TunA and Socializing via MP3 Player

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. "

Comments

proximity sharing

[tobes]

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.

Re:proximity sharing

[1ns4n3c4rb0nb4s3dl1f]

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.

I have heard of this.

[rf600r]

My people call it "iTunes."

How is a program like a fish?

[da3dAlus]

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

I read the article

[notque]

My people call it "iTunes."

That's sooooo two weeks ago.

Interesting way to screw the RIAA

[TWX]

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.

I can see it now....

[nizo]

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.

Re:I can see it now....

[tedDancin]

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..

like radio?

[r84x]

"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?

Music networking

[joekra]

A more primitive take on this is DailyTunes.com

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

Great

[Anonymous Coward]

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.

Great ... just great

[bryanzera]

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.

The difference....

[Anonymous Coward]

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.

I can hear it now...

[mamer-retrogamer]

RIAA to Smithers: "Release the hounds!"

-Mike

caution

[Lord_Dweomer]

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.

Uh, no..

[Lysol]

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..

iTunes...

[Phroggy]

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...