Apple Music for Android No Longer in Beta

[MacRumors]

Apple today updated its Apple Music app for Android to version 1.0.0, officially dropping the app's beta status and announcing its full release. Apple Music is one of the first Apple-branded apps that Apple has brought to Android devices.

First introduced in November of 2015, Apple Music for Android made the Apple Music platform available on Android-based smartphones and tablets for the first time. When the app initially launched, Apple iTunes chief Eddy Cue said Apple wanted to bring Apple Music to "everyone in the world" and let people enjoy music "no matter where you were and what products you were using."

Over the course of the beta testing period, Apple added a handful of new features to the app to bring it in line with the iOS app, including support for music videos, family billing plans, a home screen widget, saving songs to an SD card, and more. Apple Music for Android and Apple Music for iOS now share many of the same features, so the music listening experience is the same across multiple platforms. Today's update, in addition to removing Apple Music for Android's beta status, also includes minor performance and stability improvements.

Apple Music is now available on Android. Thank you for your feedback during the beta period.

This update includes equalizer settings and a variety of performance, playback, and stability improvements.

Apple Music for Android is available from the Google Play Store for free. Customers who are new to Apple Music can sign up for a three-month free trial to test out the service.

Article Link: Apple Music for Android No Longer in Beta

 

[Benjamin Frost]

I’ll carry on paying $0 to listen to my music library until I die.

 

[countryside]

Oh, nice... I didn't know they still made things for other OS.

 

[Jayson A]

Can you put your own music in it?

 

[pgiguere1]

Funny thing is Apple doesn't even allow apps labeled as Betas on the App Store...

2.2 Beta Testing
Demos, betas, and trial versions of your app don’t belong on the App Store – use TestFlight instead.

And yes, Google Play does have a beta testing feature similar to TestFlight. Apple could have used it but they went with the "We want the general public to use it but they should lower their expectations torwards bugs" approach they don't want third-party devs to use. Kind of hypocritical no?

 

[2010mini]

Funny thing is Apple doesn't even allow apps labeled as Betas on the App Store...

Google maps was beta when it was released with turn by turn navigation

 

[akfgpuppet]

Guess this won't be available on my Nexus 7

 

[GigabitEthernet]

I wonder if Apple will bring iMessage to Android now.

 

[smacrumon]

Next. iMessage for Android. A little taste of the sweet stuff. Two years later, new iPhone user.

 

[Sefstah]

Why not iMessage and FaceTime then?

 

[69Mustang]

I wonder if Apple will bring iMessage to Android now.

Why not iMessage and FaceTime then?

I could be mistaken, but I think VirnetX was and is still an impediment to either of those services going cross platform.

 

[slammer0]

You have an error in this article. Apple Music wasn't available for Android tablets and this stayed the same way now.

 

[Bonzodogtotherescue]

I still buy CDs as I generally like something physical when I buy something (old school). I rip them to my mac book pro via cd drive (old school) and then save them to a 200gb memory card in my S7 (new school). I don't want to rely on an Internet connection to listen to music. Tim Cook must hate people like me.

 

[Dilster3k]

Why not iMessage and FaceTime then?

I think the term used is added value, or exclusivity to sum it up quickly.

You purchase Apple's device, and in return you get to utilize their great added services such as FaceTime, etc. People sometimes buy their devices just to gain access to them, which would be completely diminished if they gave it to everyone else, or people would keep their Android devices instead of buying an iOS device. Apple wanted their Apple Music numbers to go up, hence allowing Android users to use it, which was also easier because it is a separate service with a monthly fee. (Beats' last streaming service was also on Android, which was replaced by Apple Music) However, they'd still want people to pick iOS over Android if necessary.

TL;DR - Terrible business decision.

 

[genovelle]

Why not iMessage and FaceTime then?

These are free services supported by Apple to make their platform unique. Apple Music is a pay subscription service for $120 a year.

 

[HopefulHumanist]

Can you put your own music in it?

If it like the iOS app, yes, but you'll need to use iTunes to upload your own music to your iCloud Music Library.

 

[Kabeyun]

I still buy CDs as I generally like something physical when I buy something (old school). I rip them to my mac book pro via cd drive (old school) and then save them to a 200gb memory card in my S7 (new school). I don't want to rely on an Internet connection to listen to music. Tim Cook must hate people like me.

I also prefer owning my media rather than renting the privilege of listening to Apple's. Like you, I've ripped all my optical media and I keep it on a NAS at home. I don't find I need my entire library on my device, so I sync several playlists on my iPhone, for which there's plenty of room.

I will say that I'm not among the Apple Music haters. I think the service (except Connect) is fantastic, the curated lists are spot on, radio discovery is excellent, and the UI,while it could use some reorganization, isn't that bad. I primarily use it for on-demand playing of a tune that pops in my head or that my kid wants to hear. I have yet to find anything not in Apple's library.

 

[Bonzodogtotherescue]

I also prefer owning my media rather than renting the privilege of listening to Apple's. Like you, I've ripped all my optical media and I keep it on a NAS at home. I don't find I need my entire library on my device, so I sync several playlists on my iPhone, for which there's plenty of room.

I will say that I'm not among the Apple Music haters. I think the service (except Connect) is fantastic, the curated lists are spot on, radio discovery is excellent, and the UI,while it could use some reorganization, isn't that bad. I primarily use it for on-demand playing of a tune that pops in my head or that my kid wants to hear. I have yet to find anything not in Apple's library.

Right on. I am not an Apple music hater either, It just doesn't work for nor does Spotify, Tidal or Google play. Kudos for letting your kid choose the music, let them find their way and all that jazz. My kids music choices make my eyes twitch before I have to go into dad DJ mode and salvage the situation.

 

[appledefenceforce]

I still buy CDs as I generally like something physical when I buy something (old school). I rip them to my mac book pro via cd drive (old school) and then save them to a 200gb memory card in my S7 (new school). I don't want to rely on an Internet connection to listen to music. Tim Cook must hate people like me.

Actually, Tim Cook doesn't care about people like you. His attention is on Apple Music users.

 

[Bonzodogtotherescue]

Actually, Tim Cook doesn't care about people like you. His attention is on Apple Music users.

Because I have too much choice?

 

[blacktape242]

Actually, Tim Cook doesn't care about people like you. His attention is on Apple Music users.

You sure? I would have said social issues and politics.....

 

[mrcobra92]

Guess this won't be available on my Nexus 7

It works if you sideboard (download and install) the apk. I did myself on my nexus 7. Works fine.

 

[keysofanxiety]

I wonder if Apple will bring iMessage to Android now.

But how else will we weed out the Android-wielding grubs without our glorious green message bubbles?

 

[Zirel]

But how else will we weed out the Android-wielding grubs without our glorious green message bubbles?

The day iMessage comes to Android, is the day I make an iPhone-only messaging App.
[doublepost=1470269592][/doublepost]

I still buy CDs as I generally like something physical when I buy something (old school). I rip them to my mac book pro via cd drive (old school) and then save them to a 200gb memory card in my S7 (new school). I don't want to rely on an Internet connection to listen to music. Tim Cook must hate people like me.

Then what?

Tim Cook doesn't hate people like you, people like you cost too much in advertising dollars to be "educated".

If you tried Apple Music, you would never go back to that.

 

[Bonzodogtotherescue]

The day iMessage comes to Android, is the day I make an iPhone-only messaging App.
[doublepost=1470269592][/doublepost]

Then what?

Tim Cook doesn't hate people like you, people like you cost too much in advertising dollars to be "educated".

If you tried Apple Music, you would never go back to that.

Why would I? I have tried apple music, tidal and Google and they are not for me. I like owning a physical item which I am free to share with friends and to play on any music system that allows my taste in music. I can rip, burn or copy to any format I choose. I love modern technology but I love music more, I love cd artwork even more, I love having a physical album even more than that. It is about freedom not about brands or marketing. When I was with Apple Music they were telling me to listen to Taylor Swift... Every day... No thanks!