Apple has released iOS 13.1 today with new AirDrop features, Share ETA in Apple Maps, and more, such as patches for security issues.
Apple Music
Apple Music on the Web, Voice Assistant Perspectives – TMO Daily Observations 2019-09-06
Charlotte Henry and Dave Hamilton join host Kelly Guimont to talk about the latest web interface from Apple, and voice assistant points of view.
Apple Beta Tests Official Apple Music Web Player
Apple is starting to get the hang of what being a services company really means. Charlotte and I have wrote about unofficial web players for Apple Music, and now Apple is beta testing an official one.
To use the new Apple Music web version, subscribers can visit the link beta.music.apple.com and sign in with their Apple ID.
At launch, the service includes many core features, like searching and playing songs from the Apple Music catalog, searching and playing songs from your library (if Sync Library is enabled), accessing your playlists and more.
Spotify Offering Three Months of Premium for Free, Matching Apple Music
Spotify is giving users the first three months of a Premium plan for free, bringing it in-line with Apple Music’s offer.
New Shazam Discovery Playlist for Apple Music
Today Apple Music launches the Shazam Discovery Top 50 playlist, which is a weekly global ranking of 50 trending artists.
The chart will be updated every Tuesday and is exclusively available to stream on Apple Music. Artists at the top of the first list include Ohana Bam, A$ton Wyld, Tones and I and Regard…The chart ranks songs that are trending in the U.S. and “over 10 countries”; artists from more countries will be featured soon.
Sounds cool but I hope it’s not filled with hip-hop, because that seems to be Apple Music’s focus.
Apple Digital Masters Launches with Mastered Music Collection
Apple Digital Masters is a new initiative that combines all of the Mastered for iTunes music into one global catalog.
Apple Music for Artists Now Available to Musicians
Apple Music for Artists is a platform Apple launched last year that gives musicians an analytics dashboard. It leaves beta today.
Apple Music Alternative Playlist Renamed 'ALT CTRL'
Apple is slowly rebranding Apple Music, and its latest efforts include renaming the Apple Music alternative playlist to ALT CTRL.
The playlist, which features 50 songs, will change every week. Each song is hand selected by a group of curators. The songs featured have less to do with genre, and more to do with overall feel and themes.
“ALT CTRL, formerly known as The A-List: Alternative, is where you’ll find the best of those new left-of-center tunes.” reads the Editors’ notes on the new ALT CTRL page, “Alternative is more an attitude than a sound—music that colors just a bit outside the lines.”
Apple Music Free Trial Might Get Reduced to One Month
On Apple’s accessories website, an Apple Music free trial banner was offering one month instead of three. But Andrew still sees three.
Apple Music Names DJ Khaled First Artist in Residence
DJ Khaled announced on Instagram that he has been named Apple Music’s first artist in residence.
Ed Sheeran is Absolutely Dominating Spotify
Ed Sheeran is the number one artist globally on Spotify, and his latest album is being heavily promoted on Apple Music too.
Apple Music Student Trial Doubled to Six Months
The Apple Music student trial has been doubled to six months, giving students even more value as they decide whether to join or not.
Apple Music Up Next Live Will Bring Live Music Around the World
Today Apple announced Up Next Live, a series of musical performances featuring a variety of musicians and hosted in local Apple retail stores.
Apple Music Reaches 60 Million Subscribers Worldwide
Eddy Cue said today that Apple Music has 60 million subscribers worldwide. Beats 1 also has “tens of millions of listeners.”
Robocalls, Spotify vs Apple – TMO Daily Observations 2019-06-25
Charlotte Henry and Andrew Orr join host Kelly Guimont to discuss a new approach to fighting robocalls and Spotify’s complaint against Apple.
macOS Catalina Media File Locations
macOS Catalina will turn iTunes into Music and add Podcasts and Apple TV apps. This means that media file locations will be a bit different.
Every Final Fantasy Soundtrack Now on Apple Music
Square Enix has released every Final Fantasy soundtrack on Apple Music and Spotify. Search for “Final Fantasy original soundtrack.”
There’s been no mention of it on Square Enix’s social media channels, even the Final Fantasy-specific one. But it likely has to do with a special concert being given this week for FF VII, the remake of which is almost certain to appear at E3. I’ve listened to a few tracks and it all seems legit. The only thing is that many of the titles are in Japanese — so it might be difficult to pick out your favorite character’s theme or what have you if you don’t, you know, speak that language.
Next Week Apple Music Will Host Tyler The Creator Concert
Next week Apple Music is hosting a Tyler The Creator concert in Los Angeles, California. It will be a free event for people aged 16 and older.
Apple Music for Alexa Comes to Australia
A recently updated Apple support page shows that Apple Music for Alexa is now available for Australian customers.
Apple Releases iOS 12.3 Update With New TV App
Apple has released the iOS 12.3 update, much of which is focused on a new TV app that the company introduced in its March keynote.
YouTube Music Trailing Behind Apple Music and Spotify
Google’s premium music service continues to trail Apple Music and Spotify – YouTube Music has significantly fewer subscribers than its rivals.
Apple Hires Lindsay Rothschild as Head of Creative Services
Apple hired former YouTube employee Lindsay Rothschild as Head of Creative Services, Music Publishing for North America.
After Spotify Complains, EU Launches Apple Music Probe
The European Union is launching an Apple Music probe after Spotify accuses Apple of antitrust since it owns both Apple Music and the App Store.
Tool Heading to Apple Music and Spotify
LA art-rock band Tool had previously resisted being on streaming services, but now it has profiles on both Apple Music and Spotify.