Seems like a hard problem indeed, but at least Amazon/Alexa have solved it. Alexa works in German and still identifes english artist and song names.
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HomePod Owners With an iTunes Match or Apple Music Subscription Can Access Their iCloud Music Library Using Siri
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Seems like a hard problem indeed, but at least Amazon/Alexa have solved it. Alexa works in German and still identifes english artist and song names.
Agreed, although Apple will probably give out more information about the device when it is actually shipping. It is a new device/platform after all, and there is still probably quite some last minute changes taking place.
So, I have the Apple Music family plan. It sounds like Apple Music will do the same thing iTunes Match does? Allowing you to upload music not in Apple Music? If you have Apple Music, there is no reason to pay for iTunes Match?
Even if it doesn't, the only reason to have Match for me is for music I have on my computer that isn't in Apple Music. I don't know there is much of that and worth paying $25/year for.
Even if it doesn't, the only reason to have Match for me is for music I have on my computer that isn't in Apple Music. I don't know there is much of that and worth paying $25/year for.
It's the way marketing works. Apple is going to choose the features they think are the best selling points for the primary marketing, and other features/functions are going to be left to Q&A and the general documentation for the product. That isn't being "cagey", it's prioritizing what gets the emphasis in terms of selling the product. Think of it like a sports team: the starters get the glitzy introduction and the bench doesn't. Like I said, I'm sure Apple already has a pretty good idea as to whether or not iTunes Match represents enough users to make the cut as a "starter" for the marketing.
I used to have iTunes Match, but cancelled it when I subscribed to Apple Music. Other than the downloads having DRM (which I understand may not be the case any more anyway) there was nothing that I could see which I lost from cancelling iTunes Match.
All of my owned music which isn't available in the iTunes store (of which there is a reasonable amount) is still uploaded to my Apple Music library, just as it was with iTunes Match. The only problem is the occasional track which is incorrectly matched to a different version (happens mainly with live tracks). This was a problem with iTunes Match as well, so no difference there.
As far as I can tell, there is no need to have iTunes Match if you have Apple Music.
They don't have to feature it in the advertisements and publicity but why is it such a problem for them to list it on the product specs page. Perhaps they should add a note to the page telling us to 'Check your favourite blogger or rumour site for full specifications'.
Think of it this way: CD music catalog > iTunes music catalog and the iTunes music catalog > Apple Music catalog. It's possible that all of the music you have from ripped CDs is covered by Apple Music, but there's no guarantee due to it being a smaller catalog than both iTunes and CD. Likewise, iTunes Match will cover some additional bases for catalog vs. Apple Music, but it's still smaller than the CD catalog.
See, you're focusing on iTunes Match as if it is the only question surrounding the HomePod. You know that not the case. There is no scenario where your explanation makes sense. What does it do, what does it work with. Those are fundamental questions that a consumer would expect answers to regarding any product they buy. Apple isn't prioritizing what gets emphasis. We know that because the overwhelming emphasis seems to be unanswered questions. Apple's marketing has traditionally, always been top notch. I would think they would find it insulting to suggest their strategy is to introduce uncertainty about what their product does. It makes no sense at all.
But anything you have in iTunes which isn't available in the store is uploaded, so the size of those catalogs is irrelevant.
If you have Apple Music then your entire library will be available to you with Apple Music, unless it is ineligible (too long, wrong format etc).
While I probably won’t get a HomePod, I do want to point out that most people have their phone on them 99% of the time. I don’t see why Airplay would be any more burdensome than Bluetooth streaming. Open spotify on your phone, click airplay and voila.
That's weird. It's unlike Apple to make me pay twice for something I already have? (actually that statement sounds hilarious when I read it back...)
I think I'm going to cancel the damn thing. They should rebate me as well. Isn't it illegal or something to sell someone the same product twice? (when you know they dont need it).
That's under system requirements because it is a requirement for some of the marketed music features.
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Apple Music isn't going to match anything that isn't in the Apple Music catalog, and the Apple Music catalog is smaller than the iTunes Match catalog. Also, iTunes Match files that are on your device when you cancel your Match subscription will stay there. Apple Music matches will disappear from your devices when you cancel your Apple Music subscription.
1. HomePod can't pair with Android phones.
2. HomePod doesn't recognize different people's voices.
3. HomePod can't check your calendar.
4. HomePod doesn't work well with other streaming services besides Apple Music. (Spotify, Tindal, and Pandora users won't be able to use Siri.)
5. HomePod can't hook up to another device using an auxiliary cord.
6. HomePod can't make calls on its own. (In order to make a call using HomePod, you have to dial the person's number on your iPhone, then manually select that the call play through HomePod.)
7. The HomePod version of Siri isn't prepared to answer random questions like Alexa and Google Assistant.
2. HomePod doesn't recognize different people's voices.
3. HomePod can't check your calendar.
4. HomePod doesn't work well with other streaming services besides Apple Music. (Spotify, Tindal, and Pandora users won't be able to use Siri.)
5. HomePod can't hook up to another device using an auxiliary cord.
6. HomePod can't make calls on its own. (In order to make a call using HomePod, you have to dial the person's number on your iPhone, then manually select that the call play through HomePod.)
7. The HomePod version of Siri isn't prepared to answer random questions like Alexa and Google Assistant.
Why not list purchased iTunes music, iClould Music Library and iTunes Match then as they also give the similar functionality for your own music.
What is your problem with telling potential customers what the product can actually do?
You're not paying for the same service. iTunes Match provides you with DRM free versions of the songs that are matched from your library. You get to keep those files that are on your device when you cancel your subscription. Anything matched through Apple Music is only going to be available to you with an active subscription.
I'm talking about your library being available on Apple Music. In that case it is irrelevant whether the track can be matched as it is just uploaded if not. Your music is still available.
Having said that, do we know for sure that it won't match a track that is in the iTunes catalog but not Apple Music? It's not something I've ever tested, and whilst the Apple Music library is certainly smaller than the iTunes one, I can't think of a single such track I own to test it.
Your second point may well be true, but isn't really relevant to the point I was making. I would always recommend that people keep a local backup of their library anyway.
It's all a mess for me. I cant remember what songs I have that would be drm free or apple music now. Since Apple music covers so much of my library anyway. I'm wondering if it's all worth it? What would happen if I stopped itunes match? If I go to play a track will it automatically figure out its on apple music and play it?
I'm almost too scared to cancel it if it ends up destroying everything.
I don't have a problem with that, but the pages you're referring to have always functioned as an overview for products. They're not intended as the full documentation for any of Apple's products.
Uploading and matching aren't the same functionality. Due to licensing, there's no doubt that Apple Music would only match tracks (i.e., provide you with a higher bit rate version of the same song) that are within it's licensed catalog. That doesn't mean that songs not matched couldn't be uploaded to iCloud. However, like I said, an Apple Music match is not DRM free and will disappear from your device if you cancel your subscription.
Regarding DRM on Apple Music downloaded tracks, I just did an experiment.
I took a song which I ripped from CD and has been matched in my Apple Music library, and made sure that the file on my computer was downloaded from Apple Music, rather than the original rip. I then copied it from my iTunes library to another directory in finder and tried to play it using quicktime. It plays fine.
As far as I can tell, this is a DRM free track which I would be able to keep and play if I cancelled Apple Music, just the same as is the case with iTunes Match. That would seem to be in line with the reports that Apple Music matched tracks no longer have DRM.
Unless I'm missing something.
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We are talking about two totally different things here.
You are talking about things like providing higher bitrate versions of songs you own for example. You may well be right about that being a benefit of iTunes Match over Apple Music, although I question the relevance as we are discussing a situation where people have previously had iTunes Match anyway, so could have gone through that process beforehand.
I would however agree totally that if someone is reliant on iTunes Match for things like that then they should keep their subscription to iTunes Match up, if only as a safeguard.
However, I am just talking about the ability to have your library available in the cloud (whether matched or uploaded). In that case then there is no reason that I can see for keeping both services. From what I can tell, the people who have been asking the question on this thread seem to be concerned about the availability of the library, although I may have misunderstood.
I'm not sure at all about the DRM issue though. My Apple Music matched files look DRM free to me.
I took a song which I ripped from CD and has been matched in my Apple Music library, and made sure that the file on my computer was downloaded from Apple Music, rather than the original rip. I then copied it from my iTunes library to another directory in finder and tried to play it using quicktime. It plays fine.
As far as I can tell, this is a DRM free track which I would be able to keep and play if I cancelled Apple Music, just the same as is the case with iTunes Match. That would seem to be in line with the reports that Apple Music matched tracks no longer have DRM.
Unless I'm missing something.
[doublepost=1517241986][/doublepost]
We are talking about two totally different things here.
You are talking about things like providing higher bitrate versions of songs you own for example. You may well be right about that being a benefit of iTunes Match over Apple Music, although I question the relevance as we are discussing a situation where people have previously had iTunes Match anyway, so could have gone through that process beforehand.
I would however agree totally that if someone is reliant on iTunes Match for things like that then they should keep their subscription to iTunes Match up, if only as a safeguard.
However, I am just talking about the ability to have your library available in the cloud (whether matched or uploaded). In that case then there is no reason that I can see for keeping both services. From what I can tell, the people who have been asking the question on this thread seem to be concerned about the availability of the library, although I may have misunderstood.
I'm not sure at all about the DRM issue though. My Apple Music matched files look DRM free to me.