Malcolm Owen
Ten months after initially announcing Spotify HiFi lossless audio and subsequently missing its 2021 deadline for launch, Spotify isn't offering any hint of a revised timeline for the feature.
In February 2021, Spotify attempted to spoil the launch of lossless audio streams on Apple Music by declaring its own feature was on the way. Spotify HiFi, which would provide CD-quality lossless audio to Premium subscribers, was supposed to launch in "select markets" later in 2021.
Almost ten months later without a release, Spotify has offered an update on Spotify HiFi. However, rather than being hopeful and offering when to expect its launch, the update is somewhat disappointing for those paying a monthly subscription to the music streaming service.
In an update to a lengthy community thread for feature ideas, Spotify posted on Friday an assurance that it is still working on the feature. "We know that HiFi quality audio is important to you. We feel the same, and we're excited to deliver a Spotify HiFi experience to Premium users in the future," the update reads.
While initially hopeful, the update then follows up by admitting "But we don't have timing details to share yet." Spotify concludes by saying it will update the community about the feature in the future.
Spotify doesn't offer any explanation for why it missed its quite long deadline, nor what is stopping it from offering the service to paying users.
Though Spotify attempted to spoil the launch of Apple Music lossless audio the Apple streaming service's feature seemingly wasn't affected by the announcement. Apple announced lossless audio and Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos in May, then made the features available to users in June.
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15 Comments
But people on here always claim that Apple copies Spotify.
So, they can't afford the streaming bandwidth or the labels won't give them a license for lossless music cheaply? All of the above?
Kind of speaks to Spotify's market position as the "big dog". When you are the major player, things don't come cheaply or easy anymore.
The concern trolling among the Apple fan sites about a throwaway feature is top-notch. Both AppleInsider and 9to5 Mac dedicated above-the-fold space on a Sunday morning to this. Like, someone got out of bed on a day off to write this nonsense.
To be clear: As a Spotify Premium subscriber, I certainly wish they wouldn't promise features they're unable to deliver. However: Glass houses and all, given Apple's inability to deliver its full menu of promised features in iOS 15 or Big Sur, even months after their launch. Software development is incredibly difficult. The push-pull between what marketing wants to tease and what engineering can deliver is real, and present at any company, whether Apple or Spotify or a 5-person app shop. Difficult, under the best of circumstances.
Maybe be better, AI? You write some great articles and often cut through the junk that passes as content elsewhere. Kudos. Stuff like this is not up to standard, IMO (Offered respectfully. Obvi, I'm one reader among thousands. Take my comments within that context.)