Spotify May Be Allowed to Stream Directly on HomePod and Set as Default Music App in iOS 14

[The_Joker13]

homebridge or home assistant will make nearly all of those devices work with Siri if you have the time and patience, fwiw.

Thanks for the heads up, I’ve only just recently dipped my toes in the smart home pool so it’s not a big deal to make the switch. I’ll definitely look into those options.

 

[MauiPa]

don't hold your breath, that might require Spotify to program an app or something. They will just whine about it and not actually do anything. aka, not being smart enough to have the Spotify application on Mac OS address stereo pairs.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

I have a cortana speaker, which used to be really nice, but the more that Microsoft neuters Cortana, the worse it gets. But it has excellent spotify integration. If Apple opens up the HomePod, that might be enough for me to get one.

 

[oneMadRssn]

I just don’t see the allure of Spotify—they all have the same songs.

- The family plan on Spotify is less restrictive because it doesn't require all members to use the same App Store credit card. My brother and I can be on the same Spotify family plan without me having to necessarily pay for all his App Store purchases.
- Speaker integration is better. Spotify Connect is built-in to far more speakers and AV receivers than AirPlay, and generally Spotify Connect works better in my opinion for a number of technical reasons.
- Subjective of course, but the breadth and variety and quality of playlists on Spotify is better.
- Both apps have bad UIs in my opinion, but Spotify's UI is slightly less bad. On Spotify it's pretty easy to browse albums and to tell apart the different variants of the same album.

 

[MacLawyer]

And when this happens I may then buy a HomePod

As for me, no line in=no HomePod.

 

[cardfan]

Sure but who cares really? Apple music is free with verizon.

 

[tom.humphrey]

Sure but who cares really? Apple music is free with verizon.

"It doesn't affect me so who cares?"

 

[Gilligan's last elephant]

Think in reverse: I have Spotify, why would I want Apple Music if the content is about the same?

I don't see the point of Apple Music if I can get what I want from Spotify.

Also, I can Stream Spotify from more devices than Apple Music, making accessibility better than Apple Music.

I use Spotify and had a 6 month trial of Apple Music from EE.
Apple Music was very poor at recommending new music to me as it doesn't utilise the algorithms that Spotify uses to suggest new music. I have found lots of new bands from Spotify recommendations.
I am a Prog Rock fan. In fact, when I was installing Apple Music, it did not even acknowledge Prog Rock as a genre.

 

[realtuner]

And when this happens I may then buy a HomePod

Didn’t need to wait for this to happen before I purchased my HomePods. Very happy with mine.

Knocking out window openings into the walled garden? Surely not...

But if so then this is a very big step for me. The painfully clunky or total lack of integration with non-Apple apps is one of the main reasons why my Android device is still my main daily driver.

And the inferior security, privacy, Apps, lack of updates and garbage tablet ecosystem is why iOS devices are my daily drivers.

 

[smaffei]

Pat Benatar said it: "…It's a little too little. It's little too late…"

 

[OneHandWaving]

Yes please. The only reason I have an Apple Music subscription is because Qobuz doesn’t work in the car.

 

[Glockworkorange]

I like Apple Music. However, the one key feature it's missing for me is you can't improve a radio station. Apple is the only service where you can't select thumbs up/down to improve whatever station you are listening to. With Apple, your likes and dislikes only affect their recommended songs. This is why I always have either Spotify or Pandora as an alternative.

This is a good point.

If I just want to do a "radio" type thing, I use Pandora.

Apple's "radio" algorithms are not great.

But I generally stick with my own music and playlists.

 

[fredrik9]

Now Google needs to sue Apple so that third party browsers can be set as default as well.

 

[e1me5]

There is a way to have Spotify as the default music app in iOS 13. Just delete the music app.

 

[brinary001]

I’m fine with Apple Music. I know others aren’t.

I just don’t see the allure of Spotify—they all have the same songs.

Right and Apple Music has WAY more songs than Spotify, like millions more. I would say my favorite thing keeping me comfortably in place with AM right now is the lyric syncing, that's so cool!

 

[DevNull0]

I’m fine with Apple Music. I know others aren’t.

I just don’t see the allure of Spotify—they all have the same songs.

Apple Music family sharing requires everyone in my household be on a family plan for their entire iCloud account. With multiple adults in my household who work and pay for their own app store stuff, we don't want to share an iCloud account. That's a hard deal breaker for Apple music.

Meanwhile, Spotify family plan works great on separate iCloud accounts.

 

[_Refurbished_]

Do this to Google Maps and I’ll have an iOS 14 party at my house. I’ll invite you Tim.

 

[brinary001]

Everyone should like what you like right? If it works for you it should work for everyone. Crazy that people actually want choices! Oh what a world.

How did you pull that from @Glockworkorange's comment? That's not even remotely what he was insinuating...

 

[triangletechie]

This is a good point.

If I just want to do a "radio" type thing, I use Pandora.

Apple's "radio" algorithms are not great.

But I generally stick with my own music and playlists.

when I use Apple, I always use my own playlists, but if I want to just have a radio mix, I definitely use one of the other services. I wish Apple would offer the same.

 

[iSayuSay]

LOL, default player? Naahhh.. for all I care, You'd have to say "play X on Spotify" everytime you want to stream a song from the HomePod. Just like Siri on your iPhone or iPad.

Plus the iOS memory management will keep Apple Music as the only music player. Say you're playing music from Spotify, everything works fine but then you stopped and run some other apps. Just a few minutes later you plug in your headphones again and press play button, what will the iPhone play? Apple Music!

 

[cinq2]

I've used both over years, in the end I stuck with Spotify simply because I found their algorithm significantly better at suggesting songs/playlists that I actually like to me.

The Algorithm is ages better, Apple Music has better interface though, imo.

 

[Banich2]

Although I'm stoked with my HomePods and Apple Music using both many hours a day, I think allowing Spotify would be a net good move for Apple.

Personally, I wouldn't switch to Spotify having tried it in the past, and liking Apple Music much better.

Neither would I. But if you’re single and have a single Apple Music plan, it would be nice to leave your HomePod streaming music for your dog using the free tier while you listen to Apple Music on the go

 

[Wando64]

I like my musicians to be able to keep on making music, so anything that creates a barrier to prevent the filthy casual from further robbing artists is good in my book.

Ergo this is a bad move.

Yes, but... why should your conscience stop at Apple Music?
They are not paying much more than Spotify does, so why not use Tidal or Napster instead as they pay about double that paid by Apple Music, or indeed just buy CD records.
I really admire your desire to support musicians (I am one) but using Apple Music is not going to save the sector (not that it needs saving anyway. One could argue that musicians never had it better).

 

[k1121j]

Still to expensive for what I need

 

[kyleh22]

I'm pretty invested in the amazon ecosystem but recently had a chance to play with a sonos system at my parents...i'm not kicking myself for not spending the extra money to get a sonos system. The software is so much better than the amazon software.

I'm curious if the apple system will ever get to the point where home pods can be used for surround sound and such...