Coppertino, the company behind the popular VOX Music Player for Mac, has some major announcements to share exclusively with MacRumors readers today, including its upcoming expansion to iOS, an update to the VOX Mac app, and the launch of an all new music storage service, LOOP.
LOOP is a new cloud-based music locker service that will be built in to both the VOX Music Player for Mac and the upcoming VOX iOS app. Unlike most music lockers available, LOOP will support any type of music file, including FLAC, and it offers unlimited storage. Songs stored in LOOP can be streamed in full quality to any device with the VOX Mac and iOS apps, and music can also be cached for playing offline.
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Many of the popular music lockers like iTunes Match or Google Play Music limit the number of songs that can be uploaded and only support a few file types. iTunes, for example, only supports MP3 and AAC, while Google Play Music supports MP3, AAC OGG, and WMA. You can upload FLAC music files to Google Play Music, but they'll be transcoded to MP3. LOOP can play them natively, but access to high quality music files comes at a cost -- the service is priced at $49.99 per year or $4.99 per month, which is a bit more expensive than Google Play Music (free) and iTunes Match ($24.99/year).
Along with LOOP, Coppertino's iOS app is big news, because it's the first time the VOX Music Player has expanded beyond the Mac. Like the Mac app, the iOS app will play any type of music file and it's deeply integrated with the LOOP music service, giving users access to all of their uploaded songs and albums. Like the VOX Music Player for Mac, the iOS app will be available for free -- only the LOOP music storage service costs money.
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Coppertino's new music service, its upcoming iOS app, and the updated Mac app are still in testing and aren't quite ready for launch, but the company wants to get MacRumors readers involved in the beta testing process with early access to the apps and to LOOP music storage.
The first 700 MacRumors readers who are interested in checking out the LOOP music storage locker and the new VOX apps for Mac and iOS can sign up on Coppertino's website. Those of you who are interested just need to enter an email on the Coppertino site and the company will send a link to download the apps and instructions on signing up for LOOP. Testers will need to install both the iPhone app and the Mac app to take part in the beta program.
During the beta testing period, MacRumors readers will get free access to the LOOP music locker to test it out and can opt for a longer free trial period after the service launches. MacRumors readers will also get an option to purchase access to the LOOP service at a discount, dropping the price to $34.99 for the year instead of $49.99.
Coppertino's existing VOX Music Player for Mac, which will get an update with the LOOP service in the near future, can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for free. [Direct Link]
Top Rated Comments
I received the Test Flight email and downloaded the iOS app, but can't find the version of Vox for Mac that includes Loop support. Please advise.
Edit: Just received the link. Thanks.
Sorry for delay on receiving, we have to improve outgoing mails - it is true.
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The link I got in email tried to launch some weird URL scheme that failed, and now every time I click the activate email, it says wrong activation code. Not really off to a good start here, when i can't load anything to the service.
Sounds really strange. You are right, at this moment, loop is fully integrated with player and activation process going with app. Service is part of application and only one way to communicate between app and mail(web) is deeplinking. Right now we're working on web-part of loop and all process will looks like regular web services.
If your already download VOX for OSX from hockeyapp and install, on click to activation button, please allow player to accept that request. Some browsers like Chorme or FF will ask you, and if you have some software that care about links, please allow VOX to handle com.coppertino.Vox:// links.
Btw, please, feel free to contact us directly at vox-dev@coppertino.com in case if some info may not be public.
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The only downside compared to iTunes Match or Google Music is that you'll probably have to fully upload all your music, and with lossless files that will take significantly longer, but maybe worth it to some of us audio nuts. It's doubtful Coppertino is working with record labels to allow matching capability.
Is there a link to the Mac app that can be shared or is it a one time use link they're sending out? I have the iOS app and created a LOOP account but that's all I've been able to do.
Are you still waiting for link? Here is a link for VOX (mac) with LOOP inside https://rink.hockeyapp.net/recruit/0929aae8ba8140779051aa33567f7394
About labels. Main idea of LOOP to give an option to upload and store any sort of music files, which is even never may presented at any labels. You may upload your songs, which was recorded by your own. Songs from CD or vinyl, which was grabbed with specific settings and can't be matched. Anyway, at this moment we're building network with lossless and hi-res providers like hd-tracks, qobuz, tidal and similar.
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Super suspicious timing; I commented here and within minutes the link to the OS X app popped up. Off to see if this is as intriguing as it sounds.
Like I said, we have to improve important message delivering. Right now we're using mixpanel, but look like have to use amazon ses instead ;)
Let me be annoying :o, you may always share with us any kind of ideas, any problem and we will do all best to help with.
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Yup, I have 19 hours left uploading 3366 tracks at 50.70GB's, many lossless. Only have 5Mbps upload, fastest TWC allows in my current area.
I was about to ask why some aren't getting the OS X 2.4.1 beta app. I have the dmg, it's 30MB's. Is it against forum rules to link it from my Dropbox?
Lossless files are not regular MP3 and it may take some times to upload files. Like I said, idea to keep original files with original tags, without any sort of "match". But we're working with providers to give an option force upload with match option for popular content.
Looks ok though.