Pandora.. sorry but a rant..

Bob2 · « **on:** 15 Mar 2014, 12:07 am »

Mods please move if this is the wrong spot...
How many are ready to close their account with Pandora?
Long load times and constant request to know if I'm still listening?
I'm paying for it so keep the music playing!!
I use this at work. I work 10 hours a day, why ask every 2 hours and remind me that they pay for the music.... thought that was what I was doing...
rant over...good freakin grief!

charmerci · « **Reply #1 on:** 15 Mar 2014, 12:20 am »

Quote from: Bob2 on 15 Mar 2014, 12:07 am

Mods please move if this is the wrong spot...
How many are ready to close their account with Pandora?
Long load times and constant request to know if I'm still listening?
I'm paying for it so keep the music playing!!
I use this at work. I work 10 hours a day, why ask every 2 hours and remind me that they pay for the music.... thought that was what I was doing...
rant over...good freakin grief!

I would imagine that every time a song is played, they keep count and pay royalties accordingly. So if you're not listening (out of the room), they want to know so that they don't have to pay if you're not listening.

Bob2 · « **Reply #2 on:** 15 Mar 2014, 12:25 am »

I understand what you are saying but they do not say that when you sign up!
Sorry about the rant... I do appreciate your viewpoint! I'm paying for the service and see limited useage..

kernelbob · « **Reply #3 on:** 15 Mar 2014, 12:26 am »

The Pandora web site says that they use that "still listening" check to try to avoid users leaving the streaming active continuously whether they're listening or not. Like it or not, that's their decision to avoid the costs of streaming content to an empty destination.

I use Pandora at work to block out the cubicle prattle so I can focus on what I'm doing. It works well for that. I usually don't make many changes in the "station", instead just going with a random selection. Of course there's always the occasional clinker that would make me lose my lunch if I didn't change it. Those rare interactions seem to be enough to prevent the "are you still listening" message.

I also use Pandora at home to get good quality sound for casual listening. As above, there are always some intolerable selections, but there have also been times when I've heard some music with which I wasn't familiar and which had me quickly logging into my Amazon account to buy the CD.

So, on balance to me it's been a reasonable return on a paltry investment (just to get rid of the ads). To me, there are bigger fish to fry.

Regards,
Robert

RDavidson · « **Reply #4 on:** 15 Mar 2014, 12:39 am »

I also listen to Pandora (paid subscription) nearly all day while working. I listen via iPod Touch, into dock, into DAC. Sometimes I get the "Are you still listening?" message, but more often, the app just shuts down after about 4 continuous hours. This is VERY annoying. I have to get up, restart the app, then the app takes time to log me back in and start streaming again. Anyone one else experience this?

Bob2 · « **Reply #5 on:** 15 Mar 2014, 12:40 am »

hard to argue with what you are saying!
I guess I'm just being argumentative!
I pay their rates and expect the music to flow..............
Guess I'm mistaken in that it should flow since I'm signed in....
Thanks for the input!! I'm learning everyday!

Crimson · « **Reply #6 on:** 15 Mar 2014, 04:52 am »

Sorry, but P is a publicly traded company (P), and has a market cap of over $6B.

Your feelings about their service don't mean much.

kernelbob · « **Reply #7 on:** 15 Mar 2014, 05:08 pm »

It's a business with a business model. If the time-out is unacceptable, then you should cancel your subscription and use another means of accessing music. Apparently, there are enough subscribers willing to accept the time-out to pay for the service. If you don't want the service as provided, just cancel.

kevin360 · « **Reply #8 on:** 15 Mar 2014, 06:58 pm »

Hmm, using my SONOS for Pandora access (paid subscription) results in completely uninterrupted music playback for hours on end. My only complaint is how much that service is costing me each week in CD orders from Amazon. It's just too easy to hear something interesting and then add it to my Amazon wish list. After I've piled up what feels like enough, I'll place my order. Hearing something new and interesting will sometimes lead to my creating another station, which leads to more discoveries, which leads to more orders...

I often listen to Pandora while working. It keeps broadening my musical horizons.

jriggy · « **Reply #9 on:** 15 Mar 2014, 07:13 pm »

Quote from: kevin360 on 15 Mar 2014, 06:58 pm

Hmm, using my SONOS for Pandora access (paid subscription) results in completely uninterrupted music playback for hours on end. My only complaint is how much that service is costing me each week in CD orders from Amazon. It's just too easy to hear something interesting and then add it to my Amazon wish list. After I've piled up what feels like enough, I'll place my order. Hearing something new and interesting will sometimes lead to my creating another station, which leads to more discoveries, which leads to more orders...

I often listen to Pandora while working. It keeps broadening my musical horizons.

I can add to this. I listen through an old squeezebox 2 in my work room in 3 to 5 hour bursts, some times twice a day, equalling all day long. I hardly EVER get a commercial. It's weird when I do because they are so random. Like one every couple weeks or something.

The kicker - I don't subscribe!

ltr317 · « **Reply #10 on:** 15 Mar 2014, 08:11 pm »

Quote from: kevin360 on 15 Mar 2014, 06:58 pm

Hmm, using my SONOS for Pandora access (paid subscription) results in completely uninterrupted music playback for hours on end. My only complaint is how much that service is costing me each week in CD orders from Amazon. It's just too easy to hear something interesting and then add it to my Amazon wish list. After I've piled up what feels like enough, I'll place my order. Hearing something new and interesting will sometimes lead to my creating another station, which leads to more discoveries, which leads to more orders...

I often listen to Pandora while working. It keeps broadening my musical horizons.

You're complaining about having more music in your library? I thought that's the goal.

RDavidson · « **Reply #11 on:** 15 Mar 2014, 09:28 pm »

Quote from: jriggy on 15 Mar 2014, 07:13 pm

I can add to this. I listen through an old squeezebox 2 in my work room in 3 to 5 hour bursts, some times twice a day, equalling all day long. I hardly EVER get a commercial. It's weird when I do because they are so random. Like one every couple weeks or something.

The kicker - I don't subscribe!

This was the same experience for me as well when I used my Squeezebox Classic. What made me switch to using the ipod and dock is that the sound quality is better. I don't know if it's entirely just hardware related or not. With a paid subscription, I heard no difference in sound quality (or amount of commercials or play time) between paid or free Pandora service (when listening through my SB). This lead me a bit to believe that my Squeezebox was not streaming the better audio quality I'm supposed to receive with a paid subscription. So I put the Pandora app on the ipod and began streaming this way. I know we're talking about mp3 quality at best, but the sound is clearly better in this configuration.....for what it's worth. I don't mind being asked if I'm still listening. I just wish the app wouldn't entirely shut down.
Pandora has been great for introducing me to new music and has lead me to purchase many albums (physical CD's) from Amazon, so even with the annoyances, it has been a great resource.

kevin360 · « **Reply #12 on:** 16 Mar 2014, 01:48 am »

Quote from: ltr317 on 15 Mar 2014, 08:11 pm

You're complaining about having more music in your library? I thought that's the goal.

Indeed, 'complaint' was a poor choice of word. In fact, the post was more of a confession. I think I'm an addict. While I'm confessing, I don't mind admitting that music servers have almost completely taken over the music reproduction duties.

geowak · « **Reply #13 on:** 16 Mar 2014, 02:05 am »

I fully understand your beef. I had been using MOG for streaming music, but MOG was bought by Beats Audio. Beats is shutting down MOG, I think in April. After contacting them they stated they are not going to keep MOG. Well I did not like that, so I cancelled my subscription and I am with Spotify now. There is a growing number of websites and servers to stream music. It pays for companies who offer these kinds of services to listen to their subscribers.

I also once really liked a particular brand of audio equipment. The guy who makes it was making cheap crap and was not offering good customer service for his poorly built audio. So I sold that stuff and moved on to another brand. You have choices.....

ltr317 · « **Reply #14 on:** 16 Mar 2014, 03:15 am »

Quote from: kevin360 on 16 Mar 2014, 01:48 am

Indeed, 'complaint' was a poor choice of word. In fact, the post was more of a confession. I think I'm an addict. While I'm confessing, I don't mind admitting that music servers have almost completely taken over the music reproduction duties.

No sweat Kevin. Just joking. I just bought another laptop to use solely as a music server with most of the storage handled by two external hard drives. I am not looking forward to converting my 1000+ cd collection though.

Cheers,
Paul Mah

BoJonJovi · « **Reply #15 on:** 30 Mar 2014, 04:56 am »

I love Pandora and Rhapsody. I think I get a nice return for the buck. I like Pandora to discover new music and Rhapsody to explore it deeper. Rhapsody does not ask if you want to continue listening. Generally i see that Pandora message in the morning after I have slept and awaken. It makes sense to me. At work I can't say it bothers me. Maybe it is time for me to take a walk anyway.

wushuliu · « **Reply #16 on:** 30 Mar 2014, 07:00 am »

With MOG folding it's business as usual, the good stuff fails while mediocrity succeeds. Spotify SQ sucked when it first came out and sucks now. Pandora was so awful I don't know how anyone can listen to it.

geowak · « **Reply #17 on:** 30 Mar 2014, 08:04 am »

Quote from: wushuliu on 30 Mar 2014, 07:00 am

With MOG folding it's business as usual, the good stuff fails while mediocrity succeeds. Spotify SQ sucked when it first came out and sucks now. Pandora was so awful I don't know how anyone can listen to it.

Gotta disagree with you wushuliu on this one, respectfully. I think the SQ on Spotify is great. I have been listening via my Iphone on the highest settings on a Pure I20 dock feeding a quality DAC. The sound in my home stereo is 320bps and I cannot tell the difference between redbook CD and streaming on Spotify. Now record albums are a different animal....

I think Spotify is as good as MOG, maybe better. I did not try Beats, because I think Dr Dre is looking toward a younger crowd.

Bob2 · « **Reply #18 on:** 30 Mar 2014, 10:57 am »

For all that have Weighed in on this, I appreciate your views.
Do any of the other services stop and ask if you are still listening?

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #19 on:** 31 Mar 2014, 12:57 am »

Quote from: Bob2 on 30 Mar 2014, 10:57 am

Do any of the other services stop and ask if you are still listening?

I'm a paid subscriber to Pandora. I use Spotify for free and YouTube for free.
On the weekends at home, I listen to Pandora for many hours without it asking if I'm still alive. Generally I'm too busy and can't be bothered with fiddling with the tunes when I'm at home working on projects, so it's rare that I push any buttons. So it's must be pretty seldom that it hounds me if I'm still there. I can stream my YouTube playlists for several hours without a glitch. As far as Spotify is concerned, I don't take it with me into the workshop on my mobile device so I don't know how long it'll run without intervention. I use it at my desktop PC, so I fiddle with it often enough to keep it from checking for my pulse anyway. None of the systems I've talked about here are audiophile high quality anyway, but the sound quality has been acceptable in all cases (except for YouTube, and that's only when I've grabbed a low quality video to add to my playlist).

Hope that helps,
Bob