The news many Spotify users have been waiting for is finally here: the streaming music service has finally launched an iPad app.
The Spotify for iPad app, which is now available in the App Store, lets users of Apple's coveted tablet browse and play tracks from Spotify's catalog of 17 million songs, Spotify announced on Wednesday morning. iPad owners can enjoy the app for free during a 30-day trial, but will need to shell out $9.99 a month for a Spotify premium subscription to continue using it after the trial period.
In a YouTube video (below), Spotify said its new iPad app is more than just a bigger version of its iPhone app. The app boasts Retina display graphics and a new "now playing" full-screen view with high-definition cover art, perfect for the new iPad.
With the app, users can search for playlists, tracks, and other Spotify subscribers from a single view. The "What's New" section offers up new releases, top tracks, trending playlists, and recommended music, and will also show users the music to which their friends are listening.
The app also comes with gapless playback and crossfade, two features the streaming music service launched in February. Gapless playback lets songs flow seamlessly from one to the next, while crossfade, lets users select the exact number of seconds (from one to 12 seconds) that songs will fade into each other. In addition, the app supports Apple's AirPlay technology, for streaming music on compatible iOS devices and speaker systems.
"My iPad's always with me on the road so being able to access whatever music I'm feeling right at that moment - either classic or fresh tracks - and then share those with my fans is a big deal," up-and-coming U.K. singer-songwriter/producer Labrinth, said in a statement about the new app. "As an artist I love the way my music is presented so slickly. Artwork is really important to me, and in Spotify's iPad app it's like it's popping off the screen."
For more, see PCMag's review of Spotify.