Apple Music and Beats 1 thoughts

[SRG]

With all the iTunes, iOS and OS X updates in the wild now needed for us to enjoy the new Apple Music and Beats 1 features, what are your thoughts?

Particularly interested in the views of MacTalkers who have been using other streaming services up until now.

Apple Music has a free three month trial so worth checking it out once you grab all the updates.

[nige]

My first impressions this morning were good. Beats 1 seemed to be playing older music and it was varied (jay-z followed by the Beastie Boys). Catalogue range of music is pretty good - compared to spotify which often has albums missing from more popular artists.

The bad news though - this afternoon I noticed most of my playlists had disappeared. When trying to recreate one for a run I found some albums were missing (mostly CD rips of compilations) and some obvious UX issues when creating a playlist.

[TimboC]

I have a sense that Apple Music is simply a repackaging of the previous Genius Mixes that iTunes packaged together out of my music, augmented by some music I haven't purchased.

I'm also less than impressed by the iPhone interface, which is suddenly very different and unfamiliar to use in the car; even Siri is confused when I ask for one of my (previously well-used) playlists.

No doubt, in time, I will be trained by Apple!

[mick132]

One negative is that all track numbers have disappeared. This is playing my own music from both an album and a playlist. Also on my iOS devices album view is gone and you can only browse by artist. The Beats 1 does not really have my tastes in music, but I only listened for a short time.

[TimboC]

Mick, there's still an album view, but it's a bit more complex. First, in the Settings menu, you can select how albums in your library are sorted. Then, in the Music app, if you select "my music", you'll see in the top centre of the screen "Artists" which you can touch to select "Albums"...it's there, but not as we used to know it

[Oldmacs]

I like apple music, and I like the new music app features Such as up next, the mini player and a few other thing so. I really hate how on device music has been relegated into two tabs (or one) on the bottom. I'd like albums, artists, playlists and then a more button for the rest. I'd love if we could customise and remove say "new" and "connect" and replace with albums and artists.

[mick132]

Mick, there's still an album view, but it's a bit more complex. First, in the Settings menu, you can select how albums in your library are sorted. Then, in the Music app, if you select "my music", you'll see in the top centre of the screen "Artists" which you can touch to select "Albums"...it's there, but not as we used to know it

Yes I found that today. I also updated iTunes this morning and can report that there were no problems. The layout is the same as the last version with the addition of the tabs for Radio etc. Mashable is reporting that some people are having problems since updating iTunes where the tracks, artists and artwork are being jumbled. I definitely have not had this problem.

[Dog Knight]

I haven't explored it fully yet but I do like the custom 'For You' radio stations that it generates based off your initial input.

[james the 2nd]

Gotta say, I'm enjoying Beats1. It's making my music app on the iPhone feel 'alive'.
Early impressions are positive.

[Goodbye]

Well I have cancelled my Spotify subscription. I'm loving Apple Music! I like Beats 1, and personally I'd rather give my money to Apple than Spotify.

[kyte]

Well I have cancelled my Spotify subscription. I'm loving Apple Music! I like Beats 1, and personally I'd rather give my money to Apple than Spotify.

Whats wrong with Spotify? I mean... why is Apple Music better?

[Oldmacs]

Whats wrong with Spotify? I mean... why is Apple Music better?

I can't speak for everyone, but in my case it's better because I don't have to switch apps constantly between music/iTunes and spotify. It's just more convenient and integrated.

[AfterBurner_1]

I haven't yet had a chance to use it. just got back from sorting out my parents tech meltdown. will review once i have.

still need to grab the new iOS builds.

[Oldmacs]

Does anyone else find that Beats 1 music is really overhyped? I mean... really why is it so special?

[ThankDog]

Is there a difference to how iTunes processes music now? For some reason the sound of songs has improved dramatically with this update. I can hear things clearly in songs that were previously drowned out. Just a crisper, cleaner sound. Either that, or I'm going crazy...