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Apple Music Now Playable on Amazon Echo Speakers via Alexa in United States

confusedpurple said:
Realistically the only way Homepod v2 could be made any better (the speaker is already amazing) would be by removing Siri - which is never going to get better with the way they have developed it - we're now coming up to 9 years since Apple introduced it, and its still utterly awful compared to every single other major voice assistant.
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Realistically, no. Removing Siri would be a huge disaster. You probably don't know that Siri is the main user interface to HomePod, and it works extremely well for cuing up music.

What makes HomePod great is it's always on, and always ready to play music with only a verbal command. even from 20 feet away with HomePod playing music loudly. An amazing feat and superb underlying technology to pull that off.

I've had my HomePod for almost a year now and it's a delight to use - every single day. From your post suggesting Siri should be removed, I suspect you've never owned one.
 
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What makes Amazon Echo with a couple of cheap external amplified speakers great is it's always on, and always ready to play music with only a verbal command. even from 20 feet away with Amazon Echo with a couple of cheap external amplified speakers playing music loudly. An amazing feat and superb underlying technology to pull that off.
 
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Does anyone know what command to tell Alexa to play my own playlist from Apple Music? Alexa doesn't seem to see my own playlist.

I have been using Alexa, play my playlist xxxx. when using Amazon music. Now I linked my Apple Music account and set up Apple Music as default. I can ask Alexa to play playlist from Apple without any issue though.

Edit: I have figure this out.
 
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displayblock said:
Like what? I’m curious.

All of my HomeKit devices are compatible with Alexa, and that’s pretty much all I use Siri for besides Apple Music. As someone who isn’t an audiophile, I can’t think of a good reason to invest in HomePod as my first smart speaker.
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Alexa can’t add things to my grocery list on my Apple Watch or read my unread meassages, which is already 50% of what I need.

Siri turns my bedroom lights on and off, but I imagine Alexa can do that too.
 
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citysnaps said:
Hmmm... Works fine for me.

You might want to schedule a visit to the Genius Bar for some assistance.
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Apple buys the app from a developer and literally sits on it for years and treats it like some toy or novelty. You can’t honestly say it works as well as Alexa.

HomePod is a great speaker, but it is no personal assistant.

The one place it shines over Alexa is the apparent steadfast position Apple has taken on privacy.
 
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Don’t have a HomePod, but I do have an echo.... Even though I want a HomePod, I’m content with Alexa... but if you’re going to permit Apple Music, I’d like Apple to release some for of API for iCloud functionality (iCal, reminders, notes) for the Alexa as well... google calendar sucks
 
tromboneaholic said:
Alexa can’t add things to my grocery list on my Apple Watch or read my unread meassages, which is already 50% of what I need.
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Google Assistant can do the grocery thing. I'm on Android and the wife is iOS and we do that with Google Home and OurGroceries. Alexa is just inferior in most respects ans she's tied to the scummy Amazon which is a no-go.
 
Shiro_Simba said:
Is apple basically saying the homepod will not compete with Amazon / Google.

I don't get Cooks strategy for apple, seems to be throw everying at the wall that makes a profit and see what sticks.

You don't protect your brand by just chasing profits . While I'm happy with his news as an Alexa owner, I'm disappointed
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This makes a lot of sense to me. They want to make more money from services, and they can’t expand services if they limit them to their own expensive hardware. They can get more subscribers, and if they release a more affordable HomePod in the future, some of those subscribers might buy that.
 
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Does anyone know if two or more Echo’s can play from the same Apple Music account at the same time (on the same network)? Thinking about picking up a couple more Echo’s for my parents, but want them all to use the same account.
 
The USA seemed to like its pioneering role more and more. But it is not a pioneering role but isolationism. This does not go down well elsewhere in the world.

But I hope anyway that the non-transparent eavesdropper Alexa won't be successful at the "rest of us" anyway. Siri is unique because of its secure architecture. I regret that Apple's marketing strategists now also form alliances with dirty systems.
 
When I hook up Apple Music and ask Alexa to play my “X playlist,” Alexa voices “playing you X playlist from Apple Music.”

I swear the Alexa voice sounds sad when it says what it is playing and where it is playing it from.
 
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confusedpurple said:
Far too little and far too late. Apple Music has just lost anyone outside the US completely, with its god awful buffering, its absolutely awful iOS app and crummy iTunes integration, and taking so damn long to integrate into the most popular smart speaker - and it's still not available in Europe - Amazon Echo's biggest market.

I really do wonder who's actually running the show at Apple Music, as they sure as hell aren't listening to the users. You put Spotify and Apple Music side by side in Europe and Apple Music looks like someones little play toy, its just so damn lackluster and lagging behind that it's not even funny anymore.
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Realistically the only way Homepod v2 could be made any better (the speaker is already amazing) would be by removing Siri - which is never going to get better with the way they have developed it - we're now coming up to 9 years since Apple introduced it, and its still utterly awful compared to every single other major voice assistant.
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Dear "confused-purple", I want to resolve your confusion:

1 I personally experience AppleMusic's integration into iTunes as successful. I recommend a visit to the GeniusBar, maybe they can help you. There are also a lot of video tutorials from Apple-Youtube, maybe you can spend a little more time informing.

2 The compilation at Apple Music is as good as you are good. I benefit and enjoy its basic structure

3 If you are just surrounded by Spotify users, you will experience your own reality. With others it is exactly the other way around. They only know Apple Music users. There are always several parallel worlds. Yours is not the only true one.
When you demand the removal of Siri, you stand by the forces that want to give up people's private sphere or seduce people to do so.

Slut Alexa will be able to collect data faster than Google. She is a powerful weapon. She can serve you better, but will abuse you backwards. Always keep in mind the potential for evil, and don't let the positive aspects blind you!
 
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Nunyabinez said:
I'm at work so I haven't been able to test this, but it appears that you need to use "On Apple Music" to command Alexa.

This is from the support site:
Ask Alexa to play your music
You can ask Alexa to play songs, artists, albums, or genres from Apple Music. You can also play Beats 1 radio, playlists from Apple Music's editors, or playlists in your iCloud Music Library. Say something like “Alexa, play Pure Pop on Apple Music,” or "Alexa, play Bebe Rexha on Apple Music."

If anyone has tried this out, I'd love to know if I can just say "Play my Metal Playlist" or if I have to add "on Apple Music."
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If you make Apple Music your default, you don’t have to say “on Apple Music” at the end.
 
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Abazigal said:
Sonos is in danger for every day that they don’t have their own music streaming service or smart assistant.

We have already seen this play out with the smartphone market. Apple dominates the high end, google gets the market share by giving out their services for free, while the hardware OEMs end up being like crabs in a bucket as they lack an effective means of differentiating their products from the rest of the competition.

I am willing to bet that Sonos ends up being to the HomePod what the Fitbit is to the Apple Watch.
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The only way that would play out is if Apple opens up the HomePod and I don’t see any sign of that. Sonos has a huge number of users, which gives them a lot of leverage. It’s not like they’re desperately trying to sell their products, people have multiple in their homes already.

As for the HomePod, I can see it going the way of the iPod hifi. It’s just not selling and Apple can’t continue to throw money at a product that doesn’t justify continued investment.
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citysnaps said:
Ha, now that's a real hoot.

No, Apple had just scratched the surface with HomePod v1.0 and its underlying technology. Really looking forward to the next version.

In the mean time, I'm still stoked with mine and use it 3-4 hours a day.
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Why is it “a hoot”? There are multiple reports about how it hasn’t been selling well. It’s a great product and it sounds incredible but not everyone wants to invest in a speaker that is completely locked into the Apple ecosystem. The fact that Sonos is so open and flexible is its strength. The fact that they sound so good is its other winning selling point.
 
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tromboneaholic said:
Alexa can’t add things to my grocery list on my Apple Watch or read my unread meassages, which is already 50% of what I need.

Siri turns my bedroom lights on and off, but I imagine Alexa can do that too.
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Sending imessages, answering and making calls, finding your iPhone, tablet or Apple Watch, reading your notifications. Controlling your Apple TV. All stiff the HomePod can do that
Alexa and the google home can’t do.
 
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Let me try to be completely clear on this by asking a targeted question. I currently have my own music library, in itunes, on a mac connected to my network. It contains personal and special recordings I've collected over three years. Most of this will never be in any subscription service.

I can access this from any other mac running itunes as well as on my iPhone and I can play ant of those songs on any airplay connected speakers.

Would this new system allow me to access my own itunes music library on this computer and play it on speakers elsewhere in my house, via Alexia?

Thanks for any info!
 
Jobs would not have done it. Apple gives away the store to play on an old single core TI CPU from 2009 (Echo 1st).
 
Shiro_Simba said:
Is apple basically saying the homepod will not compete with Amazon / Google.

I don't get Cooks strategy for apple, seems to be throw everying at the wall that makes a profit and see what sticks.

You don't protect your brand by just chasing profits . While I'm happy with his news as an Alexa owner, I'm disappointed
Click to expand...

You are the worst customer/shareholder ... happy but dissatisfied, just decide .. You enjoy it, so why adding negative emotions? Apple Music should and must be available everywhere it’s nothing special apple can compete on. Spotify is far superior and free and everywhere.
Cook finally did something right, I don’t know why, but it’s plain RIGHT
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Morgenland said:
The USA seemed to like its pioneering role more and more. But it is not a pioneering role but isolationism. This does not go down well elsewhere in the world.

But I hope anyway that the non-transparent eavesdropper Alexa won't be successful at the "rest of us" anyway. Siri is unique because of its secure architecture. I regret that Apple's marketing strategists now also form alliances with dirty systems.
Click to expand...

Really? Haha
Am from Europe, and Europe prevents everything. It’s not the USA not giving us we don’t take it.
If You are a real European You should know that, where are You from - then I will tell You vast examples what your country prevented.
 
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