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iOS 18.4 Adds New Ambient Music Feature

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Apr 12, 2001
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In iOS 18.4, there's a new Ambient Music option that can be added to Control Center. There are four different sound categories, including Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing.

ios-18-4-ambient-music.jpg

Each category can be added to Control Center separately, and tapping one plays a random selection of sounds or music from that particular category.

You can't choose what's playing from Control Center, but if you play a category and then tap into the Dynamic Island at the top or access the Now Playing widget, you can skip songs and see the name of what's currently playing.

There is no dedicated app for the feature, but Apple has a hidden app that provides more control through skipping songs.

Ambient Music is available on both the iPhone and the iPad in iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4.

Article Link: iOS 18.4 Adds New Ambient Music Feature
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/02/21/ios-18-4-ambient-music/
borninla said:
I just got a song on the Productivity ambient sounds that is searchable in Apple Music. Not sure why they can't just integrate it in that app. Maybe not all songs are licensed?
Click to expand...
Of course not… licensing songs or ambient sound cost money. Apple doesn’t give away for free.
 
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I first thought this could be audio generation on the fly - dynamic - and could be based on time of day, location, schedule, whats in your library already, etc. But if it's just quick links to content in the Apple Music data locker, it's still mildly cool. But generative would be amazing.
 
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i’ve said this before but maybe apple might see it one day…

we need a real graphic equalizer, not presets

we need the eq to save settings independently for each bluetooth or output device.

we need swipe controls for skipping

(would also be nice to have a next track button in maps)

these are pretty basic things that others have been doing for decades at this point
 
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turbineseaplane said:
A bit more information is at 9to5mac, where it says "powered by Apple Music", but no mention if a subscription is required or not
Click to expand...
Probably.
It seems obviously designed to prop up their streaming service.
Quoting from your linked 9to5mac article:

“These controls can be added to Control Center, assigned to your iPhone’s Action Button, or go on the Lock Screen as a replacement for the flashlight or camera buttons.

Each control is set to trigger a specific Apple Music playlist”

So did I understand that right?
  • Specific operating system controls (that no other app or streaming provider has access to)
  • that trigger specific playlists
  • provided by a specific music streaming service
  • that “happens” to be provided by that operating system developer.
👉 I sure hope that the European Union swiftly intervenes if interoperability (as required by its Digital Markets Act) of this operating system control/feature is denied to other providers of music streaming services.
 
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