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TunA and Socializing via MP3 Player

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the do-you-hear-what-i-hear dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Wired is carrying a story about a new program in development called TunA. It will allow you to view other users playlists on their MP3 Player and also stream the music to your Player. Works through WiFi so it limits to mostly laptops for now. "

24 of 114 comments (clear)

  1. proximity sharing by tobes · · Score: 5, Informative

    I think it's a great idea to be able to see what other people in your proximity are listening too. It really does bring a super-social aspect (as in you wouldn't be able to do it without technology) into the music experience. I definitely think that there is room for a non-proximity based playlist sharing mechanisim though. Of course, I'm extremely biased because that's exactly what my site does, but it seems to me that if you wanted to find out about new music that you would need a much larger sample set than "the people in my general vicinity".

    That being said, being able to sample the music in another persons collection is totally sweet. It's nice that they don't have to deal with the RIAA since the program would presumably work withougt a central server.

    1. Re:proximity sharing by 1ns4n3c4rb0nb4s3dl1f · · Score: 5, Funny

      I think it's a great idea to be able to see what other people in your proximity are listening too

      Until you chance upon me while I'm listening to KMFDM and you realize that there are some things you never wanted to hear. Then you spend the next hour trying to forget the experience.

      --
      [Reply to This]
  2. I have heard of this. by rf600r · · Score: 5, Funny

    My people call it "iTunes."

  3. How is a program like a fish? by da3dAlus · · Score: 4, Funny

    You can TunA program but you can't...oh nevermind....

    --

    Sometimes I doubt your commitment to Sparkle Motion.
  4. I read the article by notque · · Score: 4, Funny

    My people call it "iTunes."

    That's sooooo two weeks ago.

    --
    http://use.perl.org
  5. ::cough:: by mrpuffypants · · Score: 2, Insightful

    ahem....

    ----> Rendezvous

    and

    ----> iTunes Music Sharing

    1. Re:::cough:: by razberry636 · · Score: 2, Interesting
      Indeed.

      Since iTunes started adding the ability to "share" music, I've come in contact with a few more Mac people on campus. Most people here at $my_school show their email address instead of listing their music under "Jason's Music" (the default). This gives us the ability to contact one another to say "Hey, nice music!" or something like that.

      Right now I'm listening to Bryan Ferry who I haven't heard in a long time from a student from France.

      One other observation that I'll throw out is that since Apple released iTunes for Windows, there hasn't been an increase in the number of people sharing music, but there's about 3 times as many people listening to my music.

      Okay, in the time it took me to write this (and preview), the Bryan Ferry song ended and now I'm listening to something in french that I don't understand, but it's still interesting.

  6. Interesting Concept by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I'm currently working on my thesis for my masters in psychology and this is a very innovative technology.

    In interviews that I conducted with several hundred subjects, I've found that the alarming trend that the introduction of new technology causes us to be more separate socially. We've seen it with office staff sending e-mail to individuals just a few cubicles away.

    Another expirement I'm currently conducting is to provide negative feedback to individuals who choose to use their cell phone to communicate with their friends instead of dropping by at their apartment. A good example of positive behavior would be the group in "Friends", while a negative example would the person from the Verizon commercial.

  7. Interesting way to screw the RIAA by TWX · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If an actual file synchronizing/sharing utility were to grow out of this, it would really mess with the RIAA's attempts to punish filesharers. All that would have to happen for a physical level for added security would be MAC address and SSID spoofer, so that the real hardware addresses aren't recorded. Even if the RIAA were to attempt to set up monitoring machines in busy areas, it wouldn't be very effective if the information was spoofed.

    Disclaimer: I don't think that artists should be ripped off. This is why I'm against the RIAA.

    --
    Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
  8. I can see it now.... by nizo · · Score: 5, Funny
    Clicking on others' avatars lets you see whatever personal information or messages they want to share with the world.

    I can hear the screams now, as I walk around with my own goatse.cx avatar on my player for all to see.

    --
    I Am My Own Worst Enemy
    1. Re:I can see it now.... by tedDancin · · Score: 4, Funny

      There's also instant-message capability, the possibility to change skins and a virtual stalking feature.

      The only thing worse than a goatse.cx avatar is a goatse.cx stalker..

      --

      Ladies, form queue here -->
  9. just to get it out of the way by Blublu · · Score: 2, Funny

    Mmmmmmmm, tuna...

    --
    meh
  10. like radio? by r84x · · Score: 4, Insightful
    "I'm not sure that a device that would allow streaming but wouldn't allow you to copy would be very popular," he said.

    So, I guess what he is saying is that radio is dying? People have listened to radio broadcasts of music for decades, and continue to, without being able to keep the music. What is different now?

    --
    Karma: Can there be a void?

    .. -. - . .-. .-. --- -...

  11. Music networking by joekra · · Score: 4, Insightful
    A more primitive take on this is DailyTunes.com

    where you can make song recommendations to others for itunes songs. A very cool concept.

  12. Great by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Now I don't have to strain myself trying to identify that tinny screeching sound coming from across the train.

    You know the one - too loud to ignore, but just not loud enough to work out what the damn song is.

  13. Great ... just great by bryanzera · · Score: 5, Funny

    I get sick of hearing the buzzing of the trunk of the car with the huge fucking subwoofers that toddles down my street at the most bizzare hours of the day and night. I'm SICK of listening to other people's music. I think I'm going to stick with my walkman.

  14. and by SweetAndSourJesus · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Howl and daapd for those that would like to serve from a Linux/BSD box.

    --

    --
    the strongest word is still the word "free"
  15. The difference.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative
    The difference is that iTunes lets you pick what music you want to listen to from the other guy's collection, while tunA lets you listen to what the other guy is listening to *right now*. You get a copy of his stream, instead of your very own stream.

    At least that's my understanding.

  16. I can hear it now... by mamer-retrogamer · · Score: 3, Funny

    RIAA to Smithers: "Release the hounds!"

    -Mike

    --
    Schrödinger's cat is not amused—maybe.
  17. Streaming wifi via Shoutcast by mycroftxxxx · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Along a similar idea, my Tungsten C can stream mp3 stations from Shoutcast with Pocket Tunes
    Not hifi wifi but it's wild to see in action the first time...

  18. caution by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 3, Funny
    A word of caution to fellow Slashdotters who may be more tech-savvy than female-savvy.

    Do not, I repeat, DO NOT ask a woman with an mp3 player if she has TunA. Odds are you will be smacked, probably with the mp3 player too if its that time of the month.

    --
    Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
  19. Uh, no.. by Lysol · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Not the same at all. Specifically for the fact that it's meant as a 'social Walkman' and, as we all know, Walkman's are portable. iTunes is not and, no, a 12" Powerbook is not the portable I'm talking about. The iPod is portable, but lacks Wi-Fi and the varying operating system features TunA requires. This is meant strictly for palm computers, of which, a version of iTunes does not (will never?) exist.

    I just submitted this story a few hours ago. Rejected once again..

  20. iTunes... by Phroggy · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This is a different concept than the music sharing feature of iTunes 4: with iTunes, you get access to my entire music library and can pick and choose what you'd like to listen to; with TunA, it's as if I unplugged my headphones to let you listen with me.

    I don't see why it should be limited to a wireless connection; surely it uses a higher-level protocol such as IP or NetBEUI or IPX or something that works just as well on Ethernet?

    One question I do have: will the playback be synchronized? Normally when you stream audio, it's buffered, so there's a delay. If two people are listening to the same thing, but it's out of sync by half a second, it'll drive both of them crazy...

    --
    $x='S24;r)>63/* h@<5+oZ)32"5cz';$me='phroggy'x$];
    $x=~y+ -xz+\0-Tx+;print$_^chop$me for split'',$x;
  21. Rendezvous for dummies: by mindstrm · · Score: 2, Informative

    Rendezvous doesn't enable streaming, just service discovery. It's used so itunes instances can find each other, but that's all.

    Rendezvous is basically an adaptation of DNS.. (but please, realize that doens't mean it replaces "the" DNS system we use.)

    They took DNS, adapted it to work over multicast, and that's about it.. and use it as a heirarchial, distirubted method of publishing services, and other information. IF you want to know what's out there, you send a query not to a DNS server, but to a multicast address (a link-local address in this case, so it's confined to your local network by convention). All those listening mDNS servers (like every Mac in the room, or any linux machine runinng mDNS) will respond to the query via unicast (I think... haven't read it in that much detail yet.)

    Works for hostnames too, if your resolver supports it. (macs again).

    Of note is that it's a very open standard, and it's a cakewalk for linux or anyone else to support it as well.