When it comes to tech gifts, there’s no shortage of options for music lovers, from streaming to speakers, and it’s easy to find a gift at any price point.
First up, let’s look at cool speaker systems that will let you take advantage of your phone to give you quality music options either at your house or on the go:
Last week we talked a little about how to set up AirPlay so you can use it to play music or mirror your Mac. It’s great wireless tech that can work in a home or an office, but still has some limitations, especially if you’re not a full-on Mac and iOS user. Here are three apps that will extend AirPlay for Windows, Android, and even Mac users.
AirBubble
This one is for Android users. AirBubble is a free Android app that lives on your phone, but talks to AirPlay source devices so it can act as a receiver and stream music to your phone. Great if you use iTunes but are an Android user. Find AirBubble in the Google Play store.
DoubleTwist with AirSync
DoubleTwist is an Android media player, and AirSync is a $5 extension available for purchase in the Google Play store. The extension lets you you stream music or video to an Apple TV (or an XBox 360, PC or Mac). It can also double as a way to wirelessly sync your iTunes to your Android phone, so that’s a bonus. Find AirSync in the Google Play store.
AirFoil
AirFoil may be the most versatile 3rd party streaming app out there. It costs $30, but it can send audio from any music player (not just iTunes) and can even use apps running on your computer or phone, like Spotify. Multiple users can access the same network, so it’s a great way to set up a collaborative music system in an office that lets everyone take a turn playing DJ. Available for Windows and PC, AirFoil lets you stream from a computer directly to other computers, AirPort Express units, Apple TVs, iPhones and iPods Touch. Most devices will need to have software enabled to act as receivers: check out the the full list of compatible devices and software needed here. Available from Rogue Amoeba.
There’s a ton of options out there for streaming music, here are some of the best.
As of last night, I’m officially a contributor to Fuse NEWS, which airs every night from 8-830pm on Fuse, the hottest music channel on cable television! I’ll be appearing on pretty regularly on Fuse NEWS, but if you want to know exactly which nights I’ll be appearing you should follow me on twitter or sign up for my newsletter to be the first to know.
A lot of people might be looking at the title of this post and thinking that I’m being hyperbolic. I’m not. A huge new app hit the App Store for iPad today, called Bloomberg TV+. Unlike every other TV app out there, from the heavy-hitters of broadcast like NBC and FOX to streaming channels like Hulu and HBO Go, Bloomberg’s television app for the iPad let’s you watch Bloomberg TV live. For free. No strings attached. Literally the same experience as if you tuned into their cable station, but with added features like a live stock ticker, a list of upcoming shows, on demand viewing of previously aired full-length programs, and most impressively a sidebar that’s updated live that includes a list of guests and companies mentioned on air.
It gets better. The quality, for one, is amazing. Read More