Spotify and BBC player radio

[funinhounslow]

Having never shown any interest in Apple watch I'm now tempted by the series 4.

I listen to Spotify and BBC iplayer radio a lot and (unless I'm missing something obvious) neither of these seem to offer Apple watch apps.

Does this mean that if I'm listening to either of these services using my iPhone, I'm unable to control them (skip tracks, change station or playlist) using the watch? This seems like quite a major omission.

Apologies if I'm missing something but I've only just started researching the watch

Thanks in advance

 

[matrix07]

You can control them just like Apple Music user can control them. No difference there. You can play/pause, skip track backward/forward, volume control.

..but not changing playlist. That you will need an app.

Mail to Spotify and BBC and ask them why they are lazy.

 

[funinhounslow]

You can control them just like Apple Music user can control them. No difference there. You can play/pause, skip track backward/forward, volume control.

..but not changing playlist. That you will need an app.

Mail to Spotify and BBC and ask them why they are lazy.

Thanks for your reply.

So regarding Spotify, iPlayer playback the watch doesn't offer any functionality over ear pods? I was hoping I'd be able to switch playlists, stations or catchup without digging my phone out (tricky while walking two Jack Russells!)

I'll reconsider

Thanks again.

 

[ChazGW7]

Mail to Spotify and BBC and ask them why they are lazy.

It is not Spotify or BBC's fault there are no audio apps from them on the Apple Watch, it is Apple's.

Apple has limited other streaming platforms from joining the Watch platform through limiting the API functionality to any audio apps that isn't Apple Music.

This however is changing with the release of WatchOS5 in a couple days. With Apple finally (after 3 years!) opening the API we should see more and more audio apps coming across to the Apple Watch. Fingers crossed OP.

 

[matrix07]

This however is changing with the release of WatchOS5 in a couple days. With Apple finally (after 3 years!) opening the API we should see more and more audio apps coming across to the Apple Watch. Fingers crossed OP.

So no excuse for Spotify and iPlayer then.

 

[Paulejonesy]

Radioplayer has a good companion Watch app that lets you change stations and play favourites from catchup.

Moving to Apple Music will give you what you can't get from Spotify, and an app called Babel for your phone will transfer your Spotify playlists to Apple Music. Keeping a free Spotify account will let you subscribe to new Spotify playlists, and transfer them to Apple music.