The Music Library is Gone in watch OS 4 [MERGED]

[Jgibb26]

Do you have a date for this? I must've missed it during the keynote.

I don’t remember them saying anything about it not being included yet either, however yesterday I visited the Apple store to inquire about that and the money transferr via iMessage all the rep would say is it will be in a future software update but all he would say is some time in the fall

 

[DeepIn2U]

Apple gives two choices:

1. Choose playlists on iphone and sync them over to the watch (2GB storage)
2. Start playing on the iphone and use watch as remote

You can no longer browse your whole library.

Incorrect.

3. Start playing on the Watch and use the watch as playback.

These are my options ... however I don't use Apple Match or Apple's music services. Some of my tracks where matched and downloaded previously. I have a feeling our OP doesn't have said Apple Matched music downloaded in iTunes THEN sync'd to the phone directly.

 

[tcellguy]

I have been an Apple Music subsriber for ages and think it's great but I never use it if I'm not connected to WiFi. Anything I download from it happens on WiFI so I have no need for LTE and wouldn't use it for AM. I cancelled an order for a chrome SS S3 and have about a week to either return, or keep an S2 SS. This change killed my only real reason for having an AW. (I'll end up with one ultimately since I'm in the "cause it's there, and I can" camp) If there are apps that can do a workaround of the player screwup and Apple doesn't resolve it, or won't, is getting an S3 and returning an SS S2 worthwhile? It's become apparent that getting a new watch every 2 - 4 years or so seems to be the norm for most people here, so I'm trying to wrap my head around that too. Any suggestions?

This whole 'Apple Music Solution' that's supposedly coming down the pipe is NO value to me. I will not use cellular data to stream anything.

The NEplayer seems to work as a third party work around. However there are some caveats. It doesn’t play Apple Music (DRM files). Also, it has to re-index when the app memory becomes limiting the OS closes the app in the background so it’s a lot slower than the prior native solution in watchOS 1-3.

 

[icewolf247]

Be aware that there’s a big Apple Music update coming in October. It wasn’t ready for launch.

Then they shouldn't have released watchos4 until ready

This is one of the main features I used on my watch. My phone stays in my drawer. This is such a step backwards, can I move my software back?

 

[fischersd]

Then they shouldn't have released watchos4 until ready

This is one of the main features I used on my watch. My phone stays in my drawer. This is such a step backwards, can I move my software back?

Nope, unfortunately, we don't have a DFU mode for the watch (that would have necessitated giving us a data cable, so we could connect it to iTunes to restore to a prior OS flavour).
I really don't see Apple ever giving consumers access to the diagnostics port in the watch.

Even better? Wanna bet that the lightning port in the iPhone doesn't go away a year or two after everyone's doing wireless charging? iOS updates will be a one-way trip as well (unless there's enough of an outcry to get Apple to build a rollback feature in).

Edit: I think the intent Apple had was to release everything at once...unfortunately the Apple Music changes weren't ready in time. I think there's been enough of an outcry that we could see this fixed when they roll that update out as well.

 

[skillwill]

Then they shouldn't have released watchos4 until ready

This is one of the main features I used on my watch. My phone stays in my drawer. This is such a step backwards, can I move my software back?

It's consistent with them releasing the also-unfinished iOS 11

 

[blairh]

The NEplayer seems to work as a third party work around. However there are some caveats. It doesn’t play Apple Music (DRM files). Also, it has to re-index when the app memory becomes limiting the OS closes the app in the background so it’s a lot slower than the prior native solution in watchOS 1-3.

I downloaded NE Player and it had no access to my music. Unless I'm doing something wrong I believe it will only manage music locally stored on your iPhone, for which I have none. I stream my iTunes Match collection.
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I have been an Apple Music subsriber for ages and think it's great but I never use it if I'm not connected to WiFi. Anything I download from it happens on WiFI so I have no need for LTE and wouldn't use it for AM. I cancelled an order for a chrome SS S3 and have about a week to either return, or keep an S2 SS. This change killed my only real reason for having an AW. (I'll end up with one ultimately since I'm in the "cause it's there, and I can" camp) If there are apps that can do a workaround of the player screwup and Apple doesn't resolve it, or won't, is getting an S3 and returning an SS S2 worthwhile? It's become apparent that getting a new watch every 2 - 4 years or so seems to be the norm for most people here, so I'm trying to wrap my head around that too. Any suggestions?

This whole 'Apple Music Solution' that's supposedly coming down the pipe is NO value to me. I will not use cellular data to stream anything.

Have you considered an unlimited data plan? I used to only play locally stored music but now that I have unlimited (which is actually 22 GB before throttling) I can now stream my collection on-the-go with no worries. It's very liberating. I pin certain albums on my phone for planes rides only.

I don't see the reason to upgrade from S2 to S3 unless you need LTE. In fact I don't recommend an AW upgrade unless you want something nicer (say going from Sport to SS) or there is a specific feature in a model that you deem must have (like LTE).

This music issues will be answered next month. Either Apple allows the ability to access your collection once again from the Watch with the Apple Music streaming update next month or they won't. At that point the only hope is that it somehow returns in the future (feedback backlash?) or purchase an old Watch still running watchOS 3.

 

[tcellguy]

I downloaded NE Player and it had no access to my music. Unless I'm doing something wrong I believe it will only manage music locally stored on your iPhone, for which I have none. I stream my iTunes Match collection.
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You need to give the app permission to browse your library (should be a popup when entering the app on the iPhone for the first time). It can only play only non-DRM music that you have added (no Apple music files). It looks like it can stream my own files uploaded to Apple Music that are not down-loaded to my phone.

 

[blairh]

I just tried again. I had given permission prior too. None of my music is DRM'd. It shows no songs.

 

[tech3475]

Neplayer has been hit or miss for me.

Yesterday it seemed to work fine but now it fails to show my playlist on the watch with some saying 'No songs' even though they show up in the app.

I've tried rebooting and reinstalling on both devices.

 

[CesiumDev]

NEplayer seems to work pretty well, thanks for the recommendation. Unfortunately it can’t play DRM music from Apple Music, which is odd as the Cesium player can do this.

I find it ironic that I’m looking for third party options to play Apple Music.

There are two different playback APIs available to third party developers, with mutually exclusive functions. Only one supports Apple Music DRM, at the sacrifice of audio processing (i.e. EQ, cross fade, etc). NEplayer must be using the other, which has a lot of powerful features but does not support DRM.

 

[porkrind]

Do you have a date for this? I must've missed it during the keynote.

From Apple Insider...

However, Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams noted during the release event that cellular Apple Watch connectivity to Apple Music was "coming next month" —meaning October and not when the device ships to customers.

Apple's materials about the Apple Watch are consistent with that timeframe, but less precise. The release with details about the Apple Watch says that the update will arrive "later in the fall."

With the update, the new Radio app will allow listeners to access Beats 1 live or any Apple Music radio station on the device and away from the connected iPhone.

Apple also confirmed to AppleInsider at Tuesday's release event that an Apple Music subscription is not required to stream music to the device using LTE. Users with iTunes Match subscriptions can stream owned music as well.

 

[tcellguy]

Neplayer has been hit or miss for me.

Yesterday it seemed to work fine but now it fails to show my playlist on the watch with some saying 'No songs' even though they show up in the app.

I've tried rebooting and reinstalling on both devices.

I'm not sure why it isn't working for you. It did take some time to populate the list each time after launching the application.
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Here’s the story I’ve heard that makes the most sense, related by people who claim to be in position to know. Of course this is speculation on my part, is I can’t prove they are who they say they are.

The full Apple Music solution was intended to be released with watchOS 4 and the new series 3 watches. When it became clear that it wasn’t going to be ready on time, they pulled it out of this release. But the old music solution also wasn’t ready and needed to be rewritten for OS 4. And no time for that of course. So were left in an interim where neither of the solutions are available.

Thanks for the information. It's still confusing that the iPhone library was removed beginning with the first beta back in June. I'm worried that this indicates an active decision to remove the iPhone as a source of music.

 

[007p]

4.1 is out, any hope of the iphone library returning?

Honestly couldn't care less about Apple Music.

 

[alecc131]

4.1 is out, any hope of the iphone library returning?

Honestly couldn't care less about Apple Music.

watchOS 4.1. It's back, and better than ever!

 

[StarBr33z3]

4.1 is out, any hope of the iphone library returning?

Honestly couldn't care less about Apple Music.

Series 3 only. That sucks.

 

[007p]

watchOS 4.1. It's back, and better than ever!

Seriously? Your actual iPhone library...not Apple Music?

Series 3 only. That sucks.

What is Series 3 only? Browsing your iphone library? Apple music I can understand - and as I said, I really don't care about Apple Music, it will never work where I live.

 

[StarBr33z3]

Browsing your iphone library?

Yup. With S0/S1/S2 you can only browse synced music/playlists, nothing has changed.

 

[007p]

Yup. With S0/S1/S2 you can only browse synced music/playlists, nothing has changed.

From what I have read/seen, it was Apple music that was series 3 only. I don't see iphone library being visible on series 3?

 

[alecc131]

I have S3 GPS-only. I can browse my whole iCloud Music Library, and use Radio.

 

[tcellguy]

I have S3 GPS-only. I can browse my whole iCloud Music Library, and use Radio.

It sounds like the watch is using Wifi to steam all of this then? That would suggest there isn't a plan to restore the iPhone library as a source.

 

[alecc131]

It sounds like the watch is using Wifi to steam all of this then? That would suggest there isn't a plan to restore the iPhone library as a source.

Nope — even with WiFi off on iPhone, still streams on Watch. And Apple Watch can’t connect to office WiFi (captive network.

Functionality is same as before, while also eliminating the need to select music “library source”. The system seems to route through the appropriate source on its own. Not sure yet how exactly it works...

I am using AirPods. Either:

1/ Music not locally stored on Watch streamed from iPhone direct to AirPods (Watch functioning as remote)

Or

2/ Music streaming from iPhone over LTE through Bluetooth to Watch to AirPods — this does not seem realistic at all

I would imagine 1/ above to be right, and if the Watch is too far from iPhone, then Watch streams direct through WiFi

 

[fatmom]

I have S3 GPS-only. I can browse my whole iCloud Music Library, and use Radio.

can you start playing a song without BT earbuds ? will it refuse or play the song on the iphone?

 

[alecc131]

can you start playing a song without BT earbuds ? will it refuse or play the song on the iphone?

Refuse. Won’t play on iPhone.

 

[fatmom]

Yes

Ok so then I guess im installing that beta, I need that feature back NOW