Songbird 2.0 for desktop, Android released
The Songbird team has just released version 2.0 of the music management software for Android and PC and Macintosh systems. Both versions have received a lighter theme matching the look and feel of the Songbird.me web app that can be opened from within the Songbird program or directly in a web browser of choice.
The integration of the service has been criticized by some of the program's users who did not like the Facebook integration at all (which seems to be the only way to make use of the feature).
Users who install Songbird for the first time on their computer need to pay attention to the setup as the Ask Toolbar will be installed on the system by default. It is recommended to uncheck the toolbar during installation to avoid this from happening.
When you first start Songbird you can select whether you would like to install add-ons that extend the program's feature set. This includes among other things CD ripping support, integration of the 7Digital music store, of mashTape, Shoutcast radio and the previously mentioned Songbird.me community. You can add and remove add-ons at a later point in time from the Tools > Add-ons menu.
When you select a song to play you automatically see related information displayed in the lower half of the screen. This includes the artist biography, news based on the artists name (which depending on the name can be hit and miss), photos, and videos from YouTube. This service seems to be provided by the mashTape add-on.
Last.fm users can log in to their account to enable a variety of services, from scrobbling to liking or banning a track that is currently playing in Songbird.
As far as Songbird.me is concerned, it displays a list of information about artists that you are interested in, and recommended artists based on your preferences. Here you can also follow artists and look at what your Facebook friends like to listen to.
About 50 different add-ons are currently available on the official add-on site that you can install in Songbird. This is actually one of the features that could really set it apart from other programs serving a similar purpose.
Windows, Mac and Android users who would like to give Songbird a try can download the latest version of the program from the official website.
Closing Words
Songbird 2.0 is a powerful music player that could really become a force to be reckoned with. It may take a while to get used to the new features that it provides, especially if you have followed the suggestions and installed all the add-ons that were listed during setup.
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The warning message about AAC streams when you load streams is because you don’t have the free Orban AAC/aacPlus Player Plugin installed.
http://codecpack.co/download/Orban-aacPlus-Player-Plugin.html
Justin, thanks for the information.
does this support AAC ? or only mp3 streaming
I’d say it supports all pls streams but I have not tried that so cannot verify it 100%.
Thank you Martin for a most informative and viable solution (it allowed me to play streams from a Netherland internet radio station in my WMP)! Continued success to you!
Barnabas (USA)
Your steps’ recommendation is still valid until 7th October 2012.. Thank you very much !!
Thank you!
You must convert file.pls to file.m3u
because file.pls open with winamp and file.m3u open with wmp.
Hi
2017 still kicking on Windows 7
Thx a ton
Hey, even i can do it, i stumbled through it and it works great! The only instruction advice i will add as i had to figure this out, when the wmp box opens that says save or open the bar on right says wmp click that drop down and select “open pls in wmp” once you do that it will work . Took me quite some time to discover that as i am no computer expert by any means. Having said that, previously i had downloaded codec packages and something about aac. None did any good. This rocks, i listen to a lot of internet radio and a number of them have dropped flash player and getting wmp to work had been a nightmare. So many thanks for this great solution to another problem that Micro-Hell will not even address. Peace- Out
openplsinwmp came in a zip file. I unpacked it, and didn’t find anything that looks like an executable, and even the files in the “doc” folder were in a format windows didn’t recognize. I’m not stupid. you said it would open effortlessly. It didn’t. This a rabbit hole I don’t want to go down.