Find latest releases from your favourite music artists
Keeping your music collection up to date can be a time-consuming (not to mention costly!) pastime, particularly if you like a wide range of artists. So, how do you know when your favourite artists have a new album out without having to hang around fan sites or hearing their new song on the radio by coincidence?
That’s where Album Spotter comes comes to the rescue. You can either upload your music library by going to File > Library > Export Library in iTunes, saving the XML file to a convenient location, then browsing to that location using the Browse button on the Album Spotter home page. Next, click on the Upload button and sit back and wait for Album Spotter to do its thing — this could take several minutes, depending on the size of your library.
Album Spotter will detail the newest release of each artist in your library, or you can check for individual artists by entering their name ‘Check a Specific Artist’ box and clicking on the Check button.
If you scan your whole library for latest releases, Album Spotter will show cover art for each new release and list which albums you already have by that artist — if you already have the latest release, its title will appear in green in your album list. You can choose to buy a CD from the US by clicking on the Amazon link.
If you choose to just check for a specific artist, only the album cover will be displayed. You can choose to buy the new CD from Amazon by clicking on the album cover.
If you’re not in a roaring hurry for your new CD, it can be cost effective to buy from the US, especially with the current exchange rate being so favourable (don’t forget to factor in the postage costs, though). However, if you want your CD as soon as possible, hunt around for a copy from an Australian online music supplier or your local bricks-and-mortar music store.
Whether you decide to buy from Amazon or a local supplier, Album Spotter is a valuable research tool for music lovers.
Visit Album Spotter.
Source: Lifehacker
Gail Lipscombe has worked for some of Australia's hottest tech magazines for over 10 years. In her blog, she focuses on demystifying technology, gadgets and the web for average consumers.