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Report: Spotify Prepping Better Version of Free Service

Spotify also launched a new Premium subscription plan that includes Hulu for $12.99 a month.

 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

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Word has it that the free version of Spotify is poised for a major update.

Bloomberg reports that the streaming giant, which just went public last week, is "developing a new version of its free music service." The news outlet's unnamed sources reckon this new version will be more user-friendly for those on mobile phones.

"With the updated service, free mobile listeners will be able to access playlists more quickly and have more control over what songs they hear on top playlists, mimicking Spotify's ad-free subscription product," the report notes.

Spotify did not immediately respond to PCMag's request for comment, but Bloomberg says the company is expected to announce these changes in the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, Spotify this week launched a new Premium subscription plan that includes Hulu for $12.99 a month. Spotify Premium normally costs $9.99 a month and Hulu's Limited Commercials plan is typically $7.99 a month, so this new bundle option is $4.99 a month cheaper than subscribing to both separately.

At this point, the bundle is only available for existing Spotify Premium subscribers, but the companies plan to open it up to non-paying Spotify users this summer. For now, they are offering paying Spotify members a three-month trial of Hulu for $0.99; after that you'll be switched over to the $12.99 monthly bundle unless you cancel.

"Hulu's TV content is highly acclaimed, and with this exclusive Spotify offer we are bundling two top media platforms for an unbeatable price," Spotify's Chief Premium Business Officer Alex Norstrom said in a statement. "This is just one example of how we can add value to our premium members day after day."

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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