Yahoo Cranks Up its Music Engine

A new version of Yahoo's Music Engine offers easy playlist creation and more personalized music features.

Yahoo today introduced a new version of it Yahoo Music Engine, offering simplified plalist creation features, improved music synchronization, and a new Network Music feature which can automatically detect and send music to compatible devices on your home network.

The Yahoo Music Engine is part of the Yahoo Music Unlimited subscription service, which enables users to play as many tracks as they like from a catalog of more than 1 million songs for a cost of $7 a month (or, alternatively, $60 for an entire year; higher pricing applies for the ability to transfer music to portable devices). The new version of the Music Engine features simple drag-and-drop playlist creation, easy sharing of playlists via email or Yahoo Messenger, drag-and-drop synchronization with portable music players, and easier creation of custom mix CDs.

Yahoo Music Engine’s new Network Music feature can automatically detect compatible music devices on your home network (currently including the D-Link DSM-320, the Linksys Music Bridge, and Roku SoundBridge products, but not Sonos systems, Slim devices, or Apple’s AirTunes). Network Music enables users to stream audio from their playlists and music collections to a stereo or sound system via their home network.

Yahoo Music Engine requires Windows XP or 2000, Internet Explorer 6, and Windows Media Player 9 or higher.