About a year ago I was tired of music in the social network "VKontakte", and, as there is little memory on the computer, it was also impossible to store audio offline. Then I learned about the services of Google Music and iTunes Match. I studied them for a week. Closely, learning about every detail and comparing the quality of the music.
I do not know how I missed that these services differ dramatically: if Google Music did what I needed, iTunes Match was an ordinary repository for pirated music. Of course, I paid an annual subscription to iTunes Match and regretted it in ten minutes after learning that I bought a cat in a poke. Himself to blame. If you want to run Garageband for windows check this website we found their guide to be most genuine!
Apple Music is exactly what I wanted a year ago. Music service for those who are tied to the "apple" ecosystem. With a convenient application, the ability to download music offline, listen to the radio and watch the performers.
Appearance
Having launched a new application "Music", I immediately ran into a problem. Despite the fact that Apple gives a three-month free subscription, on an attached card or an account in iTunes there must be an amount equal to the cost of one month. The money is not withdrawn, but I had to run to the cash machine and throw it on the card.
After activating the subscription, all the music you bought earlier will be available in the "My Music" tab. By the way, there are only five tabs:
- "For you" is music that is automatically selected according to your preferences.
- "New" is a tab for searching for new music.
- "Radio" - radio stations, sorted by genre.
- Connect - connection with the performers (there is still empty).
- "My music".
Unlike Spotify and especially Google Music, the service works fine on the iPhone 5. It's unlikely that anyone would be able to forgive Apple, if it was otherwise. Still, "Music" is a native application.
Apple could not help but focus on Taylor Swift. Of all the streaming services, her 1989 album is available only in Apple Music, and this is reminded on the first screen.
If you go to the album page, you can add it to your library, to favorites, or share with your friends. After opening the additional menu, you can turn on the radio, download the album offline, show it in the iTunes Store or add it to the playlist.
The playback interface has changed slightly. Now the substrate is painted in the color of the album. In addition, there is an opportunity to add a song to favorites, see the playlist and minimize the player by clicking on the button at the top. You can collapse it and just make a svayp from top to bottom.
The lock screen also has a button for favorites. If you try to share a song, the application will open: you can not do this from the lock screen.
Music
Spitting on the design of the application, most importantly - music. In Apple Music, you can find it in four ways:
- Listening to the radio station.
- Adding your favorite artists ("My Music").
- Choosing performers according to preferences ("For you").
- Learning about new releases ("New").
Each method deserves a separate mention.
Radio
Unfortunately, Russian users do not have a Beats 1 radio station. The WWDC conference at the station made a special accent. Strong DJs, high-quality music, round-the-clock broadcasting and interviews with famous performers. It's worth saying that without the Beats 1 we lose something. Since I have an American account, I managed to listen to the radio and stayed with him in raptures.
There are other stations, music in which is sorted by genre. I would not say that I liked the songs offered. Perhaps it takes time for the service to adjust to the tastes of users.
My music
It seems that Apple logically assumed that the "My Music" tab will be the most used, and put it to the right of the rest. The problem is that I'm left-handed and it's uncomfortable to reach there. What can we say about the owners of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. It is a pity that there is no way to sort the tabs.
On the screen "My Music" you can choose the criterion by which music will be sorted: artists, albums, songs, video clips. You can turn on only the music that is available offline. By the way, offline songs are not downloaded very quickly, but tolerantly.
The plus is that - unlike Spotify - they can also swing in the event that the application is closed. Therefore, by running Apple Music for the first time, you can put all your favorite music on the download and close the application - downloading will continue.
In "My Music" there is a separate tab with playlists. Here you can find not only the playlists you created, but also automatic ones, for example "25 most popular" or "Recently added".
For you
The longer you use the service, the better this tab will work. At the first visit you will be asked to choose your favorite genres (you can press twice if the genre is very like it), and then choose your favorite artists from the offered ones.
Despite the fact that I chose Alabama Shakes , Massive Attack, Disturbed and All That Remains turned out to be in the proposed music. I have nothing against these groups, but I'm waiting for the moment when the service finds out my wishes better and starts to offer music more qualitatively.
In the "For You" tab, not only albums, but also playlists created manually by service editors are offered. For example, in the Intro to The Hives playlist there were ten best songs from different albums of this group. Excellent function. I do not even need to explain why.
New
The "New" tab is an analog of the Featured section in the App Store and the iTunes Store. There are new albums of artists who have won the approval of Apple. Above there is a rubricator, and I very much advise it to use. According to experience with iTunes, very popular artists come here, and it is difficult to find good music. Sorting by rubrics a little saves the situation.
But in the same section are hidden and some of the coolest functions. A little lower you will find three things. The first - music collections of Apple Music editors. Only selected songs of different genres that pass through the moderators of the service come here.
The second is playlists of curators - famous music magazines. For example, Rolling Stone or Resident Advisor. You have to go here if you need new music, which you can not doubt.
And, finally, the third is activity. Here you can choose a playlist for any activity: running, cooking, partying, work or study. In each category with a dozen playlists. Here I hang for a long time, swinging the music for tomorrow's jogging.
Connect
I expected a lot from Connect, and while he disappointed me a little. Everyone has favorite artists, and follow them, for example on Twitter, is hell. The tape is filled with tweets with announcements of concerts, and the amount of useful information is reduced to zero. Therefore, Connect was supposed to be a kind of musical social network, where fans could interact with idols.
And it will, but a little later. So far, Connect has very little information, and what is, works somehow. I could not download the rehearsal video of Alabama Shakes , no matter how I tried: the player gave an error.
But already here you can see the rare photo from the concert of Nirvana and the comments of the band's admirers. Moreover, you can write a comment yourself, but someone does not answer. Only to complain.
Conclusion
Since the announcement on WWDC, I've been waiting for Apple Music. Perhaps, in my articles on Google Music and Spotify you know that I'm unevenly breathing to music, so I expected that Apple's service will be the point in finding the perfect way to listen to audio. And he became it.
However, in addition to a few shortcomings, which I described above, there is one more. Apple, in spite of its reputation as a company that creates an ideal ecosystem, did not tie devices within Apple Music. For example, I use the iPad as a music station, which is always connected to the speakers. But I can not manage music from the iPhone or Mac. By the way, Spotify can. I hope that with the release of the service for Mac, the function will still be added.