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Ask Google Search on Android to 'play some music' and... it will
Sometimes, having your entire music collection in your pocket can be a bit overwhelming. When there are hundreds (or in our case, thousands) of tracks at your disposal, where do you even begin to listen? To help thwart that paralysis of choice, Google is going to do the guessing for you with its latest tweak to Search. From Google Now or the search bar, simply say the magic words "play some music" and your Android device will start playing a random Play Music "I'm feeling lucky" mix that's based on recent listening habits. With its deep catalog of tunes, it's pretty easy to imagine that this feature's benefits increase exponentially if you're paying for Mountain View's All Access service, too. Subscriber or not, though, if you're stuck in a Nine Inch Nails rut, this could be the ticket out.
Google will launch a native Google Music iOS app later this month
If you've been against trying Google's Play Music All Access streaming service for lack of an official iOS app, it may soon be time to change your tune. Sources aware of Google's plans have let slip to Engadget that not only is the company currently testing a native Google Music iOS app internally, but that it'll launch later this month. We're told that while employees have been invited to test the app, Google still needs to fix a few bugs before it's ready for release. Google currently lets users in more than 19 countries sign up for its Standard and All Access music services, allowing offline and streaming access. Some users have made do with unofficial iOS apps in addition to a limited web app, but Google is said to be including the same custom radio and smart recommendation features found in the Android app. The company had previously closed the door on iOS users because Flash was needed to enforce DRM restrictions set by music labels. Now, Google appears to have overcome that issue and is nearly ready to launch. Editor's Note: The image above is only a render.
Where is Google All Access for iOS?
Remember this headline: "Google Play Music All Access coming in weeks"? This past year at D11, Google announced it would be bringing Google Play Music All Access to iOS in a couple weeks. Now here we are, three months later -- 14 long weeks -- and there's nothing to be found. For perspective, tomorrow Apple will most likely release its own streaming-music service, iTunes Radio. That service was announced on June 10, just a week after Google All Access for iOS. So what's the story? We can't tell you. Google hasn't released a comment about it. There's this thread on the Google Product Forums where users are looking for answers, but there's no official answer. Richard Devine of iMore has written an editorial looking at the issue (including a workaround), that is well worth a few minutes of your reading time this evening. As for now we continue to wait and enjoy the services that are currently working like Spotify, Rdio, Pandora and the rest.
Google Play Music All Access coming to iOS 'in a few weeks'
Sundar Pichai just dropped some pretty big news onstage at D11: Google's Play Music All Access app will be coming to iOS in the following weeks. When the streaming service debuted at I/O, we found it curious that an Apple-compatible version was missing, especially considering that Mountain View is quite generous in sharing its cloud services with folks on Cupertino's platform. Speaking with Walt Mossberg today, Pichai -- SVP of Android, Chrome and Apps at Google -- said Mountain View's goal is to be "universally accessible," noting that "when there's a mass of users, we invest in more platforms." Of course, that cross-platform love doesn't extend much to Windows Phone, which has tangled horns with Google over the lack of an official YouTube app. That's it for now; we'll be sure to clue you in when the iOS app gets a formal release date.
Editorial: Google confuses magic with middling as it steps into music streaming
First of all: that name. Google Play Music All Access. Perhaps Google's presenters realized, as they were driving to the I/O keynote, that they had forgotten to name the new music-streaming service, and came up with that clunker backstage. Unique? Magical? It's easy to dismiss those claims within minutes of signing up. Jump to the keynote, where Chris Yerga described All Access as "a uniquely Google approach to a subscription service," and remarked, "Here's where the magic starts." Unique? Magical? It's easy to dismiss those claims within minutes of signing up. Prosaic and useful, yes; unique and magical, no. All Access is nowhere near an innovation. The major ecosystem companies, each of which started with groundbreaking technical development, now seem to fashion their business destinies on buttressing their networks with products innovated elsewhere, plugging holes to sway existing users from drifting out of the system. It's not a new story, but always a sad one.
Google Play Music All Access announced at Google I/O
Google's long-rumored music streaming service became a reality today with the announcement of Google Play Music All Access. The company has already cleared licensing deals with all three major labels left standing -- Warner, Universal and Sony -- meaning they'll have millions of songs available upon launch. Beyond the expected streaming service, All Access will also feature a Pandora-like radio service that allows each individual song to become a radio station with a simple button press. The service will also feature a component called Listen Now, which will highlight new releases and recommendations based on your listening habits. Music from your Google Music locker will also be included. All Access will require a monthly fee of US$9.99, with no free ad-supported option like competitor Spotify, though anyone who signs up before June 30th will get $2 off the monthly fee.
Google launches All Access music-streaming service in the US: $9.99 monthly fee
And now, one of the most anticipated I/O announcements. As rumored, Google has been working toward the launch of its own music-streaming service, and the official unveiling came today. Dubbed Google Play Music All Access, the product has a strong focus on personalized recommendations via the so-called Explore feature. Like Spotify and other services, All Access will let you start a radio station while listening to a particular track, and in-depth tweaking controls allow you to nix songs that don't suit your fancy. Another feature demoed onstage is Listen Now, which highlights new releases and content Google thinks you'll enjoy. As anticipated, All Access will require a monthly fee. A subscription costs $9.99 in the US, and all users will get a 30-day free trial. The service is launching stateside today, and if you sign up before June 30th, you'll get $2 off the monthly fee. We'll be taking All Access for a test drive as soon as possible -- check back for our initial impressions. %Gallery-188433%
