Rhapsody iPhone 2.0 brings local storage

Rhapsody this morning finally posted Rhapsody 2.0 for iPhone (free, App Store), its long expected local caching version of its subscription music app. The software lets users save playlists from the unlimited service to local storage to keep playing even when an iPod touch or iPad goes beyond Wi-Fi. Songs also download over 3G for iPhone (and soon iPad) owners who may not have a reliable connection on the subway.

The app doesn't yet support per-song or per-album downloading, but the feature is expected to arrive in the "coming months."

Using the feature needs either the $10 Rhapsody Premier subscription, which allows unlimited use on a single device, or else the $15 Premier Plus plan for three devices.

Rhapsody is keen to note that its app is the first greenlit by Apple to support caching. Critics had worried that Apple might not approve the app as local caching would amount to a directly competitive feature that Apple would usually ban. The iPhone maker has usually just banned apps that simply replicate functions.

The Android version of the app should get downloadable tracks in the next few months and should be accompanied by the first BlackBerry version of the app in the summer.

by MacNN Staff