Is Apple Music worth it? Considering the popularity of the music streaming service from one of the biggest tech giants in the world, this question sounds almost as simple as that. Since its launch in 2015, it has become popular among music lovers and today has a library of at least 60 million songs. Needless to say, this number is still growing.
However, it should be remembered that users are also very frugal by nature. They want to get a huge hit for every dollar they give, especially during Covid-19 times when every dollar counts.
Apple Music charges a subscription fee for all of its plans, so there's no way to use the service for free. On top of that, Apple does have serious contenders in the ring, such as the very popular Spotify and rising star Tidal. So the question arises: is Apple Music worth buying?
The following findings will give you an honest assessment of the pros and cons of Apple Music, including its subscription fees and services. We'll provide you with an Apple Music review to help you decide whether the music streaming service is worth paying for.
Connected:
Apple Music vs iTunes Match
Review of the best Apple music converters
About Apple Music
Apple Music is Apple's music streaming service and is positioned as a direct competitor to other popular streaming services such as Spotify, Google Play Music, Amazon Music and Tidal. The platform, launched in 2015, has grown to 60 million songs in its catalogue.
Since its launch, Apple Music has quickly gained popularity, reaching 6 million subscribers in just 10 months. It offers a wide selection of music, exclusive content and live radio shows. Apple Music is what you need if you want to listen to music without ads (and even download and play your favorite tracks offline) and access exclusive content. Additionally, here are the main features of Apple Music:
- Ad-free music and video streaming
- 100,000 songs downloaded to your library
- Online and offline listening
- 60 million songs in your music library
- Download and collate your personal music library for streaming on any device
- Access to all devices
- Original exclusives, shows and concerts
- Beats 1 24 hour radio station
- Radio shows on demand
Radio
Will Apple Music Radio Now Replace iTunes Radio?
Yes, iTunes Radio functionality will be taken over by Beats 1 and themed radio stations. Plus, you can always create your own stations based on a track or artist.
Beats 1 is a 24-hour radio station where, in addition to music, exclusive interviews, celebrity programs, presentations of new songs and more will appear.
Can you tell me more about Beats 1?
As mentioned above, this is a full-fledged station with guest DJs and celebrities, operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is available to every Apple Music user, even those who don't have a subscription. Beats 1 launched with Apple Music and is available in more than 100 countries around the world (not yet available for users with Russian accounts).
Beats 1 is broadcasting live. Even pre-recorded content will only be available to listeners once. It is possible that subscribers will be able to listen to interviews and some other exclusive content on Connect, but this is not yet known for certain.
Who will host the show?
Apple has hired three top-notch radio DJs. BBC1's Zane Lowe will host in Los Angeles, WQHT Hot 97's Ebro Darden in New York and Julie Adenuga will take over London.
But will there be other stations besides Beats 1?
Yes, in addition to radio with DJs, you can enjoy a variety of themed stations - artists, genres and moods to suit every taste.
Can I create my own radio?
Certainly! Similar to iTunes Radio, you can create a station based on a song, album, or artist—and Apple Music will curate an endless playlist for you based on your preferences. Each station can be even more precisely customized by adding likes and dislikes to the songs.
Subscription Plans and Pricing
Unlike Spotify, Apple Music doesn't offer a "free version" that plays ads. Anyone who signs up for this service will pay a monthly fee. But with its interesting exclusives and live radio shows, it's worth the subscription.
Before we dive in, we should note that all Apple Music price tiers offer access to the same catalog of ad-free music, offline listening, on-demand radio shows, exclusive releases, and Beats 1 live streaming. The main difference is its family plan, which we will talk about later.
The most basic Apple Music plan costs $9.99 per month in the US. Students can get a discount by cutting the cost of the plan in half, meaning they only pay $4.99 per month to subscribe to the music streaming service.
There is also a family plan where you can enroll 6 people in your family. Priced at $14.99 per month, users can save huge costs as it allows access for up to 6 people, each with their own personal account. To do the math, you only need $2.50 per user per month for 6 people to use Apple Music.
Usage
How to subscribe?
Launch Music on iOS or iTunes on your computer and agree to start the trial. To activate the service, your Apple ID balance must be 169 rubles or a payment card must be linked. Don't worry, everything is free - the money will be debited only after three months.
How to disable auto-renewal of a subscription?
For user convenience, automatic subscription renewal is enabled by default. If you do not plan to use Apple Music on a paid basis, then auto-renewal can be disabled.
To do this, open your profile settings in “Music” and by clicking the “View Apple ID” button, go to the subscription management menu. Here you just need to turn off the old-school auto-renewal toggle switch.
How to register a nickname?
You can also set a unique Apple Music username in your profile.
To do this, tap on your photo and click “Edit” and enter the desired nickname.
How to include songs with profanity?
Most cool albums contain profanity, that is, swearing. By default, there is a restriction on it, so many tracks, or even entire albums, will not be available to you.
To fix this, open “Settings” - “General” - “Restrictions”. In the “Allowed Content” section, go to the “Music, Podcasts” item and turn on the Explicit toggle switch.
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Device Compatibility
Apple Music is available on all iOS devices: built-in iOS Music app, iTunes on PC, Apple Music, Apple Watch, Apple TV, Apple CarPlay and Apple HomePod. Additionally, you can also play it using Amazon Echo, Android, Sonos, and Amazon Fire TV devices.
In April 2021, it officially launched music streaming in your web browser. This web version is convenient for users using a Windows computer so that they can easily access the platform without having to download the iTunes software. Users who use their desktop can easily access it even if they are not using a Mac computer.
Note: Appe Music is compatible with iPhone/iPod touch running version 8.4 or later, iPadOS devices running version 13.0 or later, music app running macOS Catalina or later, iTunes version 12.2 or later for Windows PC.
(See how to play Apple Music on iPod classic / iPod shuffle / iPod Nano / iPod Touch.)
Basics
What is Apple Music?
All the music you have and could ever need.
This is how Apple itself describes the new service. Marketing aside, with Apple Music the company wants to combine your music library with the vast iTunes catalogue.
You can create playlists online and offline from your music and any tracks from the iTunes Store, listen to individual artists or playlists created by music experts. Apple Music also includes 24/7 public radio station Beats 1, customizable stations like iTunes Radio, and Connect, a social network that lets you connect with artists and music groups.
Why streaming service?
More and more people prefer to listen to music online rather than buy it and store it locally on their devices. The ability to listen to any songs at all, and not just the thousand tracks that you purchased on iTunes, looks very tempting.
This is something like iTunes Match, which is not limited only to your media library. With Apple Music you can listen to absolutely everything. Apple plans to recommend new music to you using Beats 1 and hand-curated playlists.
Do you have to pay for this?
Yes, but not right away. For the first three months, Apple Music is available for free on iOS devices, Mac and PC. After that, you will have to shell out 169 rubles every month.
Can you save money?
Yes, Apple provides an opportunity to save money. Purchasing a family subscription for six people will cost you 269 rubles. You don't have to use the same Apple ID: everything works based on family sharing.
What's included in the subscription?
For the first three months, all Apple Music features are available for free. After this, without signing up for a paid subscription, you will be able to:
- listen to your music locally or from the cloud (if you sign up for iTunes Match),
- listen to Beats 1,
- listen to certain Apple Music radio stations with advertising and a limit on skipping tracks,
- follow artists on Connect.
With a paid subscription (and the first three months), you'll receive all of the above plus the following:
- unlimited skips of tracks for Apple Music radio stations,
- the ability to like, comment, save and play content from Connect,
- unlimited listening to any music from the Apple Music catalog,
- the ability to add tracks from Apple Music to your library and listen to them offline,
- the ability to listen to all music purchased and added to the library online from the cloud (as in iTunes Match),
- access to curated playlists and recommendations.
What happens if I don't purchase a subscription after the trial period ends?
You will no longer be able to listen to tracks added to your library from the Apple Music catalog, access to Connect content will be blocked, and there will be a limit on skipping tracks when listening to Apple Music radio stations. Streaming your music from iCloud will also not be available (unless you have iTunes Match).
On what devices can I listen to Apple Music?
Starting today, Apple Music is available on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple Watch, Mac and PC. Apple TV and Android devices will receive support in the fall.
Wait...Android? Are you seriously?
Quite. To provide flexibility to users, Apple needs to make the service available on multiple platforms. After all, Beats Music had an Android app. So nothing surprising.
How will Apple Music work on the Apple Watch?
Thanks to the volume specially allocated for media content, you can download tracks from your Apple Music library to your Apple Watch as a regular playlist. That is, you don’t need an iPhone to listen to music.
I already have a subscription to Google Music, Spotify, Yandex.Music, etc. Why is Apple Music better?
The main advantage of Apple Music is its integration with the Apple ecosystem. You don't need to download additional software or link a card to pay. The application is already available on all your devices, and the money will be debited from the balance on your Apple ID.
Apple Music is for you if you:
- want to listen to music from your collection and extensive online catalogue,
- do not want to download applications and pay for services through third-party services,
- love Beats Music playlists,
- want to use a savings subscription for the whole family.
Well, don’t forget that the first three months of using Apple Music are free. Why not try it?
What exactly do you need to listen to Apple Music?
A new version of iOS 8.4 was released today for iPhone and iPad, as well as an update to iTunes, all of which support Apple Music. You will only need to update iOS on your device or iTunes on your computer.
What about Apple Music support in iOS 9 betas?
@lokithorrrrr a new iOS 9 seed will support Apple Music
— Eddy Cue (@cue) June 27, 2015
We have great news for the impatient! According to Eddie Cue's tweet, a special update will be released for iOS 9, which will add support for Apple Music. As it became known, iOS 9 beta 3 will be released next week.
In which countries will Apple Music be available?
At WWDC, Apple announced that the new music service will be launched in more than 100 countries. Russia was one of them.
What's next for Beats Music?
Nothing. If you're a Beats Music subscriber, you can easily switch to Apple Music. In this case, your entire music library and settings will be transferred automatically, and your Beats Music subscription will be canceled. You will become an Apple Music subscriber and will be charged to the account associated with your Apple ID.
Music quality
Apple Music uses 256 kbps AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) music files. For comparison, Spotify uses the Ogg Vorbis format at 320Kbps. At first glance, a higher Spotify number may seem like better quality, but it's worth noting that these compression formats provide different audio profiles, so they're not comparable at all. Suffice to say, both offer the strong raw data that music enthusiasts prefer over MP3. Hence, this means that you will get excellent quality music using this service.
Related pages: : Apple Music vs Spotify
How to disable music subscription on iPhone?
Before you start reading the instructions on how to unsubscribe from Apple Music on iPhone, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- After the last day of the paid period has ended, you will not be able to play any tracks. Apple, unlike other companies, does not provide a free partial version.
- If you refused the service on your iPhone, then there is no need to do the same on other devices (computer, TV, etc.), provided that all gadgets operate on the same identifier.
- Apple Music is supported on different devices, which makes canceling it a little different.
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Disable on iPhone
These rules apply not only to the iPhone, but also to the iPad and iPod touch. Proceed like this:
- Open the “ Settings ” section. Find in it the item with your login.
- iTunes Store and App Store line .
- Click on the identifier there.
- Log in to the system.
A window will open in front of you, in which there will be the inscription “ Subscriptions ”. Select Apple Music and click on “ Cancel Sublist ”.
Important! If you have days left in the paid period, they will not go anywhere. No funds will be charged in the next billing period.
If the application is not shown and money has been debited from your bank card, check that the ID is correct. If this does not help, then most likely the subscription was not purchased through an iTunes intermediary, but directly from the developer. In such a situation, you will have to contact the author of the application and solve the problem through him.
Disable on computer: via iTunes and App Store
Via iTunes:
- Sign in to the service using your Apple ID or Touch ID (if your computer has one).
- Go to “ Account ” and from there to “ View ”. There you need to enter a password and click on “ View ”.
- Wait a few seconds until " Account Information " appears. There you need to click on “ Settings ”, and then on “ Manage ” (these buttons are located near the “ Subscriptions ” parameter.
- Finally, click on “ Cancel subscription ”.
Via AppStore:
- Log in to the service and click on your login.
- In the menu that appears, find “ Subscriptions .”
- Find Apple Music and at the bottom “ Cancel subscription ”.
Turn off on TV
If you bought an Apple TV set-top box, you can turn off subscriptions only for those applications that run on the tvOS operating system. The procedure includes several steps:
- Sequentially open “ Settings ” → “ Accounts ” → “ Subscriptions ” → “ Manage subscriptions ”.
- Find Apple Music in the list that pops up and cancel it.
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Important! If you are the owner of a third generation system. then to manage subscriptions you need to have a device running the iOS operating system.
DRM
Apple Music allows you to download songs for offline playback. This means you can continue to listen to your favorite music even if you don't have Internet access, which is important when flying and in unserviced areas.
Like many other music streaming services, downloaded content is protected by DRM (digital rights management). Additionally, any downloaded audio will no longer play once your subscription is cancelled. This is to protect the materials for legal purposes.
Related Pages: : How to Remove DRM from Apple Music
Connect
Okay, what is Connect? Will it suck as much as Ping?
Connect is a place where musicians can communicate with their audience, talk about their songs, the history of their creation and other important things. Let's hope Connect doesn't suffer the same fate as Ping.
What type of content can you find on Connect?
Performers can post whatever they see fit in their feeds: behind-the-scenes photos, lyrics of new songs, links to alternative versions of clips, song excerpts. If you have a subscription, you can download all this content to your library.
And can I leave comments?
Yes! In this case, your favorite performer can even personally respond to your comment. Posts can be shared on social networks, so the content won’t just gather dust “within the walls” of Connect.
Can you find more music from your favorite musician through Connect?
Yes, all artists' profiles on Connect include their full discography, bio, and content they've shared on Connect. This list will also show you which of the available artist content you have already downloaded.
Will Connect feature indie artists?
Any musician with an iTunes Music account can register a page in Connect and post their songs to Apple Music. So yes, Connect will feature indie artists.
Features of Apple Music
Apart from the core features listed above, Apple Music also has features that provide a more personalized music experience. Its catalog of 60 million songs can be easily accessed from any of your devices.
First of all, iCloud Music Library is a reliable platform where you can add music to Apple Music through Mac and then it will be available on all devices. This is where Apple Music exclusives come in handy. For example, when Taylor Swift released her album Reputation in 2021, it was not available on Apple Music or Spotify for three weeks. However, Apple Music subscribers can purchase it from iTunes, where it is automatically added to your music library. This means you can listen to the album on your Apple Music account. This isn't possible at all on Spotify because when you buy an album, it will live in your iPhone's music app.
Another unique feature is the For You functionality. It offers you suggestions on what music to listen to based on algorithms based on the time of day, and also suggests what your friends are listening to on social media. Personalized Playlists , which are updated weekly, also consist of a New Music Mix, Friends Mix, Relax Mix and Favorites Mix.
replay is a new feature that debuted in November 2021 where users are given a playlist of the most popular music in 2019. Not only that, but it can give you a wave of nostalgia as this collection also collates your listening history, starting all the way to 2015. It gives you interesting information about your favorite artists, albums and songs and is constantly updated. Unlike Spotify Wrapped, which is only available for a year's review, Replay is available year-round.
It's worth mentioning a rather hidden feature: Apple Music Lyrics. Not many people know about this, but it is a convenient feature to access. Not only can you search for song lyrics, but you can also view them in the app to sing along to your favorite tunes.
Removes 1 - a unique offer from Apple where you can listen to a global live broadcast for 24 hours. In fact, you don't even need an Apple Music subscription to access it.
Music
What will Apple Music look like on iOS?
Apple offers users content in five categories: For You, New, Radio, Connect and My Music. The first contains your playlists and recommendations, the second contains the latest music from the artists you like, the third contains Beats 1 and other radio stations (formerly iTunes Radio), the fourth contains feeds of musicians you follow, and the last contains all your music (downloaded or purchased), sorted by artist, album, and so on.
What about iTunes on Mac and PC?
In iTunes, nothing has changed except new tabs in the menu. My Music, Playlists, and the iTunes Store remain, while Match and Radio replace four new tabs from iOS—For You, New, Radio, and Connect.
Apple won't automatically add music to my library, will it?
No, there will never be a scandal like the U2 free album. All music that appears in your library must be added by you. Recommendations and suggested playlists will be in the appropriate categories, but not in the library itself.
How will Apple Music affect iTunes Radio, iTunes Store and iTunes Match?
iTunes Radio is everything. RIP Its place has been taken by 24/7 radio station Beats 1 and automated Apple Music stations. Of course, the opportunity to create your own radios remains. The iTunes Store is still going strong. Well, what if it’s not enough for you to just listen to tracks online and you want to buy a couple of albums? iTunes Match features (the ability to upload your media library to iCloud and endless skipping of tracks in iTunes Radio), which are available for 799 rubles per year, are now completely duplicated by a subscription to Apple Music.
Why do you need iTunes Match then?
Without an Apple Music subscription, you won't be able to store your music library in the cloud. This is where iTunes Match comes in handy. Why not buy an Apple Music subscription then? Well, at least for the sake of saving money. iTunes Match costs 799 rubles per year, while Apple Music costs about 2,000.
What about the limit on the number of tracks in the cloud?
@karlfranks @robmsimoes 25k for launch and working to get to 100k for iOS 9
— Eddy Cue (@cue) June 27, 2015
According to a recent tweet from Eddie Cue, Apple plans to increase the cloud track limit to 100,000 by the official release of iOS 9 in the fall. In the meantime, Apple Music's limit allows you to store 25 thousand songs.
Can my iCloud songs and Apple Music be mixed?
Of course! You can create playlists using both tracks from your own library and from the Apple Music catalog.
What about offline playback?
No problem. Downloading music to device memory for later listening without an Internet connection is one of the features of Apple Music.
Will there be any exclusives on Apple Music?
Without a doubt! For example, Pharrell Williams' new song Freedom is only available on Apple Music. It’s the same with Taylor Swift’s well-known album “1989.” And, of course, exclusive shows on Beats 1, Jaden Smith radio, St. Vincent, Pharrell and Dr. Dre along with interviews with famous artists.
How do I set my preferences?
When you first launch Apple Music, you'll be asked to select the genres and artists you like. This procedure is familiar to Beats Music users: you need to tap on large bubbles with names. Next, the system tracks which tracks you mark as liked, remembers your tastes and adapts to them.
What about new products?
The Music app has a New tab where you can open new music. And this is not just a list of charts: Apple Music selects new products strictly according to your preferences. Only the music you like.
Can you tell us more about curated playlists?
These playlists are one of the key features of Apple Music. The company has special curators who manually select songs for such playlists. Apple also partners with a variety of music-focused publications, so in the future we'll see recommendations from Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, Q Magazine, DJ Mag, Shazam, Mojo, The Grand Ole Opry, XXL Magazine, and more.
How can I tell my friends what I'm listening to?
You can share your playlist, favorite album, or other content with your friends via Twitter, Facebook, and Messages.
How to search for music on Apple Music?
There are two ways: dynamic search in the application and Siri.
How does dynamic search work?
Just start typing the name of a genre, track, or artist, and Apple Music will display the corresponding results. At the same time, they can be filtered, displaying only songs from your library or only from the Apple Music catalog. In addition, the system remembers your recent searches and also displays the most popular search queries of other service users.
What about Siri? Does she know anything about music now?
Otherwise! Siri's musical knowledge has improved significantly. You can ask her to play the top songs of 1980, and she'll put together a playlist of the tracks that topped the charts that year. Or another example: while listening to a song, you can ask Siri to play more similar tracks, and it will create a corresponding playlist for you. You can also use Siri to add songs you like to your library and create a playback queue.
User Experience
All the features mentioned above are available in Apple Music on any device. Each device offers Apple's minimalist, clear, and clean interface. It's also easy to switch between devices because all your data is synced in real time.
Navigating the app is also easy. On your mobile device (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Android device), you can explore the app using the tabs at the bottom of the screen. Meanwhile, it's in the sidebar of your Mac and in the tabs at the top of the Apple TV screen.
Meanwhile, all the music on Apple Music is available on all your devices. For a smoother connection, you can even manage and listen to your music on your Apple Watch. Plus, you can play the same music on all the stereos in your room, or play different music on each one using AirPlay 2. With all that said, you have so much control over your music that you can personalize your listening experience no matter what device you are using.
Inviting people
You now have an Apple Music family subscription. How to add new people to your subscription? Do the following:
- To invite the person you need from an iPhone or iPad, go to the “Settings” section, select iCloud, and then select “Family” and “Add a family member”. Write the Apple ID email of the person you want to add and send an invitation that way.
- To do all this on a MacBook, now open the “System Preferences” section, select iCloud and then “Family Sharing”. Click on “+” to add another Apple ID and send an invitation to your Apple Music family subscription. If it is “-”, then you have the opportunity to delete any member of the “family”. After adding users to the list, iTunes will “freeze” one ruble on the account.
Each “family member” will receive a notification by email that they have been added to the family subscription of the music service.
Don't forget: Apple will charge your account monthly for your Apple Music family subscription. Therefore, you simply take the difference in money from the people with whom you agreed on a subscription. If someone decides not to pay, you can remove him from the “family”.
Pros of Apple Music - What We Like
#1: Adding Your Own Music to Apple Music
The killer thing about Apple Music is that it allows you to add your own music to the iCloud Music Library so you can sync and listen to music across all your devices seamlessly.
#2: Listening Offline
Apple Music gives you the ability to download a song, album, or playlist in your library for offline listening. One of the features that many Apple Music users like is that you can download songs from an entire playlist/album or download songs individually.
No. 3: Wide variety of music
We already mentioned that Apple Music has 60 million songs in its music arsenal (and their number is constantly growing). Today, its closest competitor Spotify has just 50 million, according to Business of Apps. That's a staggering 10 million difference. But a closer look will reveal that the entries indicate more than just numbers—they reflect the ferocity and speed with which Apple Music will get you your favorite songs and playlist.
Music lovers who want to complete their favorite artists' playlists will choose a streaming service that is the most aggressive when it comes to acquiring music. This ability to get more songs and playlists in record time is one of the advantages Apple Music has over Spotify.
#4: Beats 1 Radio
Beats 1 Radio from Apple Music puts the listener at the forefront of music listening. It offers 24/7 live radio broadcasts hosted by Apple DJs from Los Angeles, New York and London. The advantage Beats 24 Radio has over other streaming services like podcasts is that it's live. Music, ranging from popular hits to new tunes, is accompanied by sincere and intelligent comments from DJs. In addition to music, Beats 7 Radio also gives you the opportunity to interview your favorite artists.
#5: Frugal Family Plan
There is nothing like music to awaken a tired or depressed soul. An hour or 30 minutes of relaxation with your top artist plugged into their music away from the rest of the world can keep the quarantine blues at bay. This is one way to recharge your energy if you are working from home as a remote worker. For more tips on increasing productivity through WFH, check out these 10 morale boosters for remote workers.
Your loved ones can enjoy the same music sanctuary as one of the benefits of the Apple Music Family Plan. For $14.99 per month (or just $5 more than an individual user), they can enjoy unlimited streaming time. Each of them - your partner and children - can access their personal libraries 24/7 on all their devices. Each library will be customized according to their listening taste and separated from others to protect their privacy, choice and listening time.
#6: Listening via Web Browser
Free Yourself Apple Music online player switches your listening experience from an in-ear iTunes format to a visually immersive web experience. It syncs your iTunes experience with your web browser of choice such as Firefox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, etc.
The transition from watching to listening is seamless and extends across all your devices. For example, by clicking a button while doing research in your browser, you can easily log into music.apple.com and listen to your favorite music. You wouldn't have to click on another app outside of the browser.
Navigating through Apple Music Web Player in your browser of choice is a visually appealing journey. Image tabs can show you your options. With Browse you can view all the titles available on the Internet. For You provides a list of recommendations based on your past picks that you might just like. Your own library, synced with your original Apple Music playlist, highlights the "Recently Added" music, as well as the "Artists" and "Albums" that are at the top of your list.
#7: Custom options
Listening, saving and repeating your favorite songs is just the surface of your music streaming enjoyment. With the right tool, you can edit your playlist to highlight the most memorable moments. You can change their position in the playlist, putting the ones you really like first. You can change the genre, album cover image, and even add song lyrics to your favorite Apple Music tracks.
Apple Music - Catalog and sound quality
Apple Music claims to have 45 million songs, 10 million more than Spotify. In real terms, it's hard to know where all these extras are, although given Dr. Dre's close ties to Apple, it's not surprising that his discography on Apple Music is significantly larger than what Spotify offers.
When Apple Music launched, Apple chief executive Eddie Cue confirmed that data speeds would vary depending on how you were connected. The obvious assumption is that it will sound better over Wi-Fi, saving your data at the cost of reducing the flow when using mobile data. While you don't get as much control as you do with Spotify (typical Apple), you can force it to produce better streams by turning on high-quality streaming from the Mobile Data screen in the Music menu in your phone's settings.
The good news is that even without turning it on, the sound quality is excellent. Technically, Apple Music's maximum bitrate of 256 kbps is lower than Spotify's Extreme setting. Everything sounds more exciting and exciting, with a bit of space and dynamism.
Of course, it's not high resolution, but right now the demand for it doesn't seem high enough. Additionally, if Apple's stance on other new technologies is anything to go by, it will allow other services to follow Tidal into high-definition territory before doing the same.
Cons of Apple Music - what we don't like
#1: No free plan
Unlike main competitor Spotify, Apple Music doesn't offer a free plan. You must pay for its services and offers upon registration. The good thing is that, unlike Spotify's free plan, no ads will intrude on your listening enjoyment. However, for the budget-conscious or simply curious who just want to try Apple Music without paying up front right away, the no-free plan scenario may be a no-no.
With that said, Apple Music is offering enough time for interested users to try the service for free for 3 months.
#2: Subpar Podcast
This is one of the few times Apple Music is losing out to some of its competitors. In comparison, streaming service Spotify seamlessly mixes its podcast playlist with music tunes. A Spotify user can browse podcast sections and music numbers without leaving the app.
On the other hand, Apple keeps its podcasts separate from the entire collection of songs and musical numbers in a separate application. So, an Apple Music user who wants to use Apple Podcasts must first sign out of Apple Music and then sign in to the new app.
#3: Limit to protected songs
Apple protects digital access to its songs, sometimes at the subscriber's or user's expense. This is one complaint that Apple Music has been criticized for. Member can download songs and play them offline, but only under certain conditions. First, he must be signed into Apple before he can play the downloaded songs that are now on his smart device. Secondly, once he cancels his subscription, he will no longer be able to play them, even if they are on his smartphone, for example. The lesson apparently taught by Apple is clear enough: don't unsubscribe, don't stop being a member, and don't lose access to your songs. There is sound business pragmatism behind this practice, but dissatisfied customers may view it as a subtle form of control.
How to remove protection from Apple music tracks? Free Yourself TuneFab Apple Music Converter is one of those tools created by a third party to enhance your Apple Music experience. Its main function is to convert Apple saved music from protected format (.m4p) to the unprotected formats you use more often. These include AAC, FLAC, M4A, M4R and MP3. Thanks to this, it can be saved on other devices such as a laptop or tablet. You can even listen to it offline.
Apple Music - Discovery and Curation
Apple Music has a tab labeled For You, which pretty much does what it says on the tin.
When you first sign up, the app asks you to select a few artists and genres that you like. Combined with your listening habits, Apple Music uses this information to populate the For You tab with suggested albums, playlists, and new releases. They change every day.
At the top you will find three personalized mixes: Favorites, New Music and Chill. Each of them is updated once a week. Favorites are made up almost entirely of tracks in your library, so it's no more complicated than just shuffling your songs; the other two are more interesting.
New Music is Apple's version of Spotify for Discover Weekly, although all of its songs are recent and by artists who are theoretically new to you. Spotify has been collecting streaming data from subscribers for a few years now, so it's no surprise that this new music mix doesn't exhibit the same levels of mental reading as Discover Weekly, but the decision to ignore anything that isn't boxfresh seems unnecessarily limiting.
Still, the breadth of Apple's playlist lists is impressive, and it does its best to bring you relevant ones, with new choices every day. Artist-specific playlists, which for larger groups often include separate mixes of opening Essentials, more obscure Deep Cuts and Influences, are a particularly good way to discover new artists or find ones you're already into.
When Apple Music launched, it did so with much fanfare surrounding Beats 1, a traditional scheduled radio station only available on Apple Music. Yes, Apple has reinvented Internet radio.
Unsurprisingly, the roster of DJs is very impressive, and the shows are available to stream on demand if you miss them. You can also add songs played at the show to your library (if the dreaded iCloud Music Library is enabled) or simply indicate what you like (or don't like) to let them influence your recommendations.
There's no denying the quality of the content, but this feels like a strangely old-fashioned way of making music on a streaming platform.
Canceling a subscription on Android
Android users subscribed to Apple Music can tap the "Listen" icon, then open the three-dot settings menu and select "Account." From there, select "Manage Subscription" and click "Cancel Subscription."
If you subscribed through the Play Store, you can also cancel it there. Open the hamburger menu in the app and select Subscriptions to see all your current and previous subscriptions. Tap the Remove link next to the Apple Music entry to cancel the service.
