Apple Music poised to get native Android tablet interface

A native tablet interface and other significant UI changes for Apple Music on Android are now in beta, as Apple works to keep the client up to par with the iOS version.

On Android tablets the Apple Music 2.7.0 beta expands to fill out display space, not just showing more items onscreen but allowing users to browse categories like playlists and music videos without having to open them separately, Pixel Spot noted. A top bar in the Browse section lets users jump to some categories.

All Android devices should now have access to a bottom tab bar, similar to the one on iPhones and iPads. Previously Android users had to navigate via an expanding "hamburger" menu.

To access the 2.7.0 beta Android users must join the Apple Music beta Google Group. Once accepted, the software should become available through the Google Play Store.

Apple has been criticized for treating the Android version of Apple Music as an afterthought, taking months or even longer to carry over iOS features. In fact while Apple Music came to iPhones and iPads in June 2015, it didn't reach Android until November that year.

It was only in August 2018 that Apple began supporting Android Auto, whereas iPhone users have had CarPlay for years.

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8 Comments

lkrupp

said about 5 years ago

Part of the services push along with iTunes for Windows. Just ignore the blathering of the naysayers who claim Apple apps suck on Windows and Android. They do not and that’s part of the reason Apple Music is growing. Now let’s just wait for the video streaming services to get going. Is it starting to sink in why Apple has chosen to end unit sales reports? So many here still spew the analysis that unless Apple diversifies and depends less on the iPhone for existence, they’re doomed. Well, they’re doing it now but, of course, they’re still doomed to extinction because of unit sales, right?

jdgarvin50

said about 5 years ago

Apple is doing as good a job as anyone else creating splinter code for all the fractured flavors of Android, I imagine.

ericthehalfbee

said about 5 years ago

That's funny.

Apple Music has a native Android tablet App that's actually optimized for tablet usage, while the majority of Android developers can't be bothered to optimize for tablets at all.

michelb76

said about 5 years ago

jdgarvin50 said:

Apple is doing as good a job as anyone else creating splinter code for all the fractured flavors of Android, I imagine.

It's not that bad anymore to be honest. You only have to focus on about 4 versions tops, and a lot of this is solved with a good IDE. Still double than with iOS though. But you can ignore some older versions depending on your market. And Apple needs more users, not units.