San Diego – Set-top
Internet bridge maker
said Tuesday that
it has added MP3tunes to its expanding list of streaming entertainment services
available on its Roku players.
MP3tunes will
enable users to play their entire iTunes library through a Roku player without
having to set up any type of home media server.
Users simply
upload their iTunes music to an MP3tunes locker to be able to play those songs
(and song playlists) through a Roku Player-connected TV or home-theater system.
“Now customers can
get their music library to their TV without the complexity or cost of a home
server,” said Michael Robertson, MP3tunes CEO. “For less than $100, iTunes
users or any music enthusiast can turn a TV into a home stereo and take
advantage of the best speakers in their house.”
MP3tunes is using
Roku’s open software developer kit to create a channel, which in turn uses the
MP3tunes API, Roku said.
The unique open
music API (
)
allows any web-aware device for car, home or mobile to play a personal music
collection.
To promote the
development, Roku revealed a
special
limited-time purchase offer
giving Roku Player purchasers a $20 discount on
the purchase of a Roku HD or Roku HD-XR player and a free, premium 50GB
MP3tunes locker.
The MP3tunes
locker can be used to stream an entire iTunes library to another computer, to an
iPhone or iPod Touch that may not have enough storage, and an Android phone as
well as a Roku player.
Roku customers can
find the free MP3tunes channel in the Roku channel store. By adding this
channel to their Roku, customers can access their song libraries and playlists
which have historically been available only on their PC in iTunes or portable
players which they sync. The MP3tunes channel defaults to a one-click shuffle
mode, which immediately plays a random mix of music along with a visual display
of accompanying cover art. Customers may choose to browse their music and
select artists, albums or playlists to hear.
All Roku customers
receive 10GB of free storage space for their music which, on average, will
store music libraries up to 2,500 songs. Additional storage for larger music
collections is available with MP3tunes premium locker accounts up to 200GB.
Roku is the first
partner selected by MP3tunes to deliver its service in the home entertainment
category. MP3tunes joins a growing list of Internet-based entertainment service
providers available on the platform, including: Netflix, Amazon Video On Demand
and the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
