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Apple Music- interested or not?
- Thread starter ra4oasis
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I'm holding out until it becomes more clear how I can use the service. My primary "music" devices are actually a 160gb iPod classic and a new 16gb Nano. So if Apple Music won't work on these devices, I'll stick with managing my own collection and using iTunes Match.
I've been waiting for this. I've tried Spotify, Rdio, Beats... I'm ready for the native solution to use my current iTunes Match library right along with a subscription service. I don't like juggling my purchased library in the Music app and a separate streaming library in the others, so I end up ditching those and going back to purchasing in iTunes. Now that it's getting integrated into Music, I'm pretty excited. I just hope it works well!
I do have Spotify as well, so I'm not all OG with iPods. But one reason I'm considering staying with Spotify is streaming my Spotify library on Roku (I use on the road) and on my PS4 which is a new feature.
I know Apple won't support the PS4 streaming as Sony hand picked Spotify, and its up for debate whether Roku will ever support it (hey, Android OS will, so who knows, right?).
Unless I'm mistaken about the service, you're not gonna be able to use Apple Music. I'm pretty sure it will be an iOS app along with the other platforms like Watch, Apple TV and Android. You can use it on your computer, but unlikely on the "dumb" iPods.
What iOS version are you running at the moment?
When you go to settings, music do you have a toggle for iTunes Match?
I'm sure I used to see the words iTunes Match but since I have been running 8.4 beta those words have been replaced with iCloud Music Library. I still see all of my music but I'm not sure its needed unless you have something in your collection that is not offered by the new Music service. That could happen. Once the Music service is on I will continue with the Match option in the event I ever decide to stop the monthly streaming service but I can see that getting confusing unless there is something that tells me what I own versus what is coming from the new Music Service. Still, looking forward to it replacing Spotify for me and giving me the ability to expand the family plan to 4 of us here at the house.
I'm still unclear about what my options will be after the launch of Apple Music. Right now, my music needs are completely satisfied between my purchased content that resides in iTunes and my occasional streaming via iTunes Radio. I really like iTunes Radio. It seems to work fine, meets my needs, and is free. I hope it continues on after the launch of Apple Music.
Does anyone know if the free iTunes Radio will still be available? Will it still work both on iOS and OS-X devices? Paying $10 a month for something I would use very lightly has little appeal to me.
Does anyone know if the free iTunes Radio will still be available? Will it still work both on iOS and OS-X devices? Paying $10 a month for something I would use very lightly has little appeal to me.
To add to that though, it seems like that'll only be available in the U.S. And Australia, ie the countries that already had iTunes Radio
I have a Sonos speaker setup and Apple does not play well with it. Apple still will not support the Sonos service. So I will continue to use Pandora for now until Apple wakes up. Amazingly, Beats supports Sonos.
Yep, I have had Spotify for a couple years and love it. To be honest I haven't "bought" any music since then, so Apple will be getting the money back I use to spend on iTunes, smart for them.
Buying music like it or not is not the future I wouldn't be surprised if "iTunes"is extinct or nearly extinct in 10 years.
But I am not here to debate that, or the whole artist not getting paid for 3 month. Personally a 2 week or 1 month trial would be sufficient. What I am looking forward to and most likely I why I will cancel Spotify is the following.
1) The price the family plan price is very enticing as I have 4 people in my family, currently we only have 1 Spotify account, now we can each have out own account for just $5 more than what I am paying now.
2.) Integration with the Apple eco system, no 3rd party apps. Yea, Hard for Spotify to compete with that and it might be unfair, but it is what it is. However, Spotify has had plenty of time to add Apple Watch app,and it took forever to make an iPad app so they don't have a great track record over all, so going forward I'd expect the same.
I am not saying I am absolutely leaving Spotify but the chances are slim I will stay unless Apple Music has an atrocious unfriendly UI (aka Xbox Music) and/or a poor music selection. I am going to assume this won't be the case but you never know.
Here is what I know:
1.) I am most likely not "buying" music again in my life time.
2.) I will subscribe to 1 music service for the rest of my life.
Buying music like it or not is not the future I wouldn't be surprised if "iTunes"is extinct or nearly extinct in 10 years.
But I am not here to debate that, or the whole artist not getting paid for 3 month. Personally a 2 week or 1 month trial would be sufficient. What I am looking forward to and most likely I why I will cancel Spotify is the following.
1) The price the family plan price is very enticing as I have 4 people in my family, currently we only have 1 Spotify account, now we can each have out own account for just $5 more than what I am paying now.
2.) Integration with the Apple eco system, no 3rd party apps. Yea, Hard for Spotify to compete with that and it might be unfair, but it is what it is. However, Spotify has had plenty of time to add Apple Watch app,and it took forever to make an iPad app so they don't have a great track record over all, so going forward I'd expect the same.
I am not saying I am absolutely leaving Spotify but the chances are slim I will stay unless Apple Music has an atrocious unfriendly UI (aka Xbox Music) and/or a poor music selection. I am going to assume this won't be the case but you never know.
Here is what I know:
1.) I am most likely not "buying" music again in my life time.
2.) I will subscribe to 1 music service for the rest of my life.
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That's why the very best streaming services strike a balance with offline listening. It's like having iTunes purchases because the service no longer relies on a cellular connection to be worthy. Most, if not all of the "big boy" streaming services include offline playback (Rdio, Spotify, Beats, XBOX Music, etc).
Thanks for that. In 8.4 I don't see iTunes Match any longer. It had been replaced with iCloud Music Library.
I can comment on OS X desktop only. As you might be aware Apple has updated their iTunes radio stations in the last few days. I have notice a dramatic increase in quality and volume using iTunes radio when compared to Spotify. I would even say the quality sounds better than Spotify. It has a warmer, fuller tone that I have noticed before when comparing AAC vs MP3 and its variants. Volume is identical.
One of my biggest complaints with iTunes radio, like you, was volume was ridiculously low. I will test on my iPhone when I get a free moment.
Thanks for checking. I have 8.4 beta and know the service is not final but I do notice the volume difference. Without touching anything I could move from Spotify to iTunes Radio on my iPhone/iPad and the difference was very noticeable. It stands out in the car. The quality though does appear to be better between the two with the win going to Apple.
Yeah, I was afraid of that. Thanks for checking. Apple is doing some sort of normalization on their end that is very annoying. Sound check dose't seem to have an effect with iTunes radio. Maybe final 8.4 music app will help but I doubt it.
The volume is lower too than XM Radio. Spotify to XM, I have to turn the volume up a bit. Apple to XM I have to hurry to turn the volume down. Just another comparison. When only one of these sources is used I can easily set a volume I like and it sounds fine its just annoying as you know to go from source to source and have to change. I have already let Spotify go so this comparison as of today is no longer an issue but will continue with XM for a while longer.
I'm on T-Mobile, so most streaming services don't count towards my monthly data allotment. No worries for me.
I absolutely love Spotify, but it's very likely I'll make the jump to Apple Music. I'll work with both during the 3 months free trial of Apple music, giving me more than enough time to decide what to do. However, I do expect Apple Music to do enough to make me jump.
Has to be really worthwhile to make me give up my 'cheap' grandfathered Google Play Music subscription.
and as a mobile device agnostic - the Android / Windows Phone apps - best be of equal quality to the iOS one feature set wise.
Otherwise don't see paying 'more' for a product unless it offers a tangible benefit over the competition.
and as a mobile device agnostic - the Android / Windows Phone apps - best be of equal quality to the iOS one feature set wise.
Otherwise don't see paying 'more' for a product unless it offers a tangible benefit over the competition.