FIRST TASTE
Seamless and easy to set up, the Family Plan pricing might be best thing about it
As Apple Music goes online, users can expect a positive initial impression,
Apple entered the music streaming world Tuesday, launching its Apple Music in 100 countries around the world, including Canada, with a free three-month trial for anybody who signs up.
After that, it will cost Canadians $9.99 a month for a single-user subscription and $14.99 for a Family Sharing plan that can be used by up to six people.
In addition to the streaming capabilities that feature access to 30 million songs, Apple also launched Beats 1, a worldwide radio station with a schedule that features shows hosted by well-known musicians.
Here are some first impressions: Set up is easy Most iOS users were filled with dread when they heard Apple Music would require a system update, as it comes bundled in iOS 8.4. These updates have been buggy in the past, but so far there have been few reports of phones experiencing problems with this one.
After downloading and installing, the onboard Music app is updated and prompts you to start your free three-month trial. After you sign up, Apple Music shows you a number of genres, which you tap once if you like, or twice if you love. Then it lists artists and asks the same.
Once that’s done, the key section is the first one called For You. This is where the service makes suggestions based on your picks.
I was impressed with what it served up. It was mostly playlists based on artists, but it also served up some bands and albums that I loved, which is a good way to build trust in its algorithm. It was off to a good start. Seamless but still confusing I’ve used streaming services for the past few years, so most of what Apple Music is trying to do is familiar to me. One place it differs is how it inte- grates your iTunes music library and the music you’re streaming. All of your music is in a folder called My Music. It’s handy that you can create playlists with both your bought and rented (streamed) music.
That said, it does feel like Apple is playing catch up here, and putting every music-based idea into its service. It suggests artists and playlists in several different areas: not only in the For You section, but also under New, which is a place for charts, playlists, and other bands and albums Apple Music is promoting. Beats 1is a blast It seems like a blast from the past, but Apple Music features a radio station headed up by Zane Lowe, an influential British deejay. The first two hours of the service featured a good mix, including Spring Kick, Jamie XX, AC/DC and an exclusive new Pharrell Williams track, “Freedom.” Lowe is an enthusiastic host and huge music fan. I liked the variety and that it avoids the cookie-cutter formats that most terrestrial radio is based on.
There were a couple of annoying ticks. Maybe it was just first day nerves, but Lowe seemed to be yelling a lot, and while there are no ads yet, the whole thing is an ad for Apple Music as Lowe’s between-song patter makes clear. This is a free tier so that’s likely not going to ever end. Streaming holdouts show up This is really where the streaming wars are headed, and with Apple’s long history with labels and musicians, they know they have a strength here to exploit.
There are some artists who remain streaming holdouts, including the Beatles and Prince, but Apple Music has convinced some artists to come around. Taylor Swift and her 1989 are there, as is AC/DC, who have now put their catalogue up on Spotify, Deezer and Rdio. Beats 1will also have exclusive shows, such as those hosted by Dr. Dre, Drake, St. Vincent, Elton John and more.
That said, the one misstep may be its Connect area, which is a social network where you can follow artists. Right now, it just looks like a place where the band’s or musician’s social media feeds are grouped, and it doesn’t seem special in any way. Family values While Apple Music seems like a solid offering, so far, it doesn’t seem to provide a big argument in favour of streaming. At $9.99, it costs the same as the other paid streaming services (Spotify, Deezer), with roughly the same number of songs (more than most people would ever want).
That said, Apple’s $14.99 Family Sharing plan can be used by up to six people and costs less than other plans. Its biggest rival, Spotify, has a family plan for two users that costs $14.99 and goes up by $5 per additional user. There are rumours that Spotify might match Apple Music’s price, but right now, that is one big advantage for the newcomer.