Apple Music Integration Possibly Coming to Google Home Devices [Updated]

[iGeek2014]

I had some HomePods but had to sell them for financial reasons and ended up with a Google Home Mini.

Being able to use Apple Music w/the Mini would be very welcome as I don’t use Google Music nor Spotify.

 

[Nintendolinky]

So I selected Apple Music and now my google home uses it to play music.

 

[mthomas184]

This feature has been in the Google Home app for at least a year, if not longer.

https://www.reddit.com/r/googlehome/comments/7m4b0x/the_google_home_will_be_supporting_apple_music/

And if you look at your screenshot, it clearly states “Only available on iOS devices” which now it no longer states that.

 

[Gilligan's last elephant]

If this happens, I'll switch from Spotify to Apple Music.

There are several issues with Apple Music compared to Spotify. Certainly the player to use them.

No Gapless playback. A ridiculous omission.

User interface doesn't rotate to landscape ? ??

Cannot advance tracks by swiping across display.

Also Spotify has much better algorithms for providing playlists to suit ones musical tastes.
As a principally Prog Rock afficianafo, Apple Music made a poor attempt at provided curated play lists in the 3 to 4 months I used it. I never discovered new bands through Apple Music, unlike Spotify.

 

[hofer]

I don't care much about Apple Music or any other subscription service. I just wish I could acces my 35000 song iTunes Library on all my devices.

 

[Napalm Doctor]

Well... they said they wanted to have better Services and so far they seem to be doing this. Next, FaceTime on Android....

 

[JTBing]

Youre commenting on an article that says apple music will integrate with google home like come on its totally possible

Those are two completely opposing results for Apple.

 

[edgonzalez32]

Should've just done that from the start tbh. Also, I'm sure people are going to complain about this for some stupid reason.

 

[The Game 161]

There are several issues with Apple Music compared to Spotify. Certainly the player to use them.

No Gapless playback. A ridiculous omission.

User interface doesn't rotate to landscape ? ??

Cannot advance tracks by swiping across display.

Also Spotify has much better algorithms for providing playlists to suit ones musical tastes.
As a principally Prog Rock afficianafo, Apple Music made a poor attempt at provided curated play lists in the 3 to 4 months I used it. I never discovered new bands through Apple Music, unlike Spotify.

I’ve decided to try Spotify now as works better with my S10 plus when I’m here and so far I like it better than Apple Music

Layout certainly far better for me plus will work with my google hub better

 

[mlabonte21]

Any idea if this will work with iTunes music PURCHASES— not just subscriptions?

I hate how longtime buyers of iTunes music get the short end of the stick 🙁

 

[zulkiflim]

Yep. I’m in the US so I’ll to follow Qobuz, thanks for mentioning it as I was unaware. But the sound quality is sooo much better on Tidal, and Spotify is slightly better than Apple Music. If Apple Music had lossless I would go exclusive immediately. I can even tell on Airpods, Homepod, and while driving. Such a difference. You can really tell if you just listen to a bass melody, high hats, or just the vocalist. This is not an “audiophile” thing...

Yep Qobuz is a step up for Tidal. Tho slightly more expensive.
Would recommend to get the annual plan for Qobuz.

If you are really serious, sell the HomePod / AirPods and get better speakers / IEM when using Tidal or Qobuz...
You will hear the sparkle and soundstage is AMAZING...


I would put Spotify / Apple Music at the same level.
UNLESS Apple really switch to lossless maybe I would consider switching back to Apple Music eh..

 

[sracer]

Any idea if this will work with iTunes music PURCHASES— not just subscriptions?

I hate how longtime buyers of iTunes music get the short end of the stick 🙁

If your iTunes music is NOT DRMed, then you can upload it to Google Play (50,000 track limit) and use Google Home to play from there. There's also an option to auto-upload any new tracks you add to iTunes.

 

[BXRich]

I'm happy to see more integrations. Can't deny the fact that neither company offers the ability to go full stack without giving up something. While I'm probably 90% Apple, it was in this space where I couldn't go with Apple because of price and functionality so the idea they're willing to integrate with Google is a good thing.

 

[Gilligan's last elephant]

I'm happy to see more integrations. Can't deny the fact that neither company offers the ability to go full stack without giving up something. While I'm probably 90% Apple, it was in this space where I couldn't go with Apple because of price and functionality so the idea they're willing to integrate with Google is a good thing.

Much of the incomparability issues are one sided.
One company not permitting their gear to work with other OSs

 

[kyussmondo]

I don’t think people should be too surprised. With slowing hardware sales, Apple is really going to start improving its services, and that will include cross platform support. I am not sure how well Apple will pull it off. Their services work well on Apple devices, but iTunes on Windows is not great and iCloud support on Windows is pretty bad.

 

[gijoeinla]

That’s fine, they lost when they priced the HomePod at 349. Love Apple but it’s way overpriced and limiting to only Apple Music with Siri was a deal breaker for most

Apparently you don’t really own them yourself - HomePod that is. I have 4. Two that are rears to 65” TV’s.

I’m 1000% satisfied and well worth the money. When firing them all up playing music they sound phenomenal.

I think a sweet spot price wise will be $269.
[doublepost=1551201976][/doublepost]

I don’t think people should be too surprised. With slowing hardware sales, Apple is really going to start improving its services, and that will include cross platform support. I am not sure how well Apple will pull it off. Their services work well on Apple devices, but iTunes on Windows is not great and iCloud support on Windows is pretty bad.

Why o why would Apple adding support to other platforms EVER be a bad thing or a defeatist stragetgy when INTEGRATION is the name of the game in electronics.

I applaud their moves and frankly say it’s about time. It will only benefit their massive reach into services over time.

Strategy indeed.

 

[xinam]

It’s disappeared for me? (UK)

 

[duervo]

That Apple did this at all is no surprise to me. Their services revenue is going through the roof, and this is another step in an effort to further that.

HomePod is only ok if you have nothing better in your home or office. Otherwise, put AppleTV into the mix of an established multi-room home audio/video setup and all you need is an iPad or iPhone to play content on any of those AppleTVs, or simultaneously with AirPlay using iTunes on a Mac or PC. In a situation like that (like in my home), HomePod is just sad.

 

[maxdefcon]

It’s disappeared for me? (UK)

I just checked and  Music is no longer an option for me either. So, I hope that it comes sooner than later.

 

[P_Devil]

There are several issues with Apple Music compared to Spotify.

There are several issues with Spotify compared to Apple Music.

• The Spotify app interface changes way too often and the developers will often hide features used by people (repeat).
• The 10,000 song library and download caps are an absolute joke.
• Spotify's solution for having users "upload" missing content is terrible and not a viable solution.
• Spotify's CarPlay interface doesn't make things easy for quickly accessing content.
• The lack of smart playlists in Spotify is absurd.
• Adding an album adds a track counting against the joke of a library cap Spotify implements, this shouldn't happen.
• The Spotify app is bloated and uses way too many resources on Android.
• The Spotify PC program has become a bloated mess no different than iTunes (on Windows) and uses even more resources on macOS (my MacBook Air's fan shouldn't be spinning when I'm just playing music).

 

[sracer]

Why o why would Apple adding support to other platforms EVER be a bad thing or a defeatist stragetgy when INTEGRATION is the name of the game in electronics.

I applaud their moves and frankly say it’s about time. It will only benefit their massive reach into services over time.

Strategy indeed.

IMO it is an action that acknowledges Apple's grip on customers isn't as tight as it once was. This is to reach out to those who AREN'T in Appleland. But ultimately, I think it won't be effective because what is the incentive for non-Apple people to buy into a service (Apple Music) that is not as widely cross-platform as their competitors?

Apple's services are not best-of-breed. They didn't have to be because they were just a part of the ecosystem of hardware-software-services. As standalone services, they're "meh" but as part of the larger package it all held together.

If Apple is able to improve the quality of their services and allow those services to NOT be tied to their hardware, then their hardware sales are going to suffer because people won't need to buy their hardware to use their services.

 

[cardfan]

IMO it is an action that acknowledges Apple's grip on customers isn't as tight as it once was. This is to reach out to those who AREN'T in Appleland. But ultimately, I think it won't be effective because what is the incentive for non-Apple people to buy into a service (Apple Music) that is not as widely cross-platform as their competitors?

Apple's services are not best-of-breed. They didn't have to be because they were just a part of the ecosystem of hardware-software-services. As standalone services, they're "meh" but as part of the larger package it all held together.

If Apple is able to improve the quality of their services and allow those services to NOT be tied to their hardware, then their hardware sales are going to suffer because people won't need to buy their hardware to use their services.

I think it signals they’re not interested in the speaker hardware market any longer. But definitely agree with what you said. I would tend to think you’d want google music on their own speaker. Amazon on theirs. Any Apple Music sales would be slim or none.

Apple has always preached software plus hardware integration being key and the main reason they can offer a second to none experience. Perhaps this is simply what they see as a way to keep users rather than gain.

 

[Internet Enzyme]

Sure it is possible. But making AM available to Google Home is about expanding Apple Music so more people (even Android users) may subscribe into Apple Music, which means MORE subscriber for Apple's service.

Now making Spotify available on HomePod (or Siri) meaning Apple gives people more reason to NOT switching to Apple Music.
You must be understand that this move is about killing Spotify and expanding Apple Music, totally not a gesture of goodwill.

Well, they want to do both: expand services and add value to their hardware. Opening up a HomePod sdk and allowing Spotify to use voice control would fix one of the largest gripes people have with the value proposition of HomePod, and I think it could greatly improve its position in the smart speaker market. Ppl can justify a HomePod purchase a lot easier if their Spotify family plan that everyone likes and is happy with integrates

 

[sracer]

I think it signals they’re not interested in the speaker hardware market any longer. But definitely agree with what you said. I would tend to think you’d want google music on their own speaker. Amazon on theirs. Any Apple Music sales would be slim or none.

Apple has always preached software plus hardware integration being key and the main reason they can offer a second to none experience. Perhaps this is simply what they see as a way to keep users rather than gain.

That sounds reasonable. If that is their reason (the sentence I bolded) then it is more of a defensive move than I had considered.

I'm sure they've done research and learned that their customers who are not buying HomePods aren't going without smart speakers but going with the competition's speakers.

On an unrelated note, I was at the local "$6 Deals" (store specializing in selling Amazon returns and overstock) and saw a base/cover for the Amazon Echo that looked EXACTLY like a HomePod.

 

[P_Devil]

If Apple is able to improve the quality of their services and allow those services to NOT be tied to their hardware, then their hardware sales are going to suffer because people won't need to buy their hardware to use their services.

Their iPhone sales are already hurting, so is everyone else though. Apple has been shifting from a hardware company to a service company over the last few years and will continue to make that shift. People were worried about Mac sales when iTunes was first available on Windows and Apple opened up iPods to Windows. People said that nobody would buy a Mac anymore for music when they could spend less on a PC and get a similar experience.

But Apple services are a gateway to their hardware. For many current Apple customers, the iPod was their first taste of Apple hardware and service (the iTunes Store). Then the iPhone, iPad, and eventually Macs. The number of people who started using an Apple service on a different platform and migrated over to Apple hardware would surprise you. Not only that but Apple opening up Apple Music to the Google Home assistant isn't going to affect iPhone, iPad, or Mac sales. What it does is help secure an Apple service in a market that they have yet to make a dent in.

It can also serve as a gateway to Apple hardware in the same way that iTunes and iPods did for people in 2003-2004. Someone with Google Home units everywhere and an Android phone will (hopefullyl soon) be able to use Apple Music. If they like it enough, they may buy an iPad or even an iPhone. Or they could just stick with Apple Music and be done. Either way, Apple has a customer. Apple has already shown that they want Apple Music on other platforms. They released Apple Music on Android (even have Android Auto support), it works with Amazon-made Echo speakers, it's coming to Echo Auto, Amazon is working on adding it to 3rd party Alexa speakers, and now this.