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Shazam Introduces 'Shazam Encore' Paid Application

Monday November 9, 2009 11:24 am PST by Eric Slivka

Shazam today announced the introduction of Shazam Encore [App Store, $4.99], a new paid version of the popular iPhone application that allows users to tag and automatically identify songs simply using the device's built-in microphone. Shazam Encore offers a number of enhancements and new features over the original application, which was one of the early App Store success stories and was featured in an iPhone commercial.

Shazam Encore is filled with new functionality, including:

- Improved speed performance: making it even quicker for users to tag tracks and learn more about their music.
- Music recommendations: users can discover other music similar to the track that's been tagged to enhance their music collection and knowledge.
- Find what's hot and popular: Shazam music charts generated by millions of other Shazamers can be accessed to help users keep up to date with the new tracks and players in the music scene.
- Search music: easily find music by artist, album or track from over 8 million songs.
- Drive and Tag: Shazam automatically enters into car mode when the iPhone is placed in an in-car dock to make it simple to discover what's playing on the radio even when driving.

Shazam notes that it will continue to offer full support for the free version of Shazam [App Store], for existing users only. New users of the free application will be limited to only five Tags per month.
[ 57 comments ]

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Small White Car
Posted: 33 months ago
Well, I'm glad I have the free unlimited one. I imagine a lot of folks around here do too.

So for me, this doesn't matter one bit.

But I used to tell new iPhone owners to get Shazam. I'm not sure what I'll suggest now. I guess I'll tell them to get the free one. I honestly only use it about 5 times a month myself.
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leandromp
Posted: 33 months ago
the free version was MUCH BETTER when it first came out now i don't even use it. the design has gone downhill.

what make them think i will pay 5 dollars for this app?
No, thanks!
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walnuts
Posted: 33 months ago
You know, its a great app- I probably would have paid 5 bucks, and even 5 bucks if I knew otherwise I would only have 5 tags per month. I would have also felt really screwed over though had they started limiting my use now- I would say they probably did the right thing all around. Its no fun to be charged, and its really annoying to be charged for a currently free service, but for new customers they do have a right to charge, and I think its worth the money.
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H$R
Posted: 33 months ago
I just recommended Shazam to my aunt yesterday. I guess she's happy that she also got the "unlimited" free version just in time.

So am I, though I guess I would pay 5 bucks for this awesome app! Though I haven't used it more than 3 times a month so far.
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disdat
Posted: 33 months ago
Don't they make money whenever anyone uses their link to buy the song? Maybe it's not enough $$

I am glad I have the free version already. I don't think I would pay $5 for it, although it is a very clever app!
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eff pc
Posted: 33 months ago
this used to be the first app i recommended to anyone considering an iphone but now that it costs money, not any more. Even though I'm happy with AT&T, Verizon has a service similar for free (even tho it doesn't work at good). Rip off that they are going to start charging. This is just the start of the "new" app store. No more free apps are going to survive.
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kockgunner
Posted: 33 months ago
I got Shazam when it was still free and unlimited and read the comments saying that the new version of the free Shazam (version 1.7) crashes. I opened up my Shazam and pressed the i on the top left corner and found out I have version 1.7. It works fine for me though and I just tagged around 6 songs without any limit. I wonder how they know who downloaded the app when it was still free?
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nickXedge
Posted: 33 months ago
Great app, thought I certainly wouldn't pay for it. I've hardly actually used it 10 times since it came out.
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stagi
Posted: 33 months ago

No more free apps are going to survive.


In my opinion this is good and had to happen sometime. You can't run a business off free apps (unless you are making a ton with advertising). I think after the newness of the app store wore off, devs are now seeing the time invested and wanting (rightfully so) to get paid for their work. I don't know many people who work their job for free.
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Ding.Dong
Posted: 33 months ago
I'm sure it takes a lot of manpower and resources to keep this service running, so it makes sense that they need to start charging for it. I would have no problem paying five dollars for this app if I didn't already have it.

the free version was MUCH BETTER when it first came out now i don't even use it. the design has gone downhill.

what make them think i will pay 5 dollars for this app?
No, thanks!


What's different about it? I've had it since it first came out and I don't see any changes other than the ads they added a while back.
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