Pandora Redesigns Website With New UI and Premium Playback Features for Pandora Plus Listeners

[MacRumors]

Pandora today began the rollout of a "completely overhauled" desktop site for its streaming radio service, coming on the heels of its rebranded iOS and Android apps last month. Pandora.com now has a couple of new features including an enhanced user interface and new additions for Pandora Plus listeners, which should begin appearing throughout the day as the rollout continues.

The changes begin with the music player on Pandora's web platform, which is now a fixed bar at the bottom of the screen, ensuring that users will "never lose sight" of the currently playing track. Because of this shift, album artwork is at the center of the screen and provides prompts to artist information like tour dates, lyrics, bios, and more. The flat blue aesthetics of the site also now closely mirror that of the company's mobile app and its logo.

Pandora has also streamlined a few navigation features when users create and organize stations, look at their favorite tracks, and use playback controls. The company said that "the updated features across the platform allow you to easily control your listening experience."

Listeners on Pandora Plus can use the replay button to restart a song from the beginning, or even jump back in the current listening session and find an old track to replay. A skip option will also let them get to the next song quicker, as well. The ad-supported version of Pandora on the web supports these features too, but in a limited capacity. Whenever users on the free tier run out of skips or want to listen to a track again, the company said that they can "watch a video ad to get those extra features for added control" over the service.

Much like the app rebranding in October, the slight shift in Pandora's web platform today is setting up the launch of the company's impending on-demand music listening service, which CEO Tim Westergren has confirmed will arrive "later this year." The service -- which is believed to cost $9.99/month -- will enter the music streaming race as an Apple Music and Spotify rival, with features expected of such a competitor, including on-demand music listening, playlist creation, radio access, and more.

Article Link: Pandora Redesigns Website With New UI and Premium Playback Features for Pandora Plus Listeners

 

[deathnite]

Looks great.

 

[Pismo]

None of it matters because the site still requires Flash.

 

[Juicy Box]

coming on the heels of its rebranded iOS and Android apps last month.

I love Pandora, and I use it everyday for a few hours each day. I started using it after Apple removed iTunes Radio from the Match sub.

But, since the update on the iOS devices, there seems to be some annoying bugs. When my iPhone is connected to my cars' head units, a song starts to play, then the music stops playing in the middle of a song, the same song starts over, only to happen again.

There are work arounds, but still annoying.

Anyone else experiencing this?

 

[naeS1Sean]

Why do you require Flash, Pandora! Why!!!

 

[skinsone]

I love Pandora, and I use it everyday for a few hours each day. I started using it after Apple removed iTunes Radio from the Match sub.

But, since the update on the iOS devices, there seems to be some annoying bugs. When my iPhone is connected to my cars' head units, a song starts to play, then the music stops playing in the middle of a song, the same song starts over, only to happen again.

There are work arounds, but still annoying.

Anyone else experiencing this?

I'm experiencing the same. Have a 2015 Silverado ltz. When I first start it, Bluetooth attempts to connect to Pandora while a song is playing. I've had to close out the app then reopen it. Seems like Pandora wants to loop the last song from the beginning. It's worse when after I have parked the truck and then restart it, Pandora wants permission to reconnect again to my truck. Very frustrating.

 

[danielchow]

None of it matters because the site still requires Flash.

Yup. The final nail in the coffin was when they set up their site to require Flash in order to manage our accounts—such as credit card number. Flash leaks like a sift, and it is a nuisance to try to keep track of its oft security updates. Installing it always feels like placing a welcoming mat with the keys to the house underneath it at the front door

 

[djeeyore25]

I'm still getting the old website on Safari. Grrrr.

 

[rockosmodurnlif]

None of it matters because the site still requires Flash.

I was so excited for this until I read that. Maybe they'll release desktop app when they release their on-demand service.

Flash is definitely a deal breaker for me.

 

[Juicy Box]

Yup. The final nail in the coffin was when they set up their site to require Flash in order to manage our accounts—such as credit card number. Flash leaks like a sift, and it is a nuisance to try to keep track of its oft security updates. Installing it always feels like placing a welcoming mat with the keys to the house underneath it at the front door

The issue appeared after their update. For me, it is messed up on two different iPhones, a 6s Plus and SE, both with iOS 9. Four different head units from three different brands. One of the head units has CarPlay.

The issue is annoying, but I noticed that it temporarily fixes itself sometimes if you skip the song that is in a loop.

I hope it is fixed soon.

 

[skinsone]

The issue appeared after their update. For me, it is messed up on two different iPhones, a 6s Plus and SE, both with iOS 9. Four different head units from three different brands. One of the head units has CarPlay.

The issue is annoying, but I noticed that it temporarily fixes itself sometimes if you skip the song that is in a loop.

I hope it is fixed soon.

I have a 6s with the latest IOS. Everything was fine before the Pandora update. You're right it's annoying. In the middle of a song, Pandora stops, with the message on the screen asking for a connection to my device. This after playing songs for 20 minutes. Ugh ....

 

[Westside guy]

I love Pandora, and I use it everyday for a few hours each day. I started using it after Apple removed iTunes Radio from the Match sub.

Hey, that's exactly what I did! Well, that - and I started buying mp3s from Amazon rather than iTunes (and using Match to turn those into AACs).

When the Match playlists when away, I tried out Spotify, Apple Music, and Pandora - and Pandora just did a better job than the other two when it came to picking music I wanted to hear (and not repeating stuff over and over).

The flash requirement for the web-based version of Pandora is highly annoying, though. I'll have to use Chrome if I want to stream on my computer, I guess, since I don't otherwise have flash installed.

 

[Floris]

Still the same to me: You are not American, so get lost.. The music industry doesn't want you - we do, but they don't.

It's a splash page I've seen for years.

 

[rbwca]

Totally irrelevant - I've been waiting 7 years to regain access to my Pandora account from Canada. They never provide an update on what actions they have taken to obtain licenses from Canadian distributors. Pandora used to be a great service but I no longer need it.

 

[Greenstein]

Website still hasn't been updated for me using Safari.

 

[enu]

None of it matters because the site still requires Flash.

I'm listening to it now with Flash disabled in Chrome (most recent Windows version). It loads with Flash disabled and is currently playing without issue or a prompt to install Flash. I also run uMatrix to block all third party scripts. I only had to allow access to p-cdn.com to get it to work, but kept everything else blocked. I also have uBlock for ad blocking and that isn't causing issues either. Not sure if maybe it loads a different version of the player for me because I'm a paid subscriber?

I really hope that their upcoming on-demand option also works without Flash!

Website still hasn't been updated for me using Safari.

To see the update now, you need to go to settings then click "go to new site" in the bottom left.

 

[RinonaWyder]

I dislike the new layout, as it is no longer a nice, neat little package of compact, intuitive UI. As a paid and avid user, my complaints are:

- The new layout is oversized, flashy, jumbled, clunky, and lacking hierarchy.
- You have to dig for everything, where it was once all in front of you.
- It’s hard to locate the song-progression list, and when you do find it, it splays out to the right, and it doesn't make sense.
- To view your complete list of stations, you have to nav to a separate page, where you then scroll through giant album art and hunt for what used to be in a quickly scannable, tidy list.

Improvements I would MUCH PREFER they focus on:

- Editing the algorithm to introduce the listener to more music that is similar to your suggested artist or song.
- Preventing the app from magically opening on i-devices while idle, playing, and sucking up battery life.
- Continuing to add more artists, bands, and songs.

LASTLY,

I tried several times to post my suggestions on their blog, and they would not approve any of my comments, or respond back to me on why they were not approved. Apparently, only laude and positive affirmations are acceptable. : \

Old interface, I miss youuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.