Features
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License:
Free
- Editor's Rating:
- Average User Rating:
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Downloads:
82,754
- Requirements:
Windows 2000/2003/XP/Vista
- Limitations:
No limitations
- Date Added:
December 02, 2008
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Previous Versions:
Publisher's description of Songbird
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.
Version 1.0.0 features improved audio/playback functionality using GStreamer, UI experience improvements including new keyboard shortcuts, refining the column heading property list, "Show File" now available for any selected track, smart playlists can now be used as rules within other smart playlists, and the ability to show/hide display panes via individual buttons, as well as numerous performance and stability enhancements.
- See more CNET content tagged:
- Apple iTunes,
- Firefox,
- MP3,
- extension
Editor's review of Songbird
4.0 stars
- "Browse for tunes"
If Firefox and iTunes hooked up, their hatchling could very well be Songbird. Almost ready for prime-time and still a bit buggy, it's also a very fun app that's part music player, part Web browser, and all about music discovery, management, and playback.
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, not a bad pace. It then asks you which of the pre-installed Songbird extensions you want to load. Most of these, like the iPod and USB device manager, 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 your started. When you're looking at any Web site with MP3s available for download, Songbird will open a new window at the bottom main browsing pane. Double-click on a song to play it, while 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. Many of the improvements from the last version make for a dramatic change, but Songbird is definitely a beta: caveat emptor. Still, it could really take flight for the music-loving, Web-surfing fanatic in all of us.
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User reviews
- Average user rating: 3.7 stars out of 107 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 15 user reviewsSee all 15 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
Version: Songbird 1.0.0
"this j-box/browser is awesome! it's got everything"
Pros: ease of use, the web search for everything music related, the feather choices, & best of the way it looks for the lyrics
Cons: it's a little buggy yet (it froze on me once in the first 48 hours that i used it but no real cons otherwise) hopefully it will get better with age :)
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Version: Songbird 1.0.0
"Very good music player&browser"
Pros: This Vn.1.0.0 has improved a lot from previous versions.It is now stable with almost no crashes.The sound output is better and it provides most of the features of Winamp.The few feathers(skins) provided are beautiful.
Cons: The cpu usage is more when compared to other music players,this is to be improved.
Summary: With some more improvements and additional features such as flv video playing(in the first beta Vn. this was included,now it is taken off) it can become a versatile media player/browser.
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Version: Songbird 1.0.0
"Potential's there but not ready for primetime"
Pros: Seems quick and stable, iTunes users will feel comfortable, ability to customize with add-ons
Cons: Lacks many crucial features such as music file organization, audio tweaks (crossfade, EQ etc), automatic cover art fetching
Summary: With the addition of a few more crucial features, this will be a great alternative music player, and I can see myself leaving iTunes for it. But, that day is not here yet. Good potential- hope to see it fulfilled!
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Version: Songbird 1.0.0
Pros: If you are looking for an iTunes replacement, this is it. Its fast, stable, intuitive, can be customized.
The people at Songbird actually take feedback and reply, quickly.
Even free, they provide excellent customer service.
Can update WITH iTunes.Cons: Some must-have features (for me) are still yet to be implemented. They are, however, being worked on. The Songbird team actually takes feedback and responds to it.
Summary: I use songbird more than iTunes already. Some cool features are still on the way, and people can make add-ons for even more features. Has a browser so you don't have to have a browser and a media player up at once. For a free program, excellent cust... read more >>
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0 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Songbird 1.0.0
"less versatile than Real Player"
Pros: it is also free
Cons: Does not seem to know what you want played when you right click to select it to play something!
- See all 15 user reviews Write review
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