Spotify Tests Untethered Apple Watch Streaming for Some Users

[MacRumors]

In November 2018, Spotify released an accompanying app for Apple Watch that allows iPhone users to access and control their favorite Spotify music and podcasts from their wrist.

Image via iPhone-Ticker.de​

One of the limitations of the app is that it doesn't allow users to stream music directly to their Apple Watch without an iPhone connection, which effectively makes it a wrist-based remote control for Spotify on iPhone.

That could be set to change, however, as iPhone-Ticker.de reports that some users of the app are seeing dedicated support for direct audio streaming to Apple Watch without being connected to iPhone.

Users with the feature report that they can stream Spotify through connected Bluetooth headphones or through the Apple Watch's built-in speaker over LTE or Wi-Fi. The function appears in the app as a blue beta icon, suggesting it's still an experimental feature with limited rollout.

There's no indication that the appearance of the beta feature is tied to a particular version of watchOS or iOS, but hopefully it won't be long before the ability to stream Spotify from the wrist will be available to all subscribers. That should come as good news for Apple Watch LTE owners who regularly leave their iPhone at home to go for a run, for instance.

• How to Use Spotify on Apple Watch

Having said that, the Spotify app for Apple Watch still has no option to store music locally on your wrist for offline listening, so hopefully that's something the company is also working on behind the scenes.

Article Link: Spotify Tests Untethered Apple Watch Streaming for Some Users

 

[tom.humphrey]

About time

 

[dannyyankou]

Crazy how this wasn’t already a feature

 

[ChrisMoBro]

Maybe by 2025 they’ll release offline playback

 

[agffth]

I'd much rather just download songs for offline playback. How is this not standard for Apple Watch by now?

 

[jpsalazar]

Good to see companies and App Developers investing back into watchOS apps.

 

[eon.zuurmond]

Serious/technical question: Given how popular this feature would be, what could be the reason that this was not done from the start? Was there an Apple imposed limitation before?

 

[xxray]

Serious/technical question: Given how popular this feature would be, what could be the reason that this was not done from the start? Was there an Apple imposed limitation before?

I think there was, but not over the past year, maybe longer. Pandora has been able to stream from the watch for at least the past year.

 

[7149041]

I'd much rather just download songs for offline playback. How is this not standard for Apple Watch by now?

It is... with Aple Music The only reason Spotify’s whining about monopolu has some point.

 

[tellis100]

Serious/technical question: Given how popular this feature would be, what could be the reason that this was not done from the start? Was there an Apple imposed limitation before?

Apple Music was the only streaming option until watchOS 6, released last year. Not sure why Spotify has dragged this out for over a year

 

[xDKP]

This exact feature made me move to Apple Music years ago... This is just beyond lazy from Spotify and too little, too late!

 

[Quixotic3]

I still only really care about being able to store a playlist locally so that if I am biking or out for a hike etc. I don't have to carry a iPhone

 

[bumbo]

This exact feature made me move to Apple Music years ago... This is just beyond lazy from Spotify and too little, too late!

Same - just signed back up to AM. Spotify have just taken far too long (and, actually released some very questionable "features" between then and now)

 

[maerz001]

This exact feature made me move to Apple Music years ago... This is just beyond lazy from Spotify and too little, too late!

Before watchOs 6 is was not possible by apple restrictions not because of laziness

 

[SSD-GUY]

Serious question - why listen to music emitting from your wrist on a tinny speaker?

 

[xfusejc]

Serious question - why listen to music emitting from your wrist on a tinny speaker?

It’s more about pairing it with AirPods and being able to leave the phone behind if you want to go for a run or simply listen to streaming music directly without having the phone on you. It’s just for device independence.

I gave up on Spotify 2 months ago and switched back to AM mostly for this feature. Not having to carry the phone in my pockets when I go work out is a small thing, but genuinely a relief.

 

[DeepIn2U]

Before watchOs 6 is was not possible by apple restrictions not because of laziness

I'm not so sure about that. These so called restrictions I believe were removed in WatchOS 5, and even if in WatchOS 6 that is almost more than a year later since that release so ... laziness on Spotify's part in that respect.

 

[GreyOS]

Serious/technical question: Given how popular this feature would be, what could be the reason that this was not done from the start? Was there an Apple imposed limitation before?

From a technical point of view they’ve been able to do it for a while now

Regarding offline playback, they even do it on other devices https://www.samsung.com/au/support/mobile-devices/listen-to-spotify-offline-from-galaxy-wearable/

Therefore I believe it is/was probably an exclusivity deal stopping them doing it on Apple Watch.

as a WiFi only Apple Watch owner it’s the offline bit I’m really hoping for, so I can go for runs without my phone

 

[darngooddesign]

For everyone who thought their watch battery lasted too long.

 

[CaptFuzzyBuns]

It is... with Aple Music The only reason Spotify’s whining about monopolu has some point.

Don't other services like Pandora allow offline playback from the Apple Watch? If so I'd like to know what the holdup with Spotify is.

 

[Aston441]

Serious question - why listen to music emitting from your wrist on a tinny speaker?

plenty of voice stuff (eg podcasts) are great, sometimes even preferable through a teeny clear speaker

 

[PickUrPoison]

For everyone who thought their watch battery lasted too long.

That’s me. I also thought my water bill was too low, so now I just leave the kitchen faucet running 24/7... problem solved 🙂

Apple looking out for me as always, thanks Tim Apple!

/s

 

[starkmj]

I thought with ios14 (and presumably watchOS7) we'd be able to choose Spotify as the default music app over Apple Music?

 

[recoil80]

Serious question - why listen to music emitting from your wrist on a tinny speaker?

I think almost everybody will listen via Bluetooth earphones. The speaker is ok for a quick phone call but I never use it for anything else

 

[techfreak23]

Glad I got some credit too for submitting this tip to you guys a few days ago...