Neil Hughes
The native Music app in Apple's iOS 8.4 and iOS 9 betas was updated on Thursday with access to a new "Radio" tab, including a preview of the company's new live, flagship radio station Beats 1.
With Thursday's soft launch, there are a total of 28 stations. Beats 1 is Apple's only live station, while the other options are tweaked versions of Apple's previous iTunes Radio genre channels.
Options span the usual gamut of music, from classical to country, and there's even a "Disney Princess Radio" station available. The new "Radio" tab is located in the lower right of the iOS 8.4 and iOS 9 Music app, next to "Playlists" and "My Music."
Beats 1 and iOS 8.4 are expected to formally launch on June 30, alongside the new Apple Music subscription service. Anyone will have access to the Beats 1 station, however.
As of Thursday, the Beats 1 station is not yet live, as it just teases users with a "coming soon" track. In it, DJ Zane Lowe introduces the product and highlights what will eventually be on the channel.
Beats 1 will be live 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It will be hosted by Lowe, former of BBC 1, Ebro Darden of HOT 97 fame, and British tastemaker Julie Adenuga.
Ahead of this month's Apple Music launch, users around the world began seeing signup availability advertised on their iPhones running the latest iOS 8.4 beta starting this week. Apple Music will cost $9.99 per month, but its launch will be accompanied by a three-month free trial period.
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29 Comments
Oy I know it's just an early teaser, but why the noisy, compressed FM-esque bumper and promo style? That technique is so tired and overused, I am hoping Apple gets more refined in presentation...still looking forward to the service, and have already signed up for the family plan.
I'm ready! Take my money! (after the first three months)
I've cancelled Spotify.
12 more days...
Additionally, I hope those additional 27 stations are a lot more than tweaked. iTunes Radio stations were badly generated.
[quote name="thrang" url="/t/186810/apple-music-radio-debuts-in-ios-8-4-ios-9-betas-with-28-stations-including-beats-1#post_2737167"]Oy I know it's just an early teaser, but why the noisy, compressed FM-esque bumper and promo style? That technique is so tired and overused, I am hoping Apple gets more refined in presentation...still looking forward to the service, and have already signed up for the family plan.[/quote] It sounds like BBC Radio 1 or Capital FM. Or like any other radio station I can find on TuneIn. Apple considers this revolutionary? Sorry Jimmy, sorry Trent, sorry Eddy not buying it.
What did you expect exactly? It's a radio station. I think it's fine.
[VIDEO][/VIDEO]
Oy I know it's just an early teaser, but why the noisy, compressed FM-esque bumper and promo style? That technique is so tired and overused, I am hoping Apple gets more refined in presentation...still looking forward to the service, and have already signed up for the family plan.
[VIDEO]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws58s9wzYsA[/VIDEO]