Uh, Spotify already does this? Spotify is on-demand, *and* it has radio service. And a web player.
That's why this prolonged negotiation intrigues me, is there something additonal? Maybe, maybe not. I look forward to it either way.
Like you, I currently use Spotify. And it does what the article suggests as features for "iRadio".
I know Apple likes to think they invent everything, but this has been done, and I use it on a daily basis.
Do they? Have you got any quotes? Links to where they profess this?
- I remember them acknowledging existing MP3 players upon iPod's launch. Apple said they wanted to release something better, not that they invented MP3 players.
- I remember them acknowledging other smartphones on iPhone's launch. They said they wanted to release something better, not that they invented smartphones.
From my view on this - it's pathetic fanboys claiming that Apple claim to 'invent' everything. But I've never heard Apple say they invented x, y or z... have you? Happy to be proven wrong.
I know everyone's excited for this to happen, but to me it just represents one more thing I love that Apple will lock down to their own service on the AppleTV. There's no reason not to have an Amazon Video app, a Pandora app or a Spotify app on the AppleTV other than Apple once again trying to lock out the competition.
This is how Apple operate. It's nothing new. This is their business model. Apple likes to be in control. Apple likes to offer simple base functionality - which usually comprises of their own software and services.
I completely disagree with "no reason not to have Amazon Video app, a Pandora app or a Spotify app on the AppleTV". There is probably a slim/no chance Apple would offer all them apps as default options on Apple TV - it would go completely against their "simplicity" theme. This screams Apple TV app store - let people download whichever service they want. But don't have dozens of default installed options. The default options will be Apple's own.
Also remember Google Maps on the iPhone (the built in version). Remember when Steve Jobs demoed it for the first time and everyone loved it. Remember how the years passed and it barely changed? People complained it had gotten stale, missing features etc? That wasn't Apple's fault. It was Google's, they were withholding the features; vector maps, turn-by-turn. In the end Apple said "screw it", they didn't renew the Google contract. And now we have Apple's Maps and a new Google Maps app - which is way better than than the built in version used to be. Google was forced out to the App store where they had to compete with everyone else, and by the looks of it delivered a stellar mapping solution. I think it was a valuable lesson in what happens if you let someone else dictate to you on your platform.
If you want to control your iOS device completely, jailbreak it. But don't sit about waiting for Apple to change - it's not likely to happen.
Alternatively you could use a competing platform.