Amazon Cloud Player (Free, 3.5 stars), Amazon's new music storage and streaming service, lets users access audio libraries that have been uploaded to the Amazon Cloud Drive (Free, 3 stars) from a variety of Web-connected devices—with the notable exceptions of the iPad and iPad 2. The service comes to the Android platform bundled within the Amazon MP3 app in the form of Amazon Cloud Player for Android. The Android app (reviewed here) lets music lovers stream tunes, create playlists, and download uploaded tracks on their mobile devices. Overall, Amazon Cloud Player for Android is an enjoyable, useful app (featuring 5GB of free Web storage) that's only limited by the impositions placed upon the user, particularly in regards to compatible file types.
Setup and Interface
Once I downloaded the Amazon MP3 app to a Samsung Epic 4G smartphone, I was presented with the option to either enter the Amazon MP3 Store to purchase music, or launch the Amazon Cloud Player. I selected the latter option. Once inside the Cloud Player, I was given the choice of listening to music that's "On-device" (as is, physically on the phone), or you can signing into "Cloud Drive Music." Once again, I selected the second option.
Once I downloaded the Amazon MP3 app to a Samsung Epic 4G smartphone, I was presented with the option to either enter the Amazon MP3 Store to purchase music, or launch the Amazon Cloud Player. I selected the latter option. Once inside the Cloud Player, I was given the choice of listening to music that's "On-device" (as is, physically on the phone), or you can signing into "Cloud Drive Music." Once again, I selected the second option.
After downloading the Amazon MP3 app to a Samsung Epic 4G($129, 4 stars) smartphone, I was presented with the option to either enter the Amazon MP3 Store to purchase music, or launch the Amazon Cloud Player upon firing up the app. I selected the latter option. Once inside the Cloud Player, I was given the choice of listening to music that's "On-device" (that is, stored on the phone itself), or signing into "Cloud Drive Music." Once again, I selected the second option.
I signed into Amazon Cloud Player for Android with my credentials, but didn't see the handful of tracks that I had uploaded to Amazon Cloud Drive earlier that the day. The app suggested that I log out of my Could Player for Android account, move back to the desktop, sign into the browser-based Amazon Cloud Player, return to the phone, and then log back in. It worked! My handful of songs appeared within seconds, and I could sort music based on artist, album, or song.
Tapping "Create Playlist" opened a dialog box that let me name my list. Next, I added songs to the playlist by clicking the bright green "+" icons that live to the right of each file, and then clicked "Done." Tapping "Edit" let me remove tracks from the playlist, or add new songs. You can also download files by tapping the download icon—data transferred quickly over the phone's 4G connection. Thankfully, Amazon includes a search field that returns results on the fly as you key in letters—a much-appreciated addition for those of us with deep song catalogs. Creating a playlist from the content within "On-device Music" let me assemble a playlist of music stored on the handset. At this time, you're unable to upload music from your phone to the cloud.
Streaming Audio Quality
Amazon Cloud Player streams music at a song's original bit rate audio quality. I enjoyed the loud, crisp, uninterrupted music when I streamed David Byrne's "Like Humans Do," and other tunes, to my phone using the 4G and then the Wi-Fi radios. The bottom-end sounds were a bit weak, but that was more of a speaker issue than a streaming issue as the bass was quite substantial when I streamed songs through the browser-based Amazon Cloud Player.
Amazon Cloud Player streams music at a song's original bit rate audio quality. I enjoyed the loud, crisp, uninterrupted music when I streamed David Byrne's "Like Humans Do," and other tunes, to my phone using the 4G and then the Wi-Fi radios. The bottom-end sounds were a bit weak, but that was more of a speaker issue than a streaming issue as the bass was quite substantial when I streamed songs through the browser-based Amazon Cloud Player.
Amazon Cloud Player Desktop
The other half of this equation is the desktop version of Amazon Cloud Player. This browser-based music player lets you play songs (in AAC or MP3 format), create and manage playlists, and upload audio files. Unfortunately, you can't upload files directly into Cloud Player; you're required to download Amazon MP3 Uploader to accomplish that task, which automatically scans your hard drive and uploads files. This is an odd setup, as I could upload files directly into Amazon Cloud Drive. I would've liked the choice of using either option. On the upside, the Amazon Cloud Player imported three playlists that I had created in iTunes and synced them to Amazon Cloud Player for Android—very cool.
The other half of this equation is the desktop version of Amazon Cloud Player. This browser-based music player lets you play songs (in AAC or MP3 format), create and manage playlists, and upload audio files. Unfortunately, you can't upload files directly into Cloud Player; you're required to download Amazon MP3 Uploader to accomplish that task, which automatically scans your hard drive and uploads files. This is an odd setup, as I could upload files directly into Amazon Cloud Drive. I would've liked the choice of using either option. On the upside, the Amazon Cloud Player imported three playlists that I had created in iTunes and synced them to Amazon Cloud Player for Android—very cool.
The desktop Cloud Player has a few curious limitations. You can't upload audiobooks, ringtones, files larger than 100MB in size, or tracks recorded in FLAC, OGG, WAV, or any other types other than AAC and MP3. This mean that you can't stream them to the Android app.
Storage
By default, you get 5GB of free storage, but you can bump it up to 20GB for $20 per year. Purchasing a MP3 album before the end of the year gives you a free year of 20GB cloud storage. There are also 50GB ($50 per year), 100GB ($100 per year), 200GB ($200 per year), 500GB ($500 per year), and 1000GB ($1,000 per year) options available. I really appreciated the fact that music purchased from Amazon MP3 does not count against your storage. Amazon has really gone out of its way encourage people to sample their music store and new service.
By default, you get 5GB of free storage, but you can bump it up to 20GB for $20 per year. Purchasing a MP3 album before the end of the year gives you a free year of 20GB cloud storage. There are also 50GB ($50 per year), 100GB ($100 per year), 200GB ($200 per year), 500GB ($500 per year), and 1000GB ($1,000 per year) options available. I really appreciated the fact that music purchased from Amazon MP3 does not count against your storage. Amazon has really gone out of its way encourage people to sample their music store and new service.
Making Music Purchases
I purchased Pete Yorn's "Life On A Chain" and was given the choice of saving the DRM-free track to the handset itself or saving it to Amazon Cloud Player. I saved it the Cloud Player, returned to the desktop Cloud Player, and was happy that it had quickly synced.
I purchased Pete Yorn's "Life On A Chain" and was given the choice of saving the DRM-free track to the handset itself or saving it to Amazon Cloud Player. I saved it the Cloud Player, returned to the desktop Cloud Player, and was happy that it had quickly synced.
Should You Use Amazon Cloud Player for Android?
Amazon Cloud Player for Android is designed for music fans who want to listen to their libraries on the move with a tablet (but not an iPad) or smartphone (but not an iPhone) in tow. Audiophiles should shy away as the service doesn't support lossless codecs, but if you're an Android user who isn't already tied into another system, you should give it the app a go, as it lets you effortlessly keep all of your tunes at hand without worrying about transferring the catalog from device to device.
Amazon Cloud Player for Android is designed for music fans who want to listen to their libraries on the move with a tablet (but not an iPad) or smartphone (but not an iPhone) in tow. Audiophiles should shy away as the service doesn't support lossless codecs, but if you're an Android user who isn't already tied into another system, you should give it the app a go, as it lets you effortlessly keep all of your tunes at hand without worrying about transferring the catalog from device to device.
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