Songbird, the open-source, media focused web browser, has launched its 1.0 milestone release to the public. The browser, which we’ve covered extensively since it was first announced back in 2005, offers a number of features that make it an appealing alternative to music players like iTunes, including a feature called mashTape will automatically cull the internet for relevant content for each song you play, using sources like YouTube and Flickr. The app also includes integrated support for Last.fm, concert ticket purchases, and add-ons to further enhance the browser.
In practice the browser works well (not much of the interface seems to have changed since the .7 release that I covered in August). Since .7, most of the changes have been under the hood, enhancing music playback and performance along with a few minor tweaks (for example, users can now use keyboard shortcuts).
The experience may seem odd for first time users, as it presents a strange fusion of iTunes with Firefox (the two browsers share the same Mozilla engine). But after a few minutes the foreignness wears off and the benefits become clear, though I suspect that some people will never get over the hybrid nature of the feature-set.
The app does have some acknowledged shortcomings – you can’t rip albums using Songbird, and there’s no way to sync an iPhone to the app. These pitfalls would probably be enough to put off most casual users, but Songbird appeals to a more hardcore listening demographic that is more willing to embrace emerging software (90% of the app’s users are on Firefox, and 80% have music libraries over 10 gigs in size).
Very cool – a must have! Thanks for the write-up.
I’ve been having a lot of fun with lala.com
I think it does have support of iPod through an extension
It does, but due to Apple’s proprietary protocols, the extension cannot communicate with the iPhone and iPod Touch.
This looks like an excellent idea. In theory I always want to be more ‘on’ with music but then I usually run out of time to fill my iTunes with good tunes and do my research on what’s new in music. This seems like it could bring me back into the groove
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What browser engine is it based on? Mozilla, webkit…?
Mozilla.
Its built on Mozilla’s Gecko engine. Its what powers Firefox.
Where can I find a deb?
I’m all for open source programs, but Songbird has never run properly for me on Vista 64; unfortunately I had to ditch it.
You gotto change the windows firewall settings . The windows live onecare program might also be blocking songbird from connecting to the repositories.
The bird in that logo needs some wings
That’s probably for laters, when the bird Does take flight.. [;)]
Chilling on a branch, the wings are tucked.
How are they going to make money?
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I love the Songbird features, but they should build it as an advanced Firefox plugin instead of a stand alone browser. Regular Firefox will always be a superior web browser. When I click on a link that sends me to a MP3 blog or some other page that is enhanced by Songbird, I want those features to activate in my main browser (and then fade into the background when I’m on pages with no music content). I’m constantly moving between pages that have audio and pages that don’t. I’m not willing to open a separate browser each time I want these additional features and I’m not willing to give up all the features of regular Firefox. It’s too bad Songbird isn’t a plugin, because then you would get the best of both worlds.
Interesting. I’ve tried Songbird before and I’ve always thought of it as a media player with browser capabilities, rather than the other way around. If I just want to browse, I use Firefox. The memory usage for 1.0 is still huge, but I do like some of the features. I’ve been using the release candidates occasionally. The project is very promising, if imperfect.
Does anyone know if it’s working with airport express yet, and if not when?
I think that Songbird’s UI is the best of the media players available to Linux users, but until the program gets an EQ, it is totally useless to me.
I met these guys years ago and said there’s no way the world needs another media player. I was wrong. I _hate_ iTunes… I love WMP for just playing and monitoring directories but thats about it.
I want a Musicbraiz-based, folder monitoring, easy sync’ing, remotely controlled (and not just iPhone), easy to use Media Player.
Close, but no cigar — yet.
Songbird is great !!! We have integrated a Songbird music store into our Social Network at adelph.us
songbird is awesome gonna try it out