“This week, we tested a new software program that integrates with iTunes in an attempt to add social networking to your listening routine. This program, named iLike, comes from a company of the same name. ILike is a free download that works with iTunes running on Macs and Windows PCs, and is available starting today at www.iLike.com,” Walter S. Mossberg and Katherine Boehret report for The Wall Street Journal.
Mossberg and Boehret report, “We downloaded iLike on various computers and were pleased, overall, with how it worked. It studies your entire music library and your listening — not buying — habits before suggesting related songs. It shows you what your friends are currently listening to and sets up a Web site where your music tastes are organized for others to see, encouraging social networking according to your music compatibility with other users.”
“But iLike still has some kinks. We were frustrated when it suggested songs that we already owned, or when it didn’t offer any similar songs for our lesser-known tracks,” Mossberg and Boehret report. “The first time you open iTunes after downloading iLike, the new program appears in a vertical panel on the far right side of your iTunes screen, sleekly sliding underneath the player whenever you’d like to hide it. Four tabs can be opened in iLike: Related, Friends, Playlists and Profile. The design and user interface of iLike are quite polished and Apple-like. The side panel looks like a part of iTunes, and the Web site is designed to work like a real software program.”
Mossberg and Boehret report, “If you’re tired of listening to iTunes all alone, and wonder what your friends are listening to, iLike is a useful and unobtrusive add-on for iTunes, an already great software program. Though it has a little more tweaking to do, we like iLike, and we think you’ll enjoy learning about new music and about your friends’ taste.”
Full review here.
wow, I was excited and ready to try this, then I realized it didn’t say iLick.
Borat sings “Born To Be Wild” on new albums.
Be better even than enough Steppenwolf’s.
Better “Social networking” than the Zune offers. If Microsoft had any brains, they’d use the wireless option in the Zune like this. Were you’d have a side bar where the tunes of Zunes around you are listed, and you can see/hear what people are listening to…
I’ve been using it for a little bit and it’s a neat idea. Since it’s in Alpha, it’s a bit buggy, but once it’s polished, I think it will make an impact. It definitely helps one discover new music.
If Microsoft had brains they wouldn’t be Microsoft. Microsoft’s marketing slogan is “Allah Akbar”.
Eric… I’m pretty sure that the wireless option that Zune will feature won’t be able to reach the one or two other Zune purchasers in other Cities.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />
Mehhh…..
Last.fm has been doing this for a while. The advantage that i can see with iLike is that it will scan your library and use that data to get you started. Last.fm only keeps track of songs played once you download their plug-in.
That being said, the interface for this iLike thing is sub-optimal. If you have your iTunes window stretched to fill the screen then their extra window is not visible and you have to resize to see it.
This is what music discovery should be!!!
Microsoft’s marketing slogan is “Allah Akbar”.
Um, what?
“Allah Akbar”.
In my countrys, “Allah Akbar” means
“to pack neighbor daughters fudge”.
“Last.fm has been doing this for a while.”
If iLike gains any traction, Last.fm should try to integrate with them. The biggest drawback to Last.fm is how long you have to wait before you can really do anything.
If there is ever a true, self-replicating OS X virus, this is the type of software where it probably will get started.
BustingTheSkullsOfIdiots
if we keep people’s religious choice out of this forum we might ge more tech news out of it.
So far, Micro$oft is very consistent the new milennium. They are releasing the biggest piece of crap hardware with the Zune, and also releasing the biggest piece of crap software with Windoze Vista. Nice going, Ballmer.
Apple should buy this company and make this a feature of the next iTunes
“the interface for this iLike thing is sub-optimal”
Boy you got that right. I can think of another interface that is really sub-optimal. Call it microbial.
I’ll stick with Last.fm, thank you.
Trox–
Last.fm doesn’t make you wait any longer. In the interim between your initial start-up and the point that you gain neighbors, it now gives you weekly neighbors, so that you don’t have to go neighborless.
Ummm…anyone ever heard of Pandora.com? It’s superior to this crap, it’s free, has been out for at least 2 years and it actually works. Now, why Apple hasn’t purchased their tech is a true mystery.
Ummm…anyone ever heard of Pandora.com?
I sure hadn’t! Thanks for the link, ginni.