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Tom Conrad

I've moved my blog to http://tomconrad.net. Visit me there.

Monday, August 29, 2005

Why a web app? Pandora on your blog...

Good old Robert Scoble raises the question of why Pandora is a web app and not a rich client. This is something we gave a great deal of thought to and I think in the end we have some really great reasons for wanting to be a web app. First, there are a lot of thick client music applications (iTunes, Napster, Rhapsody) so that's pretty well traveled ground. There aren't so many web based applications that have really nailed a listening-centric music application. It's always more interesting to try something new, to go left when everyone else goes right. But it's much more than that. For a little taste, look in the sidebar on my blog (those of you in an aggregator will have to stop by http://tomconrad.blogspot.com) -- see the stations? The little form to create your own station? We think it's really fun that folks will be able to throw this kind of thing onto their blog or homepage, share stations via email and know that the people that encounter the links won't have to install a thing. Just one click and they're listening. That's powerful, and much too appealing an opportunity to pass up.

I'll post again later this week about how to link to Pandora directly; for now feel free to pick apart the meager HTML I slapped together tonight for my sidebar. This stuff is pretty basic right now; stay tuned - you haven't seen anything yet.

Please note: this blog has moved to http://tomconrad.net, please do not post comments here.
 

At 6:44 AM, Blogger Denise said...

Ha! I never thought about linking my stations on my blog. Cool! Thanks!

 
At 8:56 AM, Blogger Marc Novakowski said...

The best part about running in the browser is that Pandora (the company) can make changes to the application (like you did this morning) and I don't have to do a thing! There's nothing worse than having to go through the "uninstall -- download EXE -- run installer" routine every time there's a point release.

 
At 5:24 PM, Blogger Tom Conrad said...

Scott, totally see that side too. We want to make it as easy as possible to interact with Pandora. For lots of things lightweight desktop apps are the answer. Stay tuned.

 
At 12:11 PM, Blogger Srini said...

My congratulations on being part of such a wonderful idea!
I am sure with a small control panel on desktop, we will have the best of both the worlds!

 
At 11:52 AM, Blogger Srini said...

I shamelessly copied your code for putting Pandora on my blog. Hope this is ok with you!

 
At 11:51 AM, Blogger Unknown said...

Did a post since I was so enamored and you commented on it: http://borsch.typepad.com/ctd/2005/09/pandora_your_pe.html

Tons 'o people are referencing Scoble's 'recommendation' that Pandora should use a thick client. I'm listening to Pandora while typing this at work on my Thinkpad. Last night I was typing my blog post in front of my Powermac with Cinema Display and great speaker system (sounded phenomenal). Later last night I was on my Linux powered laptop. The constant theme/interface? Firefox.

My challenge to *anyone* pitching thick clients is this question: when was the last time you headed over to Fry's, MicroCenter or CompUSA to browse the shrink-wrapped software aisles? The answer almost always is a humma, humma and a reluctant acknowledgment that "Ahh...not for a really long time" as their answer.

 
At 9:33 AM, Blogger potpourri said...

Greetings from Singapore.

You guys over at Pandora are awesome. Keep up the good work! :)

 
At 4:04 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is soooo cool, this morning, I asked my friend if he knew any good artists, because I was bored of all of my music.

He was like, OH MAN I HAVE JUST THE THING FOR YOU, BE READY TO THANK ME PROFUSELY.

Of course he sent me a link to Pandora, been listening to it since then, this is quite possibly the coolest thing I have ever seen music wise since the invention of the MP3!!

I love that it's a web app, because it is sooo hassle free, I think not having to install anything is going to attract users!

 

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