Please Allow Spotify OFFLINE

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SO yeah Serato today announced they would offer streaming support via Pulselocker and guess what is included OFFLINE support.

https://serato.com/pulselocker?utm_so...

I'm amazed at how caustic this conversation has become (as if Algoriddim has personally offended people, kidnapped their children, etc. by not implementing such "simple and essential" functionality). Claims like "because you can do it with iTunes, of course you can do it with Spotify" or "I can't believe you haven't made this a top priority" are ignorant and insulting.

So, as a developer myself and in the interest of defending the hard-working Algoriddim dev team a bit, let's set the record straight.

The Short Version

Algoriddim can only cache data if Spotify allows it. It has nothing to do with the fact that the Spotify app (built by Spotify) can cache that same data.

The Long Version

1. "Sandboxing" refers to how apps can communicate/transfer/etc. their data between one another. In this case, it's simple: iOS will not allow you to transfer arbitrary data from the Spotify app to djay – period. It's irrelevant if you've downloaded offline tracks within the Spotify app; Apple's OS restrictions prevent that cached data from being transferred to djay. Done. This isn't Algoriddim's fault; Apple made the decision and Apple owns the ecosystem.


2. If we consider how djay currently grabs Spotify data – via a direct connection to Spotify's API (by means of their iOS SDK, I'm assuming) – then it's easy to understand that caching within djay can only occur through that same API. A quick glance at the SDK reference guide shows some promising signs that Spotify allows caching of its data. That said, (a) the documentation is sparse, (b) it's unclear exactly what may be cached, and (c) it may be the case that even if this is possible, Spotify restricts which developers can use the functionality (they've been known to do this in the past).

So, gang: let's all just chill out a bit. Algoriddim is working their butts off and have provided a staggering amount of functionality to this app; they do not deserve the unfounded criticism (or condescending tone) they've received. Being able to DJ any track on Spotify anywhere, anytime, without any regard to network connectivity is a heavy-duty request that would have been downright laughable just a few years ago. Perhaps you should consider buying the tracks you need for offline iTunes usage if this is so crucial to you.

If you continue to feel the need to make your voice heard, might I suggest that you (politely) inform Spotify of how much this would mean to you? They control the API, which means they control how easy (or feasible) it is for djay to incorporate functionality like this.

I agree that offline use of spotify integration would be awesome and I am hoping that this will eventually be possible, but I also think that some of the comments here are pretty negative considering that Algoriddim was innovative enough to be the first DJ App that offers this integration! Having access to millions of songs is insane.

I just played a live set at a party for 4 hours using Djay2 and spotify with a wireless connection and didnt have a single issue or delay. This software rocks!!

Admittedly you have an issue if you are in a club in a cellar somewhere with thick walls and no wireless.

It would definitely be a good thing for Algoriddim to figure this out with Spotify before a competitor comes up with something similar offline.

What I find interesting is that djay doesn't permanently cache the songs it plays from Spotify, which is essentially what 'offline mode' is among most other apps -- including your web browser. This would totally negate the sandboxing problem.

The way it works now is that when you select a Spotify song in djay, it loads the entire song into one of the decks and caches it until you replace it with another song. It does this so your track doesn't abruptly stop while playing (e.g. buffering).

Why doesn't djay just maintain the cached song, and then, if the cache becomes too large, allow the user to clear it out?

Is this a restriction placed on djay by Spotify? Is it about ensuring that Spotify is aware of every time a particular song is played, so they can pay their royalties to the artists? Is this something that Spotify and Algoriddim can work on together to overcome?

Algoriddim,
This app cannot be taken seriously, or used professionaly until Spotify is available Offline.
It is simply insulting to expect us to be stupid enough to rely on an Internet connection during a live performance. And this whole "sandboxing" excuse is insulting & dishonest - it works with iTunes, it can work with Spotify offline if you want it to.
I am very angry about the fact that this is not mentioned before you buy - this is dishonest marketing.
This App has been uninstalled as it is useless to me until this is fixed.

I used to have a lot of respect for you Algoriddim - please restore that respect by reversing this dishonest decision (yep, this was a decision NOT a technical issue) & apologizing to your previously loyal users, as soon as possible - preferably Imediatley.

AL Weller-Boyes

This just needs to be done ...

Without it spotify integration is pretty much useless!

Spotify offline desperately needed... It has to be done. I use Serato to play out live at the moment and making no plans to take Djay & iPad to gigs until this is done. The software itself is not as capeable in a club environment but I would use it over serato despite its limitations if I could have my Spotify library without WiFi connection.

I bet you 90% of the people on here who play out regularly feel the same - I'd make it top priority.

Spotify is good and all, but rarely you can rely on internet when DJing. Even if it's a home party.

To me, having it playing offline songs from Spotify is what actually would make sense and interesting.

I don't know much about developing, "sandbox' and whatever. But not only it access iTunes library (as wynmjones), as it connects to other apps like DropBox, loading songs from and to...

So, would be realy neat if you guys look into this ASAP.

How can djay access iTunes but not Spotify? Essentially they are both mp3's existing as a file on my iPad. I'm put off buying any hardware and taking this software to a professional level until this is an option. I'm actually going to add this opinion as an app review as I believe it's a major flaw that really needs to be sorted.

Hi Everyone,

First off, thanks for your feedback.

You should probably know that due to "sandboxing", a security feature for your own protection, apps have absolutely no access to each other's workspace. This means that djay has absolutely no access to the songs you download in the Spotify app. These songs are only available for the Spotify app itself.

djay currently does not support offline playlists, but we'll be sure to take a look into this.