Vdio is also only launching in the US and UK, so those living outside these two regions will unfortunately have to wait a bit longer. However, those who have a Rdio Unlimited subscription will get $25 of credit to use on the new service, and those who sign up within the next 60 days will also get $25 worth of credit to use on Vdio.

The streaming model of Vdio is slightly different than what Rdio’s subscription model is. Essentially, Vdio is more of a competitor to iTunes, where you purchase content individually. However, any movies you purchase, you’ll only be able to watch them on Vdio either through the web browser or through the iPad app, which are limitations not seen on other services.

The service also comes with plenty of social features, including making watch lists and sharing them with friends, as well as being able to collaborate on custom lists by having friends add movies and TV shows into one collective list for certain occasions like parties. The catalog of content currently available is fairly good for being such a new service, and prices seem competitive, with TV shows costing around $3, while movies sell for about $15. Currently, Rdio didn’t mention whether or not Vdio will be coming to more countries, but we’re guessing they’ll focus their efforts on the US and the UK for the foreseeable future.

First off, Rdio introduced an all-new design for the app, which not only makes the interface look more modern and sleek, but it’s also easier to navigate. It has a simple minimalist look that makes it quick and easy to find what you need. There certainly wasn’t anything wrong with the previous user interface, but it never hurts to makes something even better.

There’s also a couple of new features that Rdio introduced as well. For starters, there’s a new “Long Press” feature, which Rdio says will make it “simpler to interact with music.” All you do is tap and hold on any piece of music, and from there, you can share it, sync it, add it to a playlist or “Collection,” or just set it to play later.

The app now also has “Badges,” which show up on the lower right corner of any album art and indicate which music you’ve either added to your Collection or synced to your mobile device. Adding music to your Collection will show up with a green badge, while tracks synced to your mobile device appear with an orange badge. The update is available now in the iTunes App Store.

Rdio says this move is for people with both ears and hearts, those who enjoy free things and music and the blessed combination of both. The catch? Every month has a cap on the number of free songs that can be streamed. Access to Rdio’s 18 million song library is sans advertisements, with the length of the free period being dependent on how many songs the user listens to.

The music can be streamed using either a Web browser or Rdio’s desktop app, which is available for both Windows and OS X. The maximum length of the free period is six months. A song meter of sorts is provided so that users can monitor how much of their free listening period they have used on a monthly basis. Those who exceed the limit can subscribe to a for-pay plan for unlimited streaming.

Subscription plans in the United States start at $4.99, which allows for unlimited music streaming via a Web browser. Those willing to shell out a bit more can subscribe to the $9.99 plan, which allows for unlimited music streaming via both Web and mobile, in addition to ability to listen offline. Some of the locations that now have access include Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Norway.

[via Tech Whack]

We’ve seen the most major billboards in Time’s Square showing off no less than the logo for this app and a blast-faced Madonna looking over the landscape. Does that make a great app? Sure, why not? And while the developers behind this app were at it, they updated the software as well – might as well!

What we’re seeing here is an update that makes the app for mobile devices resemble the web browser-based environment, this bringing the whole family together for a fun party. You’ll see an extremely large back-library of artists still sticking around through this update – essentially the same as Spotify with 18 million. While it would appear, according to TechCrunch’s figures, that Spotify is the more popular of the two services, Rdio may well be coming up quick.

The new Rdio app update will certainly have you thinking twice about updating past that free trial you get when you first sign up. If on the other hand you’re in the mood for free music at home, you’ve got lots of choices beyond Rdio – lots with advertisements backing them up, of course. Rdio remains the same as it was when it launched all those months ago – free trial to pay-to-use only – and no advertisements anywhere.

This app is available for download in the iTunes App Store now. It’s also available in a slightly different iteration for Android in the Google Play app store right this minute!

Looking a little closer at the Artist Program, it appears to be aimed at independent musicians who are into self-promotion. Participating artists can use social media to share songs of their own creation or from other artists via links. The song links are trackable and can be embedded via social media and elsewhere. Each new subscriber created by clicking these embeddable links will get the artist $10.

Rdio says that it will provide participating artists with a dashboard showing real-time stats on where and how they’re getting their fans to sign up for the service. Rdio is specific in that the new Artist Program will not replace the existing royalty arrangements it has with music labels and artists. This new Artist Program is a complement to its existing arrangements.

Artists who have a popular and loyal social media following could rack up a decent amount of money with this new program. Specific requirements an artist needs to meet to be allowed to participate in the Artist Program are unknown.

“There is no art without artists,” said Rdio’s founder Janus Friis. “As part of this industry, we know a business that doesn’t reward its most important contributors is a business that has to change. The innovation of the Internet should not be a barrier to the success of music artists; it should allow them to be even more successful.”

[via Fast Company]