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Apple Releases Updates to Apple Music and TV Preview Apps for Windows

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Apr 12, 2001
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Apple has released updates for its Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Devices apps for PC users running Windows 11, bringing what appear to be notable improvements and bug fixes to the preview apps.

apple-music-preview-microsoft-store.jpg

Last year, Microsoft said that Apple Music and Apple TV apps would be coming to the Microsoft Store in 2023 for installation on Windows devices, offering a better experience of ‌Apple Music and Apple TV+ than‌ going via the web or using Apple's outdated iTunes for Windows app.

In January, preview versions of the two apps, as well as an Apple Devices app for managing devices such as iPhones, iPads, and iPods from Windows machines appeared in the Microsoft Store. However, Apple warned that, as preview versions of these apps, "not all features may work as expected."

Apple has provided no release notes for the latest updates, so we don't have a comprehensive list of changes and fixes. However, users on Reddit have discovered that the Apple Music Preview app now appears to include support for Windows 11 media controls and keyboard shortcuts, support for lyrics, and provides smoother continuous playback of consecutive lossless tracks.

As for the Apple Devices Preview, Apple has reportedly removed mentions of the software that will run on its rumored mixed reality headset. References to "xrOS" and "RealityOS" references are now gone. Apple internally called the headset software "Reality OS" or "rOS" when it was in development, then decided to update the public name to the less generic "xrOS" name, which stands for "extended reality." Apple is expected to unveil its headset at WWDC in June.

There is no information yet on what's new in the Apple TV Preview app, but we will update this article when we learn more.

Note that installing any of these apps will prevent iTunes for Windows from opening. As a result, other content types such as audiobooks and podcasts will be inaccessible until Apple releases a compatible version of iTunes or the user uninstalls the preview apps.

Article Link: Apple Releases Updates to Apple Music and TV Preview Apps for Windows
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2023/04/25/apple-updates-windows-preview-apps/
ItsASpider

ItsASpider

macrumors regular
Apr 20, 2021
127
945
Not supporting something as basic as Windows's music controls was a huge pain. Nice to see that it has been fixed for if I ever return to the service.
 
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vertsix

vertsix

macrumors 68000
Aug 12, 2015
1,813
5,681
Texas
Does anyone know if with the Apple Music Windows app can you add music folders to an iTunes library and sync accordingly? I don't stream.
 
A

AddVariety

macrumors newbie
Oct 12, 2018
13
93
Born Again said:
Wow how exciting for the 5 users who use this
Click to expand...
Bro, that's such a lame and outdated statement. I'm a macOS/iOS/watchOS/tvOS/whateverOS user all the way, apart from the monitors and iMacs or Mac Pros I don't think there's a device category that Apple makes that I don't own or have owned in the recent past.

But... I have to use Windows for work. Both for actual work and my own eagerness to keep exploring what else is out there. Just like I own a cheap Android phone as well. And yes, I very often use Apple Music on Windows. It used to be through iTunes, then I started using the web variant as a web app pinned to my start menu, which worked fine and at least had the Windows audio playback integration because it's essentially a website in MS Edge browser. And most recently I started using the preview apps.

I'm 100% sure there are a LOT of users like me out there. The macOS vs. Windows debate is fine, but there are huge groups of people who use both at the same time. Sometimes forced by their employer who doesn't allow MacBooks to be used, but whatever the reason, it's 2023 and the fact that MS Office and Teams is available on macOS and iCloud including KeyChain and Photos integration is available on Windows is just great. It means it's less painful to switch over. I used to have to use Google's services as that was basically the only one that played somewhat nice on all platforms, but nowadays most of them work fine and iCloud Photos integration on Windows is especially great.

Just because you don't use it, doesn't mean the rest of the world is like you.
 
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winxmac

winxmac

macrumors 65816
Sep 1, 2021
1,490
1,716
Wishful thinking that they make an exe or msi version also... I use the LTSC version which does not include the Microsoft Store [Mac App Store counterpart] and also, I rarely install anything from the store, I only install exe or msi on Windows...
 
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Realityck

Realityck

macrumors G4
Nov 9, 2015
11,121
16,837
Silicon Valley, CA
MacRumors said:
Apple has released updates for its Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Devices apps for PC users running Windows 11, bringing what appear to be notable improvements and bug fixes to the preview apps.
Click to expand...
Probably indicative of future WWDC changes with same apps needing improvement also, good to see this occurred.
 
N

neuropsychguy

macrumors 68030
Sep 29, 2008
2,631
6,525
Born Again said:
Wow how exciting for the 5 users who use this
Click to expand...
I use it so I must be one of the 5.

I have a bunch of Apple products (4 Macs in our home, 4 iPhones, 2 iPads, etc.). but a computer running Windows is my main work computer. Apple Music on Windows allows me to use my subscription and not switch to Spotify.
 
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C

CarAnalogy

macrumors 601
Jun 9, 2021
4,864
8,802
Is the TV app on Windows junked up with ads now like the Mac version?

I really wish there was a way to watch my purchased tv shows aside from that awful ad filled junk app.

They make it so difficult to just select from my library, or continue the next episode from my purchases rather than sending it to Hulu or something.

But boy they certainly make sure I see every movie or show they want to advertise to me, even if it’s not on a service I have.

I got an Apple TV and bought shows from Apple specifically for a less junky experience than from Google, yet somehow Apple has made their app worse than YouTube, Hulu, or Netflix.
 
L

littlebobbytables

macrumors newbie
May 4, 2021
27
21
I stopped using Apple Music because of the lack of scrobbling support. I don't want to use a 3rd party client, and it really should just be a log-in to last.fm like Spotify.
 
coffeemilktea

coffeemilktea

macrumors 65816
Nov 25, 2022
1,282
5,695
Too bad my the PC I use for gaming is still stuck on Windows 10, all I've got there is Spotify and the default Windows media player. 😭
 
L

littlebobbytables

macrumors newbie
May 4, 2021
27
21
CarAnalogy said:
Is the TV app on Windows junked up with ads now like the Mac version?

I really wish there was a way to watch my purchased tv shows aside from that awful ad filled junk app.
Click to expand...
If you click the Library tab (to show your purchased media) there aren't any ads. But you knew that already.
1682430833340.png
 
C

Codestud

macrumors regular
Nov 1, 2011
125
137
I have Windows 11 and an Apple Music sub and this app doesn't work for me. When I click anything in the left-hand side menu such as Artists or Playlists, I get a spinning load icon and then nothing appears.
 
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