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Apr 12, 2001
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Google today announced an update to its Google Play Music service, expanding the amount of available storage. Users can now store 50,000 songs in the cloud at no cost, up from 20,000.

Content stored within Google Play Music can be played on computers via Google's Music Manager app, on iPhones and iPads via the recently redesigned Google Play Musichttp://appshopper.com/music/google-play-music app, through a Chrome extension, through Chromecast, and on Android devices.

googleplaymusic-800x471.jpg
Google's Google Play Music storage does not require a subscription to Google Play Music to use it, making it free for all users.

Those interested in using Google's free music storage can access it by going to the Google Play Music website, skipping the subscription offer, and going straight to the music interface where there's an option to upload music. Content can be uploaded directly from an iTunes library or from any folder.

Google, of course, hopes users will opt-in to its $9.99 per month subscription music service when signing up for free music storage, which offers on-demand access to millions of songs much like Spotify or Beats Music.

With the boost in free storage space, Google Play Music gains a bit of a competitive advantage over Apple's iTunes Match service. iTunes Match costs $25 per year and allows users to store up to 25,000 songs in iCloud, but it gives users the benefit of accessing 256-Kbps AAC DRM-free quality music for any uploaded song that's also available in the iTunes Store.

For those in the Apple ecosystem, it's arguably easier to access songs on any device through iCloud using iTunes Match, but Google Play Music is a viable alternative as the company now has apps for the Mac, iPhone, and iPad available.

Article Link: Google Expands Free Google Play Music Storage to 50,000 Songs
 
I use both Match and Google play. I'm not losing my music any time soon. Google play is nice, I had some problems with duplicate uploads at first, but they seem to have worked it out for the most part.
 
iTunes Match costs $25 per year and allows users to store up to 25,000 songs in iCloud, but it gives users the benefit of accessing 256-Kbps AAC DRM-free quality music for any uploaded song that's also available in the iTunes Store.

Are you claiming that this is not a feature of Google Music also?
 
Meanwhile, tim cook still thinks it's a great "value" to charge $25 a year to access your music. Heck, even Amazon offers free music storage. Get with the time apple, and fire cook already!
 
Despite early rumors of an iPhone 6 that didn't appear, followed Apple's continued procrastination and (at that time) refusal to build a phone with a modern sized display, I parked my iP5 switching to a Nexus 5.

Immediately I registered for Google Play Music. Now one year later I've removed my iTunes music, put it all in Google with copies on my server, it's nice to be completely reliable and wireless. iTunes was good in its day, but that was years ago in Apple's wired USB cable period.
 
So, one uses data when they listen to their songs stored on Google Play? That will be a deal breaker for me since I am on prepaid plan with limited data.
 
So, one uses data when they listen to their songs stored on Google Play? That will be a deal breaker for me since I am on prepaid plan with limited data.

You can choose to download albums for offline listening so you can do that over wifi to save using up data when streaming.
 
I've used both for a couple years (locked in Google All Access at $7.99) and Match, which is limited to iOS/Mac. About half my collection is with Google, and all in Match. I prefer Google's interface as Match can be annoying...less so than general iCloud services, but annoying nonetheless. In terms of the cloud, Google feels to me years beyond Apple. So disappointed there isn't a simple iCloud Storage app like Google's Drive, which has been amazing for the past two years.
 
I was going to do it, but it requires a credit card for verification. Plus I have to deal with the apps. Eh, I don't feel like it.
 
The reason I stopped paying for iTunes Match (and it's obvious non progression of the service) just got better.
 
I've used both for a couple years (locked in Google All Access at $7.99) and Match, which is limited to iOS/Mac. About half my collection is with Google, and all in Match. I prefer Google's interface as Match can be annoying...less so than general iCloud services, but annoying nonetheless. In terms of the cloud, Google feels to me years beyond Apple. So disappointed there isn't a simple iCloud Storage app like Google's Drive, which has been amazing for the past two years.

ICloud Drive is Apple's cloud storage service, though if would be nice if they would lower the prices and offer unlimited storage space for photos and videos
 
I started using Google Music when they first rolled it out and it simply couldn't keep up while away from wifi (long load times, regularly failed to stream at all). iTunes Match had no issue. With this new app it streams just as quickly and the UI is nice. Personally I like both. iTunes is easier if you buy from the iTS and is integrated into iOS's media picker.
 
I was going to do it, but it requires a credit card for verification. Plus I have to deal with the apps. Eh, I don't feel like it.

This is why I won't do any of the free Google Music songs or albums. I don't want to give my CC to Google. Rats

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Does tunes require a credit card?

I haven't given itunes my card. I stick with gift cards.
 
I have been a mostly-happy iTunes Match user since day one, despite bugs now and again creeping in, but the one thing I wish we would see is an increase in songs matched. I get the 25k is a lot, and way more than most people need, but for those that do have more music, it's a colossally annoying limitation. Hopefully this motivates Apple to make a change.
 
I have been a mostly-happy iTunes Match user since day one, despite bugs now and again creeping in, but the one thing I wish we would see is an increase in songs matched. I get the 25k is a lot, and way more than most people need, but for those that do have more music, it's a colossally annoying limitation. Hopefully this motivates Apple to make a change.

I wonder if the limitation was imposed in Apple by the record companies. If so, too bad that it can't be increased in increments of 5$/10k additional songs.
 
Considering that Apple charges for iTunes match, it should be light years ahead of Google Music. While it does sync better with iOS and OS X, the fact that Google Music is a comparable alternative but is also free isn't a good look for Apple.
 
I've subscribed to iTunes Match since it was introduced, and havent run into the storage limit, but Google giving away double the storage that I'm paying for from Apple is starting to make it difficult to justify the renewal when it arrives.
 
ICloud Drive is Apple's cloud storage service, though if would be nice if they would lower the prices and offer unlimited storage space for photos and videos

You do realize that Google can offer it for "free" because they're mining your music preferences and monitizing that data by selling your profile to companies who want to manipulate your perception of their products so that you'll buy them more readily?

Thanks, but no thanks. I'd rather part with $25 bucks.
 
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