First look: Spotify is coming to Roku
Roku users will soon be able to access their Spotify playlists on the device: A dedicated Spotify channel for Roku is apparently close to being launched, I’ve been told by a source familiar with both companies’ plans.
The launch could happen as soon as next month, with mid-January 2012 being mentioned as another possibility. I’ve heard that the channel is basically ready to go, with the only hold-up being contractual negotiations between Roku and Spotify.
One should note that I haven’t been able to confirm these plans with either company. Spotify didn’t reply in time when asked about the app, and a Roku spokesperson told me that the company doesn’t comment on “rumors and potential partners.”
However, I do have two early-development screen shots of Spotify on Roku’s user interface:
Spotify has been working on bringing its platform into the living room and recently rolled out an app for the WD TV platform as well as Boxee’s. There has been a lot of demand for bringing Spotify to Roku as well, which means that a Spotify channel on the device could make many Roku owners very happy.
Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
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Spotify streams Ogg Vorbis, which is not compatible with Roku. Unless they are planning on streaming MP3, it ain’t gonna work.
There is already a workaround written about on the forums to allow spotify to work on the Roku.
http://forums.roku.com/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=45392
Yeah, that was me. It requires that you transcode and stream from the computer. There’s 2 methods. Either DSBridge or VLC.