OpenPandora

Since Pandora started blocking users outside US some solutions where proposed, but only one made to the top - Tor.

Tor can help you anonymize web browsing, by bouncing communication around a distributed network of servers called onion routers.
This is nice, but how this helps?
If the communication is bounced over network of servers and the last server that forwards communication located in US, Pandora will think that the user himself is located in US and will not block him.

So what we need is to force last server to be in US and use Tor only for communication with Pandora. This is done in four simple steps:

1. Install Tor.
   
   Got to http://tor.eff.org/download-windows.html.en and download just Tor (marked for experts only), or use this link http://tor.eff.org/dist/win32/tor-0.1.2.14-win32.exe.
   
   
2. Update torrc file.
   
   Open torrc file from Start->Programs->Tor and add paste at the bottom
   
   StrictExitNodes 1
   exitnodes desync,whistlersmother,lefkada,bettyboop,croeso,TorLuwakOrg,nixnix,inap1,redpineapple,cronic,sasquatch,slowturtle2
   
   This will force the last server to be located in US.
   
   
3. Create tor.pac file. I have created it directly under c: drive (c:\tor.pac).
   Start by creating new text file. Open it in Notepad and paste
   
   function FindProxyForURL(url, host)
   {
   if (shExpMatch(host, "www.pandora.com")) return "SOCKS 127.0.0.1:9050";
   return "DIRECT";
   }
   
   Rename it tor.pac.
   
   Alternatively you can download my tor.pac from here: http://openpandora.googlepages.com/tor.pac.
   
   
4. Set tor.pac to be used for automatic configuration in Internet Explorer.
   
   Open Internet Explorer. Go to Tools->Internet Options.
   Select Connections tab.
   Open Lan Settings by pressing the button.
   Check/Select 'Use automatic configuration script'.
   Write in Address "file://" following the tor.pac file name with full path. I wrote "file://c:\tor.pac" (without the quotation marks).

Now you activate Tor from Start->Programs->Tor->Tor and run OpenPandora. It will take some time until Pandora will load, but when it loads the music never stops.

Patched version 0.6.8 is ready.

It fixes the layout problem after recent changes to Pandora layout.
This is only an initial fix and an official update will come later.

Remark: The OpenPandora update mechanizm will try to load this page http://openpandora.googlepages.com/download/, but due to a problem with GooglePages it will not be recognized. The correct URL is this one http://openpandora.googlepages.com/download, without the slash (/) at the end. This is a new issue with GooglePages and I hope they will fix it soon.

Enjoy your music.

Pandora just changed the look of their site and the player, slightly broking OpenPandora.

The new site does look much better, also adding more functionality to the player.
I'm working on a patched version. Stay tuned.

-Enjoy your music.

Stealing the title from Pandora blog, but adding some real good news:

You can use OpenPandora even outside US. Thanks for the blog commenters for finding the solution.
You have to install Hotspot Shield and that all enter under proxy settings host 127.0.0.1 and port 895.

And back to Pandora with some new features:

• Volume normalization (finally!)
  
• Tune shared station for your taste using thumbs up and down
• Now you can move station even from shared station and QuickMix
• Backstage is available back for all users, even those outside US.
• and more
  

Enjoy your music.

Try alpha beta 3 [ad]

Now that Pandora closed their gates and plugged out the cable for connections outside US, they simply made us search for an alternative.

Share the community with your alternatives. Just add a comment to this post.

You can use public CGI-PROXY located in US to surf the net as if you was surfing in US.

Some random proxies can be found here: http://tools.rosinstrument.com/cgi-proxy.htm. Just type the site you want to reach, like http://pandora.com.

Use this trick to play Pandora outside US.

Pandora is closing the access for users outside U.S.

Form their letter:
"Today we have some extremely disappointing news to share with you. Due to international licensing constraints, we are deeply, deeply sorry to say that we must begin proactively preventing access to Pandora’s streaming service for most countries outside of the U.S."

and

"On May 3rd, we will begin blocking access to Pandora to listeners from your country."

Sad day, but I hope this is only temporary. They do save user accounts, and promise to provide the service outside U.S. in the future. Time will tell.

Thinking positively, this may also help to web radio. New companies outside U.S. will emerge and provide similar service. In the long run, we will only gain.

I don't know how this will effect OpenPandora development, since I'm living outside U.S.
I'll post more later.

Version 0.6.8 is available for download.

It fixes the problem with global shortcuts and playback control from menu that stopped working.

It is highly advised to upgrade to this version.

Release notes:

NEW: Ctrl+Win+Enter: Display again song notification window
NEW: Allow to disable new version popup
FIX: Support back non XP machines
FIX: Not reflecting pausing in title problem
FIX: Settings, About and Notification windows visible with Alt+Tab problem
FIX: Copy to clipboard without paused straing
FIX: Plaback control with global shortcuts and menu
UPD: Show settings window centered to main window
UPD: Copy to clipboard includes disc name

Enjoy your music! And check for more betas on alpha beta 3.

On Friday March 2nd, the U.S. government (specifically, the Copyright Royalty Board, or "CRB") announced its determination of the royalty rates Internet radio webcasters must pay the owners of sound recording copyrights to license the music they play for the years 2006-2010. The owners of these sound recording copyrights are, in the vast majority of cases, recording companies ("labels").

While successful webcasters which have built loyal audiences can usually cover most of their costs from their revenue (and sometimes even make a little profit), these new rates will almost certainly destroy the Internet radio industry, as they amount to well over 100% of even the most-successful webcasters' online radio revenues. In other words, these fees are grotesquely disproportionate to any other expense a webcaster would normally face, and certain to bankrupt him or her. [via savethestreams.org]

As the Pandora blog post suggest sign the petition and check more about the issue.

New beta version 0.6.8.4 is ready.

Change log:
- Ctrl+Win+Enter: Display again song notification window
- Fixed not loading on non XP machines
- Allow to disable new version popup
- Fixed not reflecting pausing in title and tray icon tooltip
- Fixed Setting, About and Notification windows visible with Alt+Tab
- Settings window centered to main window