This page contains frequently asked questions with answers. If you encounter a software problem, please try the Troubleshooting option from the Simplify Media menu. If you have further questions, please consult the Troubleshooting web page.

How does Simplify Media software work?

Simplify Media software lets you browse and play remote music using the iTunes, Winamp and Rhythmbox players, and it is now available for the iPhone and iPod Touch mobile devices.

Music is streamed directly between computers over the Internet within small groups that you control. Your group can be made up entirely of your own computers, for example home and office or home and iPhone. You can also invite friends to join. Once an invitation is accepted, you will be able to sort, search and play each other's libraries when online. See more Simplify Media features.

How much does it cost?

Simplify Media for the desktop is free, and there are no hidden charges or spyware.

Simplify Media for the iPhone and iPod Touch are free for the first 100,000 people to download it. Thereafter, it will be $3.99.

Is this legal?

Yes. Music is streamed friend-to-friend, and only within small, private groups. There are limits to how many friends can be on your Media List and how many listeners can concurrently stream music from your computer. Friends cannot burn remote songs to CDs, transfer them to an iPod or MP3 player, or access them when you are logged off.

Is it safe?

Yes. Simplify Media is developed by engineers with extensive experience in Internet Security. We have leveraged that experience to ensure you have complete control over who is in your group and what files they can access.

First, only computers on your approved list can interact with you. All communication between those computers is encrypted and highly secure. Second, our protocol only allows streaming from your machine. No other file operations are possible, and we do not allow remote execution of code. Finally, users can only access files within the folders you select, and we filter out all non-music files within those folders.

Is it private?

Simplify Media is secure and encrypted, and the only information we store about you is data required for account management and connections. See our Privacy Policy for details.

Does it run on PCs, Macs and Linux?

Yes. Simplify Media runs on Windows XP SP2, Windows Vista, Macintosh OS 10.4.x and OS 10.5.x and Ubuntu 8.x.

How do I install the software?

On Windows, just click on the SimplifySetup.exe file and the wizard will guide you through the rest. On Mac, download the SimplifyMedia.dmg file, and then drag the Simplify Media icon to your Applications folder to complete the install. On Linux, extract simplifymedia.tar.gz.

The only other actions you have to take are to provide a screen name and password and select the music you want to share. See step-by-step screen shots for PC, Mac and Linux.

If you use Kaspersky Anti-Virus on a PC, please review these instructions. If you use ESET Smart Security or ESET NOD32 Anti-Virus, please review these instructions.

Does it work with iTunes, Winamp and Rhythmbox?

Simplify Media works with iTunes 7 and iTunes 8 on PCs and Macs. Simplify Media also works with Winamp 5.35 and 5.5x on the PC. Rhythmbox is supported on Ubuntu 8.x. You can any of these programs to share and play from any other computer to which you are connected.

Note: If you install Winamp after Simplify Media, select the Install Winamp Plugin option under Simplify Media in your Start Menu to setup Winamp. If you do not see a Shared section in iTunes, please check iTunes Preferences to make sure that "Look for shared libraries" is checked.

What about the iPhone and iPod Touch?

Simplify Media runs on all versions of the iPhone and iPod Touch with firmware 2.0 and higher. First install Simplify Media on a computer to create a free account and choose a screen name and password. Then install Simplify Media on your iPhone or iPod Touch by visiting the Apple AppStore and downloading the app.

When the application starts for the first time, sign in using your existing Simplify Media screen name and password. You can begin to access music from online computers right away, but it will take time for your full song list to transfer. See step-by-step screen shots.

Simplify Media streams music to the iPhone and iPod Touch. Music cannot be streamed from these devices.

Do I need to change any firewall settings?

No. Simplify Media has been designed to interoperate with common routers and firewalls without compromising security. If you use a software firewall, you will have to allow the SimplifyMedia and SimplifyPeer processes when prompted after startup. (For builds 1077 and higher, only SimplifyMedia must be allowed.)

Unfortunately, we cannot connect if your corporate network re-routes web traffic through proxy servers. We are working on solutions for this limitation.

What music files can I share?

You can choose to share either your entire iTunes library or your entire Winamp library, or just pick specific folders to share instead.

Do I need to import all my music into iTunes or Winamp?

No, if you choose to share specific folders, you don't have to import the files you are sharing into your iTunes or Winamp libraries. The MP3, AAC, WMA and Apple Lossless files in the directories you designate will be accessible to the other computers in your group.

Can I share my playlists?

Yes, you can choose to share either your iTunes playlists, your Winamp playlists, or none.

Note: Playlist sharing is not yet available for Linux.

Do I have to change any settings in iTunes or Winamp?

No. By default, the option to look for shared music is enabled already in iTunes. Winamp works in a similar way provided you install Simplify Media after Winamp. You can also run Simplify Media's Install Winamp Plugin script after Winamp installation.

Note: If you do not see a Shared section in iTunes, please check iTunes Preferences to make sure that "Look for shared libraries" is checked. If you install Winamp after Simplify Media, select the Install Winamp Plugin option under Simplify Media in your Start Menu to setup Winamp.

How do I connect my own computers?

Simplify Media is a great way listen to your home music collection from other locations or to access the songs that may be spread across your different computers. Simply install the software and sign in with the same screen name on all the computers or mobile devices you want to connect. Whenever those computers are online, they will be able to play each other's music. Up to five computers can be signed in under the same screen name simultaneously.

How do I invite friends to my group?

Select Invite from the Media List. If your friends are already using Simplify Media, type in their screen name. If they have not yet installed Simplify Media, send them an email with download information. Feel free to text, IM and call them too.

Can I send messages to the friends on my Media List?

Yes. Double-click on a friend's name in your Media List to send an instant message. If they are offline, they will see it when they log back it. Simplify Media also tells you when a friend is playing a song from your library. This information is in the messages tab. Clicking on an entry also opens an IM-like window for chat.

Messaging is not yet available for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

How do I listen to songs on another computer?

Just start iTunes, Winamp or Rhythmbox while Simplify Media is running. In iTunes and Rhythmbox, computers are listed under a category called Shared. In Winamp, the category heading is Simplify Media. Select one of these remote libraries to sort, search and play. It doesn't matter which player you use.

On the iPhone or iPod Touch, start the Simplify Media application and pick an available library.

Does my computer need to be connected to the internet for others to play my music?

Yes. Because music is streamed directly between computers, your computer needs to be online with a typical broadband connection for others to play your music. Simplify Media needs to be running, but you do not have to start iTunes or Winamp or Rhythmbox.

What if I don't use iTunes, Winamp or Rhythmbox?

We continue to develop support for other popular music players. In the meantime, you may want to try one of these free programs. You don't have to import any music into their libraries or make them your default player to gain the benefits of Simplify Media.

Note: iTunes, Winamp and Rhythmbox are only required to play music from remote libraries, not to stream (serve) music to other computers.

What types of files can be played?

Common music file types, such as MP3, AAC, WMA and Apple Lossless can be played. Exceptions include DRM protected WMA files, vorbis, WAV and FLAC.

What about songs purchased from the iTunes Music Store?

Computers signed in with your Simplify Media screen name and authorized by the iTunes Store can play iTunes purchased songs in iTunes. Computers not signed in with your Simplify Media screen name will not see those DRM protected files.

DRM-protected files cannot be played on the iPhone and iPod Touch using Simplify Media.

How many songs can be streamed from one computer simultaneously?

With a standard home broadband connection, most computers will be able to serve 2 songs simultaneously. The Media List displays capacity indicators next to each computer to show their status: Green for serving music without delays; Yellow for busy, some delay may occur.

How do I make sure my Simplify Media software is up to date?

For PC, Mac and Linux, our auto-update feature checks for updates and notifies you when they are available.

For the iPhone and iPod Touch, check for new versions in the Updates section of the Apple AppStore.

Where can I learn more about features you are planning?

Our blog is is the best source for the latest product information. We also have an experimental area called The Lab that hosts new features still in development. The iPhone and Linux version were projects first released through the lab.

iTunes, Mac, Macintosh, iPhone and iPod are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Winamp is a trademark of AOL LLC. Windows, Windows Media, Windows XP and Windows Vista are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries.