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Hello! I would like to have support for Spotify in Amarok. I think that would be really awesome. There is currently a open source client for Spotify, Despotify, so you could use their source code. The client does however only work if you have a premium account and I don't think it's a good idea to try to get the free account to work since that would probably provoke them (but if you included support for advertising the matter would probably change).

Anyway, this is my first contribution to KDE Brainstorm and I hope you like it! If you haven't tried Spotify, do it. It's great!

You can find more information on Wikipedia. Unfortunately Spotify doesn't work in every country. But the next place they add support for is going to be USA, they are just going to finish a client for iPhone and some other cellphones.

Well I would vote for it, but it's not supported for free in my country.
I'm usually not an big RMS defender but that goes against the whole free software idea.
But it could be done as third party extension.

I'm not sure how feasible this is but...

The Spotify webpage provides instructions on how to make their client run using Wine. So, they are aware that at least some Linux-users wants to use their service. With that in mind, maybe they would be open to the idea of collaborating with the Amarok/Banshee/whatever guys to make it possible for a native Linux client (or a plugin-based client).

Just an idea.

Despotify isn't supported by Spotify (the company). On their homepage, one question in the FAQ is "How long will it take before Spotify blocks your code?", and there's a description of the Streisand effect under Legal. Using their source code is probably a bad idea.

On the brighter side: http://www.spotify.com/blog/archives/20 ... evelopers/

Kryten2X4B wrote:I'm not sure how feasible this is but...

The Spotify webpage provides instructions on how to make their client run using Wine. So, they are aware that at least some Linux-users wants to use their service. With that in mind, maybe they would be open to the idea of collaborating with the Amarok/Banshee/whatever guys to make it possible for a native Linux client (or a plugin-based client).

Just an idea.

Yepp, they released the API today, how ever there are some kinda harsh rules and I don't think it's possible to release the whole source code. You need to have some kind of key for you're app for it to have access to the servers, and it must be hidden. But if some one would like to make an exception and implement a closed or partly closed plug in for Amarok I would use it. Amarok have support for plug ins right?
I'm willing to compromise and use closed software when it comes to stuff like this.

funkyjansson wrote:Yepp, they released the API today, how ever there are some kinda harsh rules and I don't think it's possible to release the whole source code. You need to have some kind of key for you're app for it to have access to the servers, and it must be hidden.

Better than nothing I suppose, but makes little sense from the way I see it. As far as I can tell, their revenue comes from ads and subscription fees. Where's the need for some sort of key to basically just stream music??? Maybe the content-providers require it though.

Still, since they give examples of Linux-distros where it's known to work I guess they realize Linux-users and/or devs would be interested. Which kinda makes me wonder...how is a hidden key supposed to work on an OS where most software is OpenSource??? Did they even consider that?

funkyjansson wrote:But if some one would like to make an exception and implement a closed or partly closed plug in for Amarok I would use it. Amarok have support for plug ins right?

It does. I'm not sure exactly how it works, but all plugins I've seen are script-based. I assume binary-ones are possible as well but I don't know for sure.

funkyjansson wrote:I'm willing to compromise and use closed software when it comes to stuff like this.

I'm using some closed-source stuff anyway (nvidia-driver, adobe air + a few apps/toys, flash-player. google-earth, picasa, maple) so using that as well wouldn't be a problem. Let's just say I use what works best for me, as long as I have the legal right to use it.

I hope that the developers will integrate the libspotify http://developer.spotify.com/en/libspotify/overview/.

There could be a problem with money, since one have to be a premium account holder, but I think the community could sponsor it?

ddv wrote:I hope that the developers will integrate the libspotify http://developer.spotify.com/en/libspotify/overview/.

There could be a problem with money, since one have to be a premium account holder, but I think the community could sponsor it?

This is probably more of a problem than the money (and only one set of the terms that's a problem):

"The Application Key must be embedded in your Application, including in all updates and revisions thereto, in a secure manner not accessible by third parties. You agree not to share, transfer or otherwise disclose your Application Key to any other party".

I really can not see how that obligation can be fulfilled in an open-source application.

I can see your point.

But would it be possible to have a "Spotify plugin"? Or is Spotify to big to be a plugin?

The thing is, that I think that amarok, should support new efforts, to change the music industry, and I see Spotify, as a way of doing that.

Is there any way you can see that happening?

A possible option might be to develop the plugin and ask Spotify to distribute it (or rather, the other way round in order to avoid doing work for nothing ). So Amarok users would have to go to Spotify to register and download the plugin there instead of getting it via the distro.

Most of you probably know this by now, but the Despotify FAQ has been updated:

How long will it take before Spotify blocks your code?
(updated: Spotify decided to not block access for despotify)


That in general means that it's fully possible to make a totally open source Spotify Amarok plugin (that only supports Premium users, that is), and no longer a bad idea to base it upon despotify code.

Spotify in Amarok would be awesome for laptop !!

Since Spotiy more or less dropped their linux-support (there are only versions available for Ubuntu now) and since there seems to be no development on spotify clients or plugins on the Linux side, I would really like to see this happen in Amarok.
The installation with wine is not acceptable to me: it's buggy, slow and I think Linux and KDE should keep up with developments like this.
The number of countries with Spotify is growing. So is the number of users.
Spotify released their libspotify for a reason: to stimulate programming clients.

I would very much like to see Amarok with Spotify support: lyrics, artist information. The sad fact is that I barely use Amarok anymore since Spotify provides me with loads of music streams ànd my collection of local music.
So what can I do (sadly without programming skills and not loaded with cash)? Can I pay for a premium account for the Amarok programmers? What do you guys need to do this?

Please respond.

Beurtbalkje, you might want to try chat to them on #amarok to discuss this. It also seems their wiki has some information on what could be considered a roadmap: http://amarok.kde.org/wiki/Proposals

Thnx, Moult!
Looking in to it now.