POPSUGAR Tech

workouts Apr 15, 2013

Beginner-Friendly Workout: Running Intervals Playlist

Interval training is an ideal technique for new runners.

by Lizzie Fuhr

Interval training is an ideal technique for new runners. It builds stamina, improves confidence, and promotes healthy weight loss to boot! This beginner-friendly 35-minute workout alternates between periods of running and walking, and it comes with an uplifting playlist to add enthusiasm to every step. Be sure to get in an active warmup to loosen up your body, and then get ready to run! You'll kick off the run strong with a fast-paced U2 tune, then you'll go for a brisk walk with Rihanna.

Keep reading for the rest of the 10 tunes plus the Spotify playlist.

nostalgia Mar 13, 2013

Time to Move: 90 Workout Tunes From the '90s

There's nothing better than being at the gym or out on a run when an old Jock Jams song comes on the shuffle.

by Lizzie Fuhr

There's nothing better than being at the gym or out on a run when an old Jock Jams song comes on the shuffle. It always manages to pump me up and help me push through with a big smile on my face. If you share this sentiment, you're in luck! I've pulled 90 eclectic tunes from the '90s that can give an old-school lift to your a workout routine. Before downloading our '90s Spotify playlist, make sure you check out each of the music videos in the slideshow to get your '90s goodness — and have a solid laugh to boot! Time to grab your scrunchies and bust a move.

You will need to download the free Spotify software or app to listen to our playlist.

"C'mon N' Ride It (The Train)" by Quad City DJs

"Mo Money Mo Problems" by The Notorious B.I.G.

View 90 Photos

digital culture Feb 13, 2013

Slacker Radio Gets a Competitive Makeover

Don't hand off all your music funds to Pandora and Spotify just yet, as Slacker Radio unveiled a robust redesign that might have you reconsidering your preferred Internet radio service.

by Kelly Schwarze

Don't hand off all your music funds to Pandora and Spotify just yet, as Slacker Radio unveiled a robust redesign that might have you reconsidering your preferred Internet radio service. With a browser option; iOS, Android, Windows Phone and BlackBerry apps; and Xbox console app, you can get your Slacker on most platforms and in an easier fashion thanks to the new tile user interface. It comes in three packages: the free ad-supported option, Radio Plus ($4 per month) for ad-free unlimited song skips and song lyrics, or the Radio Premium ($10), which offers albums and songs on demand and the option to create playlists

We tested out the revamped Slacker, and were taken by the straightforward system and endlessly customizable options. Read on for more on why this might be the music recommendation droid you've been looking for.

View 4 Photos

digital culture Feb 13, 2013

Give Your Valentine Some Streaming Playlist Poetry

For when finding the right words for your beloved doesn't come easily, Spotify has introduced its 21st-century version of the mix tape, the old sentimental standard, with Playlist Poetry.

by Kelly Schwarze

For when finding the right words for your beloved doesn't come easily, Spotify has introduced its 21st-century version of the mix tape, the old sentimental standard, with Playlist Poetry. Use the poetry search box to add in preset love-themed phrases and words like "Kiss" or "Your True Love," which just happen to correspond to songs by the same name.

Also search for specific songs to share with your sweetie. Then, once the poetic song title components are ready to go, create the playlist by selecting Publish Your Playlist Poetry. From there, mon cheri, share the medley of songs with your one and only on Valentine's Day for a musical ode to all that is the magic of your love.

Or, if there's no time to stop and find the song titles that adequately express your feelings, just use Spotify's Top 10 Love Songs playlist. The songs, including work by Jason Mraz and Adele, were selected by the company based on streaming data coming from users' love song playlists. Read on to listen to what Spotify says are the top songs to listen to on Valentine's Day.

Listen to Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" on Spotify

Today, as the nation remembers the civil rights work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we're looking back at the digital archive of his most iconic speeches.

by Kelly Schwarze

Today, as the nation remembers the civil rights work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we're looking back at the digital archive of his most iconic speeches. From his well-known words on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in "I Have a Dream" to his final speech, "I've Been to the Mountaintop," Spotify has made these moments of history available online. Listen to Dr. King's words after the break.

Spotify Jan 21, 2013

A Very Presidential Playlist: Spotify's Inauguration Tunes

The presidential inauguration on Monday, Jan.

by Nicole Nguyen

The presidential inauguration on Monday, Jan. 21, is going to be one part tradition and two parts party — just listen to the music from the artists who are performing that day in Washington DC. The Presidential Inaugural Committee put together an official Spotify playlist, featuring artists such as Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, and Beyoncé.

Listen to the sounds that'll kick off President Barack Obama's second term in office after the break.

Can You Guess Spotify's Top Tunes of 2012?

Spotify just revealed this year's biggest hits, best albums, and most popular artists as determined by its 15 million users around the world.

by Nicole Nguyen

Spotify just revealed this year's biggest hits, best albums, and most popular artists as determined by its 15 million users around the world.

Did "Call Me Maybe" or "Somebody That I Used to Know" take the top honors as the most-streamed tracks worldwide? Try your hand at our quiz and see how well you can guess the music-streaming service's top tunes of 2012 after the break.

digital life Nov 15, 2012

For Your Spotif-Eyes Only: Privatize Listening Activity

There's no way around it: you don't want the world to know that you're listening to Flo Rida for the eighth time this afternoon.

by Nicole Nguyen

There's no way around it: you don't want the world to know that you're listening to Flo Rida for the eighth time this afternoon. For better or worse, Spotify has certainly caught on with the Facebook crowd, and the company will only continue to grow thanks to its new foray into the web. With Spotify's audience increasing as fast as it is, we put together a little guide to keeping your Flo Rida obsession for your Spotif-eyes only.

Spotify, believe it or not, has settings to privatize listening activity posts, but the social media controls are kept in the nooks and crannies of the desktop app and on Facebook. In what follows, we've laid out several ways Spoti-philes can keep their tunes to themselves and double (or triple) check that they've done it right.

View 7 Photos

Fitness Nov 02, 2012

Push Yourself! A Power Playlist That Motivates

Sometimes you feel like your workout is a breeze.

by Leta Shy

Sometimes you feel like your workout is a breeze. And sometimes, no matter how much you tell yourself to push through, you hit a wall. All of a sudden, you don't want to take another lap or hold Plank pose anymore. That's when a good workout soundtrack comes in handy. Filling your iPod with tracks that just make you want to move is the easiest way to make sure you do.

We asked you to tell us which song motivates you the most when you're feeling like you want to stop, and your picks made it hard for us to stay seated in our chairs! Read on for an hour-long Spotify playlist of epic songs that are bound to motivate your workout.

20-Minute Warrior Yoga Sequence With Playlist

Yoga Oct 12, 2012

Weekend Warrior: 20-Minute Yoga Sequence

Free time on the weekend is precious, but a short yoga practice can make the day more meaningful.

by Lizzie Fuhr

Free time on the weekend is precious, but a short yoga practice can make the day more meaningful. You might not have time to hit up a lengthy studio class, but it only takes 20 minutes to flow through this sequence. Press play below to kick off our weekend warrior yoga playlist, and begin by building internal heat with five rounds of Sun Salutation A followed by five rounds of Sun Salutation B. Once you're good and loosened up, move through the rest of these powerful poses. Your body and mind will thank you all day long.

You will need to download the free Spotify software or app to listen to our playlists.

Photo: Jenny Sugar

View 10 Photos