Shane Cole
After months of delays, Google's iTunes Match competitor and all-you-can-listen subscription music service officially made its way to the iOS App Store on Friday, providing access to both All Access subscriptions as well as standard Google Play Music features.
The iOS version of Google Play Music appears to match up well with its Android counterpart, allowing users to store and stream their own music libraries or, with the $9.99-per-month All Access upgrade, tracks from major labels. Users can also create custom radio stations from any song or album, or listen to one of several predefined stations.
Unlike competitors Pandora and iTunes Radio, there is no limit to the number of tracks a user can skip when listening to radio stations. The inclusion of skip limits has long been a pain point for users of other services.
Google Play Music and the Spotify-like All Access service were announced by the search giant in May. A web client and mobile application for Google's Android mobile operating system accompanied the launch, with an iOS application promised to follow weeks later.
The iOS application never materialized, despite persistent rumors pointing to its imminent release. Google cited DRM concerns stemming from iOS's lack of support for Adobe's Flash as the reason for the delay, but Friday's release indicates the company has apparently overcome those issues.
Google Play Music is available today as a free download from the App Store, and new users are eligible to receive one free month of the All Access service.
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71 Comments
No thanks. I don't support anything google, they are probably selling your listening habits and then you'll get gmail adds with music or something.
No thanks. I don't support anything google, they are probably selling your listening habits and then you'll get gmail adds with music or something.
Not really how it works, but yes, 'being tracked' comes with almost all things Google (and Apple- whether you like it or not).
Google has a vested interest in guarding your info, not selling it.
Google doesn't place most ads that generate them revenue. For example the 3993827382 ads you see surrounding these forums are placed by AI, not Google. If you use Google services what changes is what ads get displayed to you. You get the ads either way. One way you get a bunch of random crap or stuff that is 'generally' targeted to the types of people that might visit AI. If you use services like Google music there is a better chance that those ads won't be as 'random' and when the band that you listen to most on Google Music is coming to your town there's a better chance one of those ads will be for tickets to go see the show instead of for the random 'dish detergent' ad.
[quote name="alphafox" url="/t/160757/official-google-play-music-app-debuts-on-apples-ios#post_2435459"]No thanks. I don't support anything google, they are probably selling your listening habits and then you'll get gmail adds with music or something.[/quote] While you're worrying about Google these are the others tracking your every move just here at AppleInsider according to Ghostery. And unlike most FUD about Google some of these guys may really be selling what information they find out about you. x+1[SIZE=2] / Advertising[/SIZE] Aggregate Knowledge[SIZE=2] /Beacons[/SIZE] Atlas[SIZE=2] /Advertising[/SIZE] BlueKai[SIZE=2] /Beacons[/SIZE] Criteo[SIZE=2] /Advertising[/SIZE] Connexity [SIZE=2]/Advertising[/SIZE] DataXu [SIZE=2]/Advertising[/SIZE] DoubleVerify[SIZE=2] /Analytics[/SIZE] eBay Stats[SIZE=2] /Advertising[/SIZE] Facebook Connect[SIZE=2] /Widgets[/SIZE] InsightExpress[SIZE=2] /Analytics[/SIZE] Integral Ad Science [SIZE=2]/Analytics[/SIZE] MLN Advertising[SIZE=2] /Advertising[/SIZE] MediaMath[SIZE=2] /Advertising[/SIZE] Moat[SIZE=2] /Advertising[/SIZE] Neustar AdAdvisor[SIZE=2] /Beacons[/SIZE] OpenX[SIZE=2] /Advertising[/SIZE] PubMatic [SIZE=2]/Advertising[/SIZE] Quantcast[SIZE=2] /Advertising[/SIZE] ScoreCard Research Beacon[SIZE=2] /Beacons[/SIZE] TRUSTe Notice[SIZE=2] /Privacy[/SIZE] TubeMogul [SIZE=2]/Analytics[/SIZE] Turn[SIZE=2] /Advertising[/SIZE] VigLink [SIZE=2]/Advertising[/SIZE] VoiceFive[SIZE=2] /Beacons[/SIZE] High-profile and closely monitored Google would be the least of my worries.
I've been using Google Play for a while now, and it works very well. When you install it on your Mac, it will even upload new music toGoogle Play, which has been downloaded in iTunes. I plan on cancelling my iTunes match subscription That's $24.99 more in my pocket and less in Apple's.
Not really how it works, but yes, 'being tracked' comes with almost all things Google (and Apple- whether you like it or not).
Google has a vested interest in guarding your info, not selling it.
Google doesn't place most ads that generate them revenue. For example the 3993827382 ads you see surrounding these forums are placed by AI, not Google. If you use Google services what changes is what ads get displayed to you. You get the ads either way. One way you get a bunch of random crap or stuff that is 'generally' targeted to the types of people that might visit AI. If you use services like Google music there is a better chance that those ads won't be as 'random' and when the band that you listen to most on Google Music is coming to your town there's a better chance one of those ads will be for tickets to go see the show instead of for the random 'dish detergent' ad.
Yes, but it is disconcerting when you do a search for a product and instantly consecutive pages visited a full of very closely related ads. It feels invasive - like some buggy sales person following you around in a store.