iOS 8.4 Removes Home Sharing for Music

[Mr. Buzzcut]

Match is still DRM-free.

The "Music in the Cloud" library, which is part of Apple Music - as opposed to the still intact iTunes Match - is DRM'd.

So basically, iTunes Match in a subpar form is "included" in Apple Music.
Funny that they watered it down to older, frowned upon standards in a service that's more expensive than the service it integrates.
Guess that's why they didn't just flat out say: "Music includes iTunes Match as well for no additional cost" or something along those lines.
It'd be a lie.

Glassed Silver:mac

Not nice. Do you have a link to where this is explained in release notes, review, article, whatever? I want to understand if it's just the matched music, stuff not matched but uploaded, and any other details. I subscribe to Match and I'm in the process of updating my PCs to 10.4. Maybe I'll rethink that. Thanks.

Edit...Found this excellent post:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/itunes-match-is-not-dead-do-not-ditch-it-yet-read-this.1896651/

 

[FuNGi]

Lol, senile much. Actually, family. Thanks.

Your post referred to everyone not your family – which is entirely irrelevant to my point that family sharing from your mac to all the iPhones in your house is mostly useful for individuals using low storage iPhones with headphones and is hardly the big deal everyone here is making it out to be. Plus it's likely coming back soon!

 

[i4m]

Plex is free.

From Wiki: "Plex began as a freeware hobby project but since 2010 has evolved into a commercial software business that is owned and developed by a single for-profit startup company, Plex, Inc"

 

[i4m]

Plex Media Server is free, though you can pay for enhanced features -- streaming your iTunes library on your home network is part of the free tier.

for now... (if Apple can change remove features Plex can too)

 

[i4m]

Plex is free

Plex began as a freeware hobby project but since 2010 has evolved into a commercial software business that is owned and developed by a single for-profit startup company, Plex, Inc

 

[i4m]

Home Sharing was terrible and I'm glad Apple got rid of it.

Plex is more stable, offers more features (such as TV shows and movie libraries), and is simpler to use. I use it for all my shows and movies.

I hope Apple would ban the Plex app, so that you can begin to sympathize with some of the folks here.

 

[sracer]

for now... (if Apple can change remove features Plex can too)

Technically you are correct. However Plex is not Apple. Plex cannot afford to alienate a portion of the customer base. Apple is so large that they can upset a fair amount of "niche" customers and not feel the affects.

I hope Apple would ban the Plex app, so that you can begin to sympathize with some of the folks here.

That makes no sense. Are you being held hostage to Apple's solution? If Apple's solution doesn't meet your needs, express your concern (for whatever good that'll do with a company the size of Apple) and if they don't respond, use a competitor's product.

 

[malexandria]

Don't worry, Video Sharing to be removed when Apple gets around to launching their own Netflix like competitor at sometime in the future,

I know you are probably joking, but I'm scared you are right. Considering all their other moves recently. I need to start weening myself off Apple. At first I was scared that they already removed it because I spent the last year digitizing my movie library and made sure everything was iTunes compatible so I can stream it onto Apple TV. I hate Plex, but if Apple does remove HomeSharing for Videos it will completely "screw" me. And I'm sure they will do it once they release a new AppleTV.

 

[POSTguy]

Just wanted to ad my two cents for a work around to this problem.

I researched PLEX but after seeing that they where hacked very recently it made me a little hesitant. I searched the MAS and iOS app store for media servers. Then it occurred to me that I had been using the iOS app File Browser to access videos on my Corsair Voyager. My kids have been using this for a while now on their 16GB iPads and iPhones. All the movies in one place with no sinking devices to computers. Yeah! Turns out that the app can scan all computers on your network. With minimal sharing setup on your serving computer you can access music/video files from your iOS device. You can setup bookmarks for folders in the iOS app to quickly access the music/videos on the server so you don't have to keep navigating to them. It isn't a pretty solution but it works!

All you who don't understand why anyone would want to use Home Sharing for their digital library to their iOS devices let me explain my use. I have several kids and it is much cheaper to repurpose an old iOS device for them rather then go buy another one that is only a couple years old. So you rip a CD/Audio Book/Movie once put it on the server and let them all access the files via streaming. No trying to remember which iOS devices sincs with which computer and then having to remove this file to make room for that file. This has been such a head ache saver. Why? WHY? Apple would you remove this???? Please bring it back!

One other problem with all the time streaming is for those who live in rural areas. I know first hand because I was on a farm for the last year where there was no cell service and only internet when near the router. Also, data was metered to ad insult to injury. Many people just don't have good internet service. Yes it's really true!

 

[Skoal]

Your post referred to everyone not your family – which is entirely irrelevant to my point that family sharing from your mac to all the iPhones in your house is mostly useful for individuals using low storage iPhones with headphones and is hardly the big deal everyone here is making it out to be. Plus it's likely coming back soon!

Agreed!

All this talk of greedy Apple taking away features. Specifically home sharing despite the fact that home sharing came AFTER iTunes. Apple added this feature to help people SHARE music. They could've easily stuck with the status quo and denied users that ability forcing everyone to purchase separately. So just chill folks. Home sharing will return even if it were to be in some other form.

 

[Smeaton1724]

Removing a feature that has been championed as great for sharing music across the Apple device ecosystem for years, and not mentioning it during the Keynote, sneaky at best.

By all means, remove it, but tell people explicitly, anything else then it seems like a fraud.

(I understand why it was not mentioned the feature was being removed - bad publicity, but at the end of the day, tough, sometimes removing features DESERVES it!)

 

[sracer]

Just wanted to ad my two cents for a work around to this problem.

I researched PLEX but after seeing that they where hacked very recently it made me a little hesitant. I searched the MAS and iOS app store for media servers.

Did you know that you can use PLEX standalone and not use their servers?

 

[Arran]

So just chill folks. Home sharing will return even if it were to be in some other form.

You've posted that a couple of times now. Got a source for your claim? Because if you haven't, it just sounds patronizing.

Personally, I prefer the, "kick up a stink as soon as you're wronged", approach. Make your feelings immediately clear and don't let the other side weasel out with the old, "well, nobody said anything at the time", defense. If you wait, it's too late.

I've already complained directly to Apple here: https://www.apple.com/feedback/itunesapp.html Suggest others do the same.

 

[tys]

So...I frequently stream music from my iPhone (either my own music library or Pandora and similar apps) to my stereo system over WiFi using an Airport Express. Is that "Home Sharing"?
I wont update to 8.4 if it will break it.

 

[phairphan]

I don't immediately recall a previous thread where there was so much confusion and misunderstanding about the function and use of software features in Apple products [Home Sharing (from computer vs iDevice) vs Family Sharing vs Remote vs Airplay vs Match]. Underscoring the confusion is that our community here is likely much more knowledgeable about Apple's software than a typical user. Simply reinforces my sense that Apple has done a poor job in the past few years of marketing, explaining, and making user-friendly some of their software--particularly their media software. If I was responsible for user experience on iTunes or Music on iOS, I would be shaking my head in shame after reading this thread. And keeping a watch behind me to make sure Tim wasn't coming to separate my shaking head from the rest of my body.

 

[Arran]

So...I frequently stream music from my iPhone (either my own music library or Pandora and similar apps) to my stereo system over WiFi using an Airport Express. Is that "Home Sharing"?
I wont update to 8.4 if it will break it.

No. You're good. You're talking about AirPlay which involves pushing music from your iPhone out to a remote destination.

What we're fulminating over in this thread is pulling music into your phone from a remote library. Maybe you'll get to join us complain about AirPlay's demise in the next release of iTunes? (Hopefully not)

 

[Arran]

I don't immediately recall a previous thread where there was so much confusion and misunderstanding about the function and use of software features in Apple products [Home Sharing (from computer vs iDevice) vs Family Sharing vs Remote vs Airplay vs Match]. Underscoring the confusion is that our community here is likely much more knowledgeable about Apple's software than a typical user. Simply reinforces my sense that Apple has done a poor job in the past few years of marketing, explaining, and making user-friendly some of their software--particularly their media software. If I was responsible for user experience on iTunes or Music on iOS, I would be shaking my head after reading this thread. And keeping a watch behind me to make sure Tim wasn't coming to separate my shaking head from the rest of my body.

Agree entirely. I think the problem is that Apple keeps trying different things hoping to see what'll catch on (or more recently, earn recurring subscription income).

Every time their "latest-and-greatest-idea" doesn't pan out, they try something new, but remnants of the old remain in place to support customers who, literally, bought into the idea. Home sharing, by comparison, was a freebie, so they're probably hoping they can just bury it quietly?

 

[POSTguy]

I don't immediately recall a previous thread where there was so much confusion and misunderstanding about the function and use of software features in Apple products [Home Sharing (from computer vs iDevice) vs Family Sharing vs Remote vs Airplay vs Match]. Underscoring the confusion is that our community here is likely much more knowledgeable about Apple's software than a typical user. Simply reinforces my sense that Apple has done a poor job in the past few years of marketing, explaining, and making user-friendly some of their software--particularly their media software.

This!

Remember the good old days when you could go to Apple's website to find videos on how to use hardware and software? I can't tell you how many times I get called for tech support from my family since I've gotten them all into apple products. I wish I could just tell them to go to Apple's website and watch the video.

 

[FuNGi]

I agree there is much confusion here. Please correct where I'm wrong in my interpretations below:
Home Sharing: What everyone is in a tizzy about here; being able to see, play, and transfer files from up to 5 machines you've enabled on your home network; still works on macs but not on iPhones.
Family Sharing: sharing your iTunes account purchases with your family members.
Remote: An app for controlling the music playing from your mac connected speakers; a viable solution to loss of home sharing for those with speaker systems; often doesn't work.
Airplay: Being able to "sling" your music or shows through an Apple router or TV to a connected smart TV or speakers plugged into your Apple router; Airplay enabled speakers also available.
Match: Paying Apple a yearly fee to upload all your music and then later download to other devices; also a viable solution to loss of home sharing.

I agree with phairphan that Apple has not explained these well to everyone but they don't really need to either. Most people use what they realize they have a need for or what they bother researching. Not everyone needs to use all of these functions. Apple has created different solutions to different problems. For instance, I use Home Sharing to move music from one laptop to another and either Remote on my iPhone or Airplay from any device, to control music on my speakers. I don't home share on my phone, family share at al, or pay for match, nor will I be paying for iTunes radio or any other such things.

 

[kalsta]

Perhaps someone has already said this, but I'll bet it has something to do with the streaming licensing. The new Music app makes it look like your music collection and the entire Apple Music catalogue are one and the same. They don't want people paying for just one Apple Music subscription and then streaming it to everyone else for free. That's understandable.

But yes, it's absolutely poor form to stop us sharing our own music via Home Sharing after promoting that and getting us all used to the ease of sharing this way (much easier than sharing via iTunes syncs). They need to come up with a better solution, rather than just crippling such a useful feature.

 

[kalsta]

I agree there is much confusion here. Please correct where I'm wrong in my interpretations below:
Home Sharing: What everyone is in a tizzy about here; being able to see, play, and transfer files from up to 5 machines you've enabled on your home network; still works on macs but not on iPhones.
Family Sharing: sharing your iTunes account purchases with your family members.

You missed one! See below…

Agree entirely. I think the problem is that Apple keeps trying different things hoping to see what'll catch on (or more recently, earn recurring subscription income).

Every time their "latest-and-greatest-idea" doesn't pan out, they try something new, but remnants of the old remain in place to support customers who, literally, bought into the idea. Home sharing, by comparison, was a freebie, so they're probably hoping they can just bury it quietly?

Right. Do you remember, there was already music sharing via iTunes before Home Sharing came out? So then there were two options for sharing your music (before Family Sharing confused things even more!), and it's not at all obvious by looking at the iTunes sharing preferences that they're two totally different things. (See http://www.imore.com/itunes-9-shared-libraries-home-sharing)

 

[AlecZ]

If I understand correctly, it's just a sucky/limited version of the regular iTunes library sharing that goes over LAN, and it's also that stupid thing I need to sign into to use the Remote app with my Apple TV instead of going over LAN. Beats me why it's both of these things AND why it requires an Apple ID to log into AND why you're limited to 5 devices on it. I hope they kill it. It seems to achieve nothing other than being a downright worse version of features that already existed.

I want regular iTunes library sharing with iOS already like how the Macs have it. Most overly-delayed feature ever.

 

[baruch]

The antitrust suit should be filed any minute. In fact Apple has already lost over a similar issue with the early iPod. They cannot limit your access to your own files on the device. This is the kind of thing that makes me not upgrade. Fk Apple Music.

 

[Jeff Chen]

This was the very first thing I started to look for in the new Apple Music app, as soon as the update was finished. I was using Home Sharing everyday, until Apple removed it for me without even bothering to mention.

Loyalty is mutual, and it only takes so much until one feel disgusted and leave. You've crossed a line, Apple.

 

[Lankyman]

I like my macs, but Apple's greed and lack of innovation made me switch to an android phone a year ago....I've never looked back. not a single regret.

Me too - I'm slowly divesting myself of a reliance on Apple. It may suit the kids as they know no better but for a free thinking adult - sorry Apple, simply a bridge too far. I'm also finding Android a strangely liberating experience.