: Why?

Alric @ 2/7/2005 4:22:21 PM #

And how are wireless-less Palms supposed to take advantage of this?

BT would not have the bandwith or range, would it?

RE: Why?

Toysoft @ 2/8/2005 2:34:34 AM #

what about data charges for those who dont have unlimited data plans?

RE: Why?

IanJD @ 2/8/2005 6:19:30 AM #

In the UK, and probably Europe, there are no unlimited data plans, and the lowest GPRS data cost I've found is about 80p ($1.49) per Mb. Most of my albums come out at about 80Mb, so to stream this to my Treo would cost $120. I could buy a CD player, the CD, and have a good lunch for the cost of listening to an album over GPRS. Somehow, I don't think this is taking off in Europe. :)

RE: Why?

LiveFaith @ 2/8/2005 4:35:11 PM #

Doesn't sound like you guys are ready to sell the farm for this one yet. Sounds like one of those "cool, things that CAN be done, but who on earth would ever actually use it". Why not make and SDIO XM or Sirius Radio card to use with one's plan. Now that would turn some heads.

I bet PalmOne will release that this year, but it will only have drivers available for the i705. :-o

Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com

RE: Why?

Altema @ 2/8/2005 5:53:01 PM #

"And how are wireless-less Palms supposed to take advantage of this?

BT would not have the bandwith or range, would it?"

BT would have the bandwidth, and the range would not be a problem unless you wander away from your phone or BT AP. I found I can get up to 52 feet away from my AP, and about 20 feet from my phone before the audio stream drops.

The bandwidth limitation will be the cell connection, but that should not be a problem with EDGE network phones. Like mentioned already, unlimited data plan is a MUST! Can you imagine getting a $1400.00 phone bill?

BTW, what ever happened to those SDIO radios for your Palm, has anyone ever tried one?

Integration of features is the future (and the present)

The_Voice_of_Reason @ 2/8/2005 11:34:43 PM #

BTW, what ever happened to those SDIO radios for your Palm, has anyone ever tried one?

Funny you mention this - I was just looking at one yesterday in a CompUSSR (or was it Staples?) and the whole time wondering who the hell would ever buy this.

Fer cryin' out loud, pa1mOne: spend the $2 it takes to integrate an FM tuner into your hardware and sell it as an amazing "innovation" already!

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