7 ms·

Spotify for Linux (native)

83 points by DrJokepu 16y ago

singular 16y ago
I've really pleased at this news. I've been using Spotify in linux via WINE for a while which has been generally fine despite a few glitches, especially on update, but it'll be so much nicer to shift to a faster and more reliable (and hopefully eventually supported) native version. Go spotify!! :-)
- kilian 16y ago
  Agreed. Spotify on WINE ran fine (on purpose even, so much kudos to Spotify) but a native version is very much appreciated. So far, it's running far more smoothly.
timtadh 16y ago
wtf: "there are issues regarding decoding of local music on the Linux platform so we haven’t included support for local files in this version." every music player + distro has had this solved for years ...
- jrnkntl 16y ago
  I think this has to do with the encryption of the local files. Spotify doesn't plainly store the mp3s or equivalent in a local cache (for obvious reasons); they store what looks like encrypted snippets of songs all across different folders.
  - nailer 16y ago
    I think they're actually talking about Spotify's ability to play your own, unencrypted regular music files. The Mac and Windows vers do this - which means you no longer need to switch between apps to play music you either own or subscribe to.
  - DrJokepu 16y ago
    Actually, I believe they are using Vorbis, not mp3 encoding.
    - yungchin 16y ago
      Right, that is the key to the issue I think: Spotify can't just include an MP3 decoder, unless they pay licensing fees to Thomson or Fraunhofer or whoever it was. On Windows/Mac, I guess they instead rely on the system-wide codec, but on Linux there would be some diversity in the implementations, and so probably they chose not to bother, for now.
nailer 16y ago
After having used Linux for 10 years on the desktop, I now admit that as much as I want it to be, Linux isn't a general purpose desktop platform for a variety of reasons. But providing a client for paying customers is a pretty good way for Spotify to justify the cost of a Linux version and differentiate themselves from their competitors. This also may be a good for Netbook makers.
jerguismi 16y ago
Ubuntu could add this by default to their distribution (or by easy install link) and generate extra revenue by provisions for each sale.
avar 16y ago
It doesn't install on Ubuntu 10.04: spotify-client-gnome-support: Depends: gconf2 (>= 2.28.1-2) but 2.28.1-0ubuntu1 is installed.
- metabrew 16y ago
  I don't have Gnome installed (kubuntu 10.04), and got the same. The core package works fine though.
- mapleoin 16y ago
  it looks like it was meant for debian. You could try forcing it though, since it's the same gconf version, with only the distribution's release (the -2 or 0ubuntu1 part) differing.
  - ars 16y ago
    Don't force it - you will get an error every single time you do anything with packages if you do that. You want this version: https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/maverick/+source/gconf/2.28.1-3ubuntu1 https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/maverick/+source/gconf/2.28.1-3... No deb, but the source is there, and you can build it yourself. BTW, the version requested is not on debian stable either, it's a testing only version. So I guess you should be on the ubuntu equivalent of testing.
    - joss82 16y ago
      Direct .deb link here: http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/pool/main/g/gconf/gconf2_2.28.1-3_i386.deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/pool/main/g/gconf/gconf2_2.2... Once downloaded, you need to install it with the following command: sudo dpkg -i ./gconf2_2.28.1-3_i386.deb Then re-run: sudo apt-get install spotify-client-qt spotify-client-gnome-support EDIT: Only tried on Ubuntu 10.4. Works flawlessly then. Enjoy ;)
- matthewcford 16y ago
  you only need the spotify-client-qt package for it to run.
metabrew 16y ago
I only have Spotify unlimited (no mobile support), not premium.. Even tho I don't get ads, it won't let me log in. Back to running it with wine, which runs adequately.
- SpoonMeiser 16y ago
  I can't log in with either my 'free' or 'open' accounts. The client outputs something like this: 12:53:03.051 I [ap:1387] Connecting to AP B2.spotify.com:4070 12:53:03.054 I [ap:937] Connected to AP: 78.31.8.17:4070 12:53:03.073 E [ap:3280] Connection error: 404 12:53:03.576 I [ap:1387] Connecting to AP B1.spotify.com:80 12:53:03.609 I [ap:937] Connected to AP: 78.31.8.15:80 12:53:03.629 E [ap:3280] Connection error: 404 12:53:03.810 I [ap:1387] Connecting to AP B3.spotify.com:443 12:53:03.840 I [ap:937] Connected to AP: 78.31.12.9:443 12:53:03.913 E [ap:3280] Connection error: 406 12:54:25.855 I [offline_authorizer.cpp:156] Unable to login offline: no such user
augustl 16y ago
It has been repackaged for Arch Linux here: http://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php?ID=38846 http://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php?ID=38846 Read the build file [1] to find out how to build it for yourself on whatever system you're on ;) [1] http://aur.archlinux.org/packages/spotify-x86_64/spotify-x86_64/PKGBUILD http://aur.archlinux.org/packages/spotify-x86_64/spotify-x86...
- idefix 16y ago
  That one seems to have been lost, this is the new one http://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php?ID=38865 http://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php?ID=38865
augustl 16y ago
Fun fact: in Compiz, the Spotify window doesn't wobble like other windows, with wobbly windows enabled. I wonder how they managed to create windows like that, since all other windows on my systems are wobbly. Even VirtualBox running Windows XP!
sushi 16y ago
I have been running spotify on Wine for quite some time on my Ubuntu machine and it serves the purpose pretty well. The only glitch I have encountered so far is that when I click on ads no actions is taken.
nuclear_eclipse 16y ago
Is there any ETA on when Spotify might become available in the US?
- jdietrich 16y ago
  When enough people lobby their congressman for copyright reform. The RIAA simply have no interest in doing a deal with Spotify.
- daleharvey 16y ago
  seemingly warner are dragging their heels http://eu.techcrunch.com/2010/06/03/spotify-already-has-30000-u-s-users-so-why-hasnt-it-launched-there-yet/ http://eu.techcrunch.com/2010/06/03/spotify-already-has-3000...
- w1ntermute 16y ago
  Just register using a European proxy. Once you download the app, you can listen all you want from a US IP. I'm doing it right now. Edit: "a person can use a free, ad-supported Spotify account anywhere outside of their home country for 14 days." http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3ib36f6aee9fd6397223918494098da1ef http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3ib... The Spotify client does support proxying, so I'll be using my proxy server permanently after the 14 day limit, I guess. But if you pay them for the Unlimited or Premium plans, you don't have to worry about that.
  - goatforce5 16y ago
    I was under the impression you needed a credit card with a European address to register for their premium services. Anyone know otherwise?
    - w1ntermute 16y ago
      It says they take PayPal, so I don't see why you wouldn't be able to use that.
someone_here 16y ago
This was already available, but then blocked: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotify#Despotify http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotify#Despotify
johnfn 16y ago
This is disappointing. I tried to log in, only to get a really obscure error message: "Use of this device is not enabled for your account." It turns out that only spotify premium is enabled for linux.
- ElliotH 16y ago
  Ads aren't reliable in this version (from the Spotify site) - so they can't make it available for free users. Remember Spotify still works really well under Wine.
whopa 16y ago
I wonder why they haven't just made a web client already, instead of bothering with fat native clients for every platform. The P2P stuff isn't really worth it given that bandwidth is so cheap, and they otherwise don't actually do anything with a native UI that a web based UI couldn't do.
- ThomPete 16y ago
  Because the web-client would suck compared. And yes they do plenty with the native UI, it's just in the details. Those details that matter.
  - whopa 16y ago
    Do you some concrete examples of some of these details where being native makes it far and away better or easier than a web UI?
    - yungchin 16y ago
      One thing that keeps amazing me about Spotify, is how there's seemingly zero latency when you jump to a new track. This is true for any track - even if you do a search query over the whole catalogue, then hit a random entry in the list of results, the music starts pretty much immediately. This makes it much more pleasant to use than something like Grooveshark (Flash-based). I really don't see anyone pulling that off with a web client.
      - whopa 16y ago
        But RTMP was designed for this. This is totally possible using a web client.
        ThomPete 16y ago
        Can you show me one place where it works?
- matthewcford 16y ago

83 points by DrJokepu 16y ago

I've really pleased at this news. I've been using Spotify in linux via WINE for a while which has been generally fine despite a few glitches, especially on update, but it'll be so much nicer to shift to a faster and more reliable (and hopefully eventually supported) native version. Go spotify!! :-)

kilian 16y ago
Agreed. Spotify on WINE ran fine (on purpose even, so much kudos to Spotify) but a native version is very much appreciated. So far, it's running far more smoothly.

timtadh 16y ago

wtf: "there are issues regarding decoding of local music on the Linux platform so we haven’t included support for local files in this version." every music player + distro has had this solved for years ...

jrnkntl 16y ago
I think this has to do with the encryption of the local files. Spotify doesn't plainly store the mp3s or equivalent in a local cache (for obvious reasons); they store what looks like encrypted snippets of songs all across different folders.
- nailer 16y ago
  I think they're actually talking about Spotify's ability to play your own, unencrypted regular music files. The Mac and Windows vers do this - which means you no longer need to switch between apps to play music you either own or subscribe to.
- DrJokepu 16y ago
  Actually, I believe they are using Vorbis, not mp3 encoding.
  - yungchin 16y ago
    Right, that is the key to the issue I think: Spotify can't just include an MP3 decoder, unless they pay licensing fees to Thomson or Fraunhofer or whoever it was. On Windows/Mac, I guess they instead rely on the system-wide codec, but on Linux there would be some diversity in the implementations, and so probably they chose not to bother, for now.

nailer 16y ago

After having used Linux for 10 years on the desktop, I now admit that as much as I want it to be, Linux isn't a general purpose desktop platform for a variety of reasons. But providing a client for paying customers is a pretty good way for Spotify to justify the cost of a Linux version and differentiate themselves from their competitors. This also may be a good for Netbook makers.

jerguismi 16y ago

Ubuntu could add this by default to their distribution (or by easy install link) and generate extra revenue by provisions for each sale.

avar 16y ago

It doesn't install on Ubuntu 10.04: spotify-client-gnome-support: Depends: gconf2 (>= 2.28.1-2) but 2.28.1-0ubuntu1 is installed.

metabrew 16y ago
I don't have Gnome installed (kubuntu 10.04), and got the same. The core package works fine though.
mapleoin 16y ago
it looks like it was meant for debian. You could try forcing it though, since it's the same gconf version, with only the distribution's release (the -2 or 0ubuntu1 part) differing.
- ars 16y ago
  Don't force it - you will get an error every single time you do anything with packages if you do that. You want this version: https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/maverick/+source/gconf/2.28.1-3ubuntu1 https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/maverick/+source/gconf/2.28.1-3... No deb, but the source is there, and you can build it yourself. BTW, the version requested is not on debian stable either, it's a testing only version. So I guess you should be on the ubuntu equivalent of testing.
  - joss82 16y ago
    Direct .deb link here: http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/pool/main/g/gconf/gconf2_2.28.1-3_i386.deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/pool/main/g/gconf/gconf2_2.2... Once downloaded, you need to install it with the following command: sudo dpkg -i ./gconf2_2.28.1-3_i386.deb Then re-run: sudo apt-get install spotify-client-qt spotify-client-gnome-support EDIT: Only tried on Ubuntu 10.4. Works flawlessly then. Enjoy ;)
matthewcford 16y ago
you only need the spotify-client-qt package for it to run.

metabrew 16y ago

I only have Spotify unlimited (no mobile support), not premium.. Even tho I don't get ads, it won't let me log in. Back to running it with wine, which runs adequately.

SpoonMeiser 16y ago
I can't log in with either my 'free' or 'open' accounts. The client outputs something like this: 12:53:03.051 I [ap:1387] Connecting to AP B2.spotify.com:4070 12:53:03.054 I [ap:937] Connected to AP: 78.31.8.17:4070 12:53:03.073 E [ap:3280] Connection error: 404 12:53:03.576 I [ap:1387] Connecting to AP B1.spotify.com:80 12:53:03.609 I [ap:937] Connected to AP: 78.31.8.15:80 12:53:03.629 E [ap:3280] Connection error: 404 12:53:03.810 I [ap:1387] Connecting to AP B3.spotify.com:443 12:53:03.840 I [ap:937] Connected to AP: 78.31.12.9:443 12:53:03.913 E [ap:3280] Connection error: 406 12:54:25.855 I [offline_authorizer.cpp:156] Unable to login offline: no such user

augustl 16y ago

It has been repackaged for Arch Linux here: http://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php?ID=38846 http://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php?ID=38846 Read the build file [1] to find out how to build it for yourself on whatever system you're on ;) [1] http://aur.archlinux.org/packages/spotify-x86_64/spotify-x86_64/PKGBUILD http://aur.archlinux.org/packages/spotify-x86_64/spotify-x86...

idefix 16y ago
That one seems to have been lost, this is the new one http://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php?ID=38865 http://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php?ID=38865

augustl 16y ago

Fun fact: in Compiz, the Spotify window doesn't wobble like other windows, with wobbly windows enabled. I wonder how they managed to create windows like that, since all other windows on my systems are wobbly. Even VirtualBox running Windows XP!

sushi 16y ago

I have been running spotify on Wine for quite some time on my Ubuntu machine and it serves the purpose pretty well. The only glitch I have encountered so far is that when I click on ads no actions is taken.

nuclear_eclipse 16y ago

Is there any ETA on when Spotify might become available in the US?

jdietrich 16y ago
When enough people lobby their congressman for copyright reform. The RIAA simply have no interest in doing a deal with Spotify.
daleharvey 16y ago
seemingly warner are dragging their heels http://eu.techcrunch.com/2010/06/03/spotify-already-has-30000-u-s-users-so-why-hasnt-it-launched-there-yet/ http://eu.techcrunch.com/2010/06/03/spotify-already-has-3000...
w1ntermute 16y ago
Just register using a European proxy. Once you download the app, you can listen all you want from a US IP. I'm doing it right now. Edit: "a person can use a free, ad-supported Spotify account anywhere outside of their home country for 14 days." http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3ib36f6aee9fd6397223918494098da1ef http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3ib... The Spotify client does support proxying, so I'll be using my proxy server permanently after the 14 day limit, I guess. But if you pay them for the Unlimited or Premium plans, you don't have to worry about that.
- goatforce5 16y ago
  I was under the impression you needed a credit card with a European address to register for their premium services. Anyone know otherwise?
  - w1ntermute 16y ago
    It says they take PayPal, so I don't see why you wouldn't be able to use that.

someone_here 16y ago

This was already available, but then blocked: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotify#Despotify http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotify#Despotify

johnfn 16y ago

This is disappointing. I tried to log in, only to get a really obscure error message: "Use of this device is not enabled for your account." It turns out that only spotify premium is enabled for linux.

ElliotH 16y ago
Ads aren't reliable in this version (from the Spotify site) - so they can't make it available for free users. Remember Spotify still works really well under Wine.

whopa 16y ago

I wonder why they haven't just made a web client already, instead of bothering with fat native clients for every platform. The P2P stuff isn't really worth it given that bandwidth is so cheap, and they otherwise don't actually do anything with a native UI that a web based UI couldn't do.

ThomPete 16y ago
Because the web-client would suck compared. And yes they do plenty with the native UI, it's just in the details. Those details that matter.
- whopa 16y ago
  Do you some concrete examples of some of these details where being native makes it far and away better or easier than a web UI?
  - yungchin 16y ago
    One thing that keeps amazing me about Spotify, is how there's seemingly zero latency when you jump to a new track. This is true for any track - even if you do a search query over the whole catalogue, then hit a random entry in the list of results, the music starts pretty much immediately. This makes it much more pleasant to use than something like Grooveshark (Flash-based). I really don't see anyone pulling that off with a web client.
    - whopa 16y ago
      But RTMP was designed for this. This is totally possible using a web client.
      - ThomPete 16y ago
        Can you show me one place where it works?
matthewcford 16y ago