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Spotify overhauls Android app, beta available now

Spotify overhauls Android app, beta available now

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After a very long wait, Spotify has finally given its Android app a complete facelift for Android 4.0, which has been around since November 2011. The new app launches in beta today with several new features, most noticeably a visual revamp that puts it neatly in line with Google's "Holo" visual paradigm for Android 4.0 apps.

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Spotify Android ICS Beta
Spotify Android ICS Beta

After a very long wait, Spotify has finally given its Android app a complete facelift for devices running Android 4.0, which has been around since November 2011. The new app launches in beta today with several new features, most noticeably a sharp new look that puts it neatly in line with Google's "Holo" visual paradigm for Android 4.0 apps. The app is also much faster, which should please the legions of users that have taken to Spotify's message boards with complaints over the last few months — since November also marked the last time Spotify updated its archaic-looking Android app. It has quickly aged, and according to many users, is hardly functional.

As has been the case, you'll still need a Spotify Premium subscription for $9.99/month to use its mobile app on any platform. The updated app notably leaves out Spotify apps, which launched inside its desktop application in late November 2011. Spotify has continually refused to comment about whether it's developing apps like Rolling Stone and Pitchfork inside of its mobile apps, but has said that it's open to the notion of doing so.

Here's the official list of new features, straight from Spotify:

  • Totally new app with full support for Android 4.0
  • Top-to-bottom redesign
  • All-new slide-out navigation
  • More social — check out friends' profile pages and playlists
  • Artist images in high resolution
  • Related artist view
  • So much faster!
  • That's not the end of it. We're working hard on adding further features, including folders and Last.fm scrobbling before the app goes live in Google Play.

In order to get your hands on the beta, according to Spotify, you'll need to enable the installation of unauthorized applications on your device by going to Settings, then Applications, then checking Unknown Sources. Once you've done that, you can download the app straight from Spotify.

Check out screenshots of Spotify beta for Android 4.0 below, and check out our hands-on impressions here.

Spotify for Android 4.0 beta screenshots

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