Apple Announces ShazamKit to Enable Audio Recognition in Third-Party Apps, Even on Android

[MacRumors]

Apple has announced that it is opening up Shazam, the audio recognition app purchased in 2017, to third-party apps, even on Android, enabling them to use Shazam's powerful technology to identify audio.

Over the years, Apple has been integrating Shazam more tightly into the core iOS experience. With iOS 14.2 earlier this year, Apple added a Shazam toggle to Control Center, allowing users to tap into Shazam's audio recognition technology from anywhere on the device. The new toggle also allowed users to identify a song playing locally from their device, a scenario that previously required users to locate a secondary device to activate Shazam.

ShazamKit allows developers to match "music to the millions of songs in Shazam’s vast catalog" or by creating prerecorded audio that's recognizable through an app's own custom catalog, consisting of content such as audio from a video, podcast, and more.

Develop features in your apps using music recognition and seamlessly connect users to Shazam’s catalog of music. ShazamKit lets you enrich your app experience by letting users find out a song’s name, who sang it, the genre, and more. Learn where in the song the match was found in order to synchronize content with user experiences.

ShazamKit can also be used to create a fully custom experience, such as having an app react to specific audio that is played from its custom audio library. Developers can learn more about ShazamKit here and by watching this WWDC session.

Article Link: Apple Announces ShazamKit to Enable Audio Recognition in Third-Party Apps, Even on Android

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Sweet! Won’t be hard to locate any songs.

 

[Techwatcher]

Smart move on Apple's end. Buy out Shazam, build it up during the exclusivity period, then sell the kit to 3rd party devs and recoup even more money.

 

[chicago19]

It seems Apple is definitely beginning to open up it's software to thirdparty. Now whether they think that will benefit the customer or they are afraid of antitrust issues, I am happy either way.

 

[Scipster]

By far one of Apple's best acquisitions. Glad they are opening up the API!

 

[_Spinn_]

Wow this is a pleasant surprise. I wonder if they will eventually open the Dark Sky API back up? I know a lot of people were upset when Apple shut it down after the acquisition.

 

[steevn]

Shazam embedded into Control Center has honestly been one of my most used additions to iOS updates.

It’s so easy to just tap without needing to unlock and open an app, also making it to where I don’t need to do anything with it immediately, I can just leave the notification there or open the Shazam app later during free time if I want to add the song or not.

 

[citysnaps]

Smart move on Apple's end. Buy out Shazam, build it up during the exclusivity period, then sell the kit to 3rd party devs and recoup even more money.

Where was it mentioned the kit being sold?

 

[KaliYoni]

Nightmare scenario: Apple expands Shazam beyond music to other sounds and allows Facebook to use the API. Then the "Facebook uses your phone's mic to target ads to you" meme will become reality.

 

[cmaier]

It seems Apple is definitely beginning to open up it's software to thirdparty. Now whether they think that will benefit the customer or they are afraid of antitrust issues, I am happy either way.

Not much of an antitrust implication for this sort of thing.

 

[Doctor Q]

ShazamKit allows developers to ... create prerecorded audio that's recognizable through an app's own custom catalog, consisting of content such as audio from a video, podcast, and more.

In theory, could an app use this technique to track where you are in a mall, or in a large store, by recognizing the music playing in that store, or the music playing in a department of a large store, even when no other location tracking method was available? That background music in the elevator would tell the app that you're in the elevator! No need for store beacons or tracking permission to know where you are.

If that would work, then this technique, like other tracking methods, could be used for either appropriate or inappropriate purposes.

 

[adamjackson]

I want WeatherKit now so we can get the DarkSky API into every weather app.

 

[steevn]

I want WeatherKit now so we can get the DarkSky API into every weather app.

Same, they mentioned the Weather App being updated in iOS 15 and I’m hoping they will use Dark Sky instead, it only makes sense but maybe they have a longer contract with The Weather Channel still.

I like the features and layout of Dark Sky much more, but I like the design of the Weather app more, so annoying lol.

 

[mannyvel]

This is interesting because you can make a library of voices and use shazam to do a voice match. I wonder if that'll work?

 

[RavynArcadia]

Nightmare scenario: Apple expands Shazam beyond music to other sounds and allows Facebook to use the API. Then the "Facebook uses your phone's mic to target ads to you" meme will become reality.

Isn't facebook already doing that with microphones? Not on apple but on android?

 

[RavynArcadia]

Same, they mentioned the Weather App being updated in iOS 15 and I’m hoping they will use Dark Sky instead, it only makes sense but maybe they have a longer contract with The Weather Channel still.

I like the features and layout of Dark Sky much more, but I like the design of the Weather app more, so annoying lol.

the new weather app is actually pretty nice now. I'd say at least equal with DarkSky, maybe better.

 

[Techwatcher]

Where was it mentioned the kit being sold?

Where was it mentioned it's free? Probably could've worded it better though as I'm mostly referring to royalties on it being used.

 

[steevn]

the new weather app is actually pretty nice now. I'd say at least equal with DarkSky, maybe better.

Here are my two issues and they are each on me, it took time for my spouse and I to agree to each use the same apps, and having to go back after all the talk about using the same is maybe too much effort for me again lol.

This whole idea started because we had “issues” on how one maps app was better and one was awful and each one we preferred gave different directions and how we were both “wrong” lol.

The second reason is I can’t just have two same apps on my phone, and definitely not two weather apps.

I agree the Apple Weather app is much better now though, but clearly you can see the completely silly dilemma I have put myself into haha.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

Nightmare scenario: Apple expands Shazam beyond music to other sounds and allows Facebook to use the API. Then the "Facebook uses your phone's mic to target ads to you" meme will become reality.

Simple; uninstall Facebook. It’s like opening all of your doors and windows on that first nice day of the year. So refreshing.

 

[citysnaps]

Where was it mentioned it's free? Probably could've worded it better though as I'm mostly referring to royalties on it being used.

Are there other Apple iPhone/iPad development kit components that are sold or that pay royalties to Apple?

 

[bluespark]

Simple; uninstall Facebook. It’s like opening all of your doors and windows on that first nice day of the year. So refreshing.

This is . . . not wrong.

 

[bchery21]

Shazam embedded into Control Center has honestly been one of my most used additions to iOS updates.

It’s so easy to just tap without needing to unlock and open an app, also making it to where I don’t need to do anything with it immediately, I can just leave the notification there or open the Shazam app later during free time if I want to add the song or not.

Agreed. Even easier on the Apple Watch. I have the Shazam complication? on my main watch face and every time I want to identify a song it's a breeze.

 

[steevn]

Agreed. Even easier on the Apple Watch. I have the Shazam complication? on my main watch face and every time I want to identify a song it's a breeze.

😱🤯 I have my watch set to not automatically download apps from my phone and I actually never thought about this, but now it’s on there. Even better!