Roger Fingas
Subscribers to Google Play Music can now access the on-demand service via Apple's CarPlay, which bridges iPhone apps with in-dash interfaces in compatible vehicles.
The CarPlay interface is divided into Home, Recents, Music Library and Stations sections. While most of these are self-explanatory, Home offers recommendations, which can be based not just on past listening but factors like place or the time of day.
To get CarPlay, Play Music users must update to the latest iPhone app, then connect to a car via Wi-Fi or a Lightning cable, depending on the vehicle's implementation. It may be necessary to rearrange CarPlay's home screen icons to see Play Music on the front page, but this can be done through the General section of the iOS 10 Settings app.
To date, CarPlay is still supported by relatively few iPhone apps, most of which focus on music, radio and podcasts. This includes Play Music competitors Pandora, Slacker, Spotify, and of course Apple Music.
Indeed, Play Music is the first Google app to appear on the platform. While Google Maps or Waze might seem like natural choices, Apple so far appears to be blocking navigation apps other than its own.
Play Music is a free download from the App Store. Some aspects of the service are free, but plans for full on-demand listening start at $9.99 per month.
Charles Martin
Malcolm Owen
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
Wesley Hilliard
18 Comments
This is good news ...and more than a little surprising. Years ago, as Apple dawdled on development of a music service, I trialed Google Play Music on my iPad...and loved it. I never switched to Apple Music, because GPM was excellent, and continues to upgrade over time as well. The ipad app is very good. With all the emphasis Apple now puts on its Music service, one would not expect this to be the first Google app enabled for carPlay. But as a driver of an older vehicle, without such fancy platform interfaces, I long ago put an ipad Mini mount on my dash so as to use Google Maps, various music apps, email and text, voice dictation, Notes, and such during transit. So, in effect, my "poor man's CarPlay" put me "ahead" of the curve on having the car platform I wanted.
Fuck Google
Finally!!! So excited by this
Really liking Google Play Music. Seamless integration between the 8,000 tracks I've uploaded, all the music on demand and all the "stations" (so many stations) - and all just there across all my devices easy peasy - links to videos of some of the songs, plus the sub includes YouTube Red - All the YouTube without all of the pre-roll or interstitial ads ("priceless"), and everything plays in the background without the app having to be the focus. Haven't tried the YouTube Music app yet though, as not sure what it'll do for me that YT doesn't itself, and I try to avoid having apps I don't need and very seldom ever uninstall an app. As in maybe never??
Do I miss the Apple Beats station? Uhhhh.... ...no. And the only thing I use iTunes Music for anymore is burning CDs prior to upload onto GPM....
(Plus I snagged one of the first three months free trials they offer now and then, so 25% off the first year.... ...being on Car Play is just a little more gravy.)