CNET Editors' review
If Firefox and iTunes hooked up, their hatchling could very well be Songbird. Basic usage bugs have gone the way of last season's molting, so this fun app that's part music player, part Web browser, and all about music discovery, management, and playback is ready for every day use.
During installation, it'll ask if you want to load your iTunes music directory or another media directory, or perform the task later. Processing 5,000 songs took about 3 minutes, which is not a bad pace. It then asks you which of the preinstalled Songbird extensions you want to load. Most of these, like the iPod, Mass Storage Class, and USB device managers only make the app stronger.
The left sidebar provides quick links to bookmarks, downloads, your music library in an iTunes-style interface, and several music discovery Web sites to get you started. When you're looking at any Web site with MP3s available for download, Songbird will open a new window at the bottom of the main browsing pane. Double-click on a song to play it, and links on the right let you purchase the track from Amazon, iTunes, eMusic, and Amie St. They also tell you the format of the track--MP3 or AAC, for example--and provide a blog link for more info.
Songbird has a growing library of extensions, and support is slowly growing for those written originally for Firefox. Although it works on Windows 7, it doesn't yet have any Windows 7-specific features. Still, Songbird is more than stable enough to take flight for the music-loving, Web-surfing fanatic in all of us.
Watch the CNET video review of Songbird:
Publisher's Description
From Pioneers of the Inevitable:
Songbird is a media browser and Web player built from Firefox, VLC Player, and SQLite. Songbird is open source and supports user contributed, cross-platform extensions. Manage your music, sync your library, build playlists. Browse, search, sort. Songkick option automatically notifies you when your favorite bands come to town, and you can purchase tickets straight from the app. Synchronize your hand held and get your media to go. Songbird supports the latest generation of hot new phones.
Songbird is in the Web Browsers category of the Browsers section.
What's new in this version: Version 1.10.2 added official support for Google/Samsung Nexus S, Samsung Galaxy SII, HTC Evo 3D, and Galaxy Nexus and issue with WMA tracks not being playable after updating to 1.10.1 should be resolved.
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All versions:
3.6 starsout of 174 votes
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Current version:
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"Finally an Android software"
Version: Songbird 1.10.1
Pros
Syncs to Android
Cons
doesn't sync to iTunes
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"Very useful"
Version: Songbird 1.10.1
Pros
It gets its intended task done properly
Cons
none that I know of...
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"Gogear "unsupported formats""
Version: Songbird 1.9.3
Pros
The price is right if you got it free with your gogear device. You get exactly what you paid for it.
Cons
Will not display formats of files in library, and while it will transfer files to your Gogear, it is impossible to determine just what formats it writes files to the attached gogear device as or whether they will play at all. Get ready to see "Unsupported format" when you try to play the transferred files to your gogear device. Philips is no help with this. Oh, and the newest version? Gives you a list of formats it won't handle if you upgrade.
Summary
Useless tool. You can drag and drop from windows onto a gogear device and get more files to play than you can through this software. Worthless.
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"Got a PHILLIPS GoGear MUSE 16GB & stumbled on SongBird!"
Version: Songbird 1.9.3
Pros
This is an excellent program, it is in my personal opinion a hybrid of Firefox and iTunes, but offers a lot more then iTunes in a lot of areas. So to the few cool apple fans out there, give it a try, i guarantee you won't be disappointed =)
Cons
I don't think you can set it as a default browser.
If you can and i just haven't figured it out yet than i would have to say there are ZERO cons!!!Summary
I am a huge Mozzila supporter and fan, whether it be Thunderbird, Firefox or whatever project they're working on. I also hold PHILLIPS in very high regards as well, along with my list of only's (such as LG, HP, ATi/AMD, Mushkin, Motorola, Microsoft, Brother, Bushmaster, Colt, H&K, Beretta, Xerox, Pyrex, Harmon Kardon, File Hippo, cnet, Infiniti and infinity, etc.)
So it only made sense that when I was shopping for an mp3/mp4 player and saw the PHILLIPS GoGear MUSE 16GB (Brushed aluminum/Stainless Steel) it was love at first sight. Yes i know the iPod touch has navi and internet and an app for just about anything you could fathom 99.9% of which, completely unnecessary and seeing as I have or have the capability to have any and all of those "perks" w/ my cellphone, car, laptop, desktop, garmin and maybe even my toaster. So why do i need them on my media player, when all they do is get in the way and kill your battery or make you by a charger that will work anywhere you are. Also keep in mind that any decision made had not been based whatsoever on a monetary difference.
Songbird happened to be a blessing in disguise, while looking for Phillips Media interface (iTunes for Apple) for my computer I found songbird. So I decided to familiarize myself with Songbird i noticed it felt like i was using a hybrid of Firefox and iTunes, so i quick did a search in Google "Firefox and songbird?" and somewhat to my surprise it popped up they we're in fact affiliated, it was ironic and at the same time an awesome coincidence that the two we're related. I'm just glad I discovered this little gem and it was all thanks to me purchasing the MUSE which by the way is an excellent piece of equipment. -
"Totally Sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Version: Songbird 1.9.3
Pros
Have not found any.
Cons
Everything.
Summary
Songbird and GoGear is a total waste of money. Music either does not download or downloads improperly. Some music ends up in the music folder while other music winds up in the playlists. Wish that I had spent the extra money and purchased an Ipod.
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"Did not launch on x64 Win7"
Version: Songbird 1.9.3
Pros
Could not get to use it
Cons
Disappointed as the reviews were interesting. However, post install (I tried thrice), when I launch the player, it just crashes. Additionally, when I downloaded and started the install, it complained of an adware threat and my AVG wouldnt let it run.
Summary
Wish it could work with x64 Win7, unless I am missing something
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"A quick loader compared to iTunes"
Version: Songbird 1.9.3
Pros
Fast loader
Cons
I had no access to Podcasts which I follow frequently
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"very nice media player"
Version: Songbird 1.9.3
Pros
launches quicker
Cons
albums are not displayed, just individual songs
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"Efficient tool for small Libraries"
Version: Songbird 1.9.3
Pros
30sec file recognition, add of missing ID Tags, like Album Art, or additional info like Composer
Cons
automatic Library check for changes takes too long - could not encounter the speed mentioned in other reviews
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"all rounder"
Version: Songbird 1.9.3
Pros
it lets you play all types of music and video files and works as browser too!
Cons
not found any
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