I use Spotify pretty much exclusively for music as opposed to the Music app on my iPhone. I'm really hoping that Spotify will have an app ready for the launch but even more importantly that it can store songs locally on the watch for use when running. Can 3rd party apps store music or are they limited to a tiny amount of space?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apps Apple Watch and Spotify
- Thread starter duckduckgoose
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I read in a review that the watch can control basic transport controls for Spotify. I don't believe Spotify will have an app by launch. It's highly unlikely you would be able to store songs from app either. Not 100%, but that's what I gathered the last time I read into it a couple weeks ago
Although a Spotify app would be ideal, I have a guess by using the Glances (swipe up from bottom) function that one could control at least the basic functionality of playing music from Spotify without a specific app. Of course I'm making the assumption that the Glances function from the watch for controlling music would be similar to using Control Center on the iPhone.
I'd expect a Watch SDK announced at WWDC in June. Then this fall or so, in time for holiday shopping, the watch hopefully gets an update that lets it run native code. For the moment, much like the first iPhone, I suspect Apple is being very cautious in what the watch can do, and likely still tweaking stuff behind the scenes. For now, any non-Apple watch app is merely a Bluetooth-fed "projection" of screens basically.
Spotify also uses an audio format that iOS doesn't support hardware decoding for, a while back with older devices it was really noticeable that your iPhone would run down quicker playing Spotify than just iTunes music.
If that carries over to the watch, don't expect to get much play time.
If that carries over to the watch, don't expect to get much play time.
There is nothing stopping Spotify create a remote app for the Watch.
The phone would play music and do all the heavy lifting, but you could select Playlists/albums/songs from the watch.
That would be good enough for me.
The phone would play music and do all the heavy lifting, but you could select Playlists/albums/songs from the watch.
That would be good enough for me.
Also waiting to see what spotify comes up with. As a premium subscriber i would hope that the watch can at least control the music if i have the app opened on my phone.
I dont have too many songs downloaded to my phone.
Spotify ftw
I dont have too many songs downloaded to my phone.
Spotify ftw
2 gigs is plenty if you're putting your favourite playlists on there and changing it every month. It won't fit your entire library though, just your favourites. Remember, the watch isn't replacing your phone which has your entire library, just enhancing it.
I'm not sure I will cancel Spotify but I really want to. Its a fantastic service that I have used since about launch and use daily for several hours. I really want to cancel though because I want Beats to be what Spotify is plus mix in my iTunes music and become a native app/service. I prefer to have something native than 3rd party but only when its at least as good.
I sure would like to see spotify on the watch also. However, it took them forever to update the app for the 6 and 6 plus. I think it wasn't updated until February. Hopefully they just have basic controls around the watch release date.
Judging by how long it took Spotify to create an iPad app, we might be waiting a while.
and update the app for the iphone 6/6+....
If the album art and music controls show on the iPhone lock screen then they will show on the watch's Music app. Spotify supports this.
If the album art and music controls show on the iPhone lock screen then they will show on the watch's Music app. Spotify supports this.
Oh that's great news!
Thank you.
Yeah the controls work in the Music glance - play/pause/back/forward and volume but not in the music app. Looks like we'll have to wait for Spotify to get an official App for anything else!
There's a third-party app available on the Watch app store called "Joy" that acts as a front-end for Spotify and uses your spotify credentials. It seems to be only voice-activated, at least on the Watch side (it also installs a phone app). It's almost nonfunctional for now; it either doesn't respond to voice requests, or plays the wrong song. e.g., I say "play enjoy the silence" and it plays me a random Depeche Mode song.
Good to know about the Glances view--wouldn't have noticed that without this thread.
Good to know about the Glances view--wouldn't have noticed that without this thread.
If the album art and music controls show on the iPhone lock screen then they will show on the watch's Music app. Spotify supports this.
Handy to know! Thanks - that's reassuring as Spotify is my main music app on my iPhone (premium user).
Played Spotify through my iPhone last night and used the Remote on the Watch to pause/play songs for the first time.
Great!
Great!