Android App Review
It seems that developers are rushing to get on the music streaming bandwagon and this week’s App of the Week aims to be the beat them all out of the park.
We all know of the rivalry between iOS and Android with the result being that apps made by their respective parents, Apple and Google, only cross operating systems after a lengthy period of time, and mostly slightly sub par. But the story is a little different when it comes to streaming music. In order to compete in the crowded streaming field — and take on early giants like Spotify — Apple Music needs to be available on every platform people use. So earlier this week Apple launched Apple Music on Android and it isn’t leaving Android users with a second-rate experience.
While it has pretty much the same interface as can be expected among other such music streaming apps, like Anghami for instance, the search bar is at the top letting you instantly key in that Cher song you love, the different sections of the app are available through a sliding menu on the left which includes the “For You” tab, a feature that pulls playlists and makes recommendations depending on the songs you listen to using the app.
There’s also the “Radio” which let’s you listen to stations that are themed to specific genres such as Hip-Hop and Pop. Unfortunately, the Beats 1 radio station is not available locally which is a cause of sadness to many. The “Connect” tab is another feature, it’s a platform that lets artists share photos, videos and behind the scenes clips. Last but not least, there’s the “My Music” tab which showcases your locally stored (and mysteriously acquired) songs.
Now the Apple Music for Android is in Beta, so there are some features missing such as music videos.
All in all, it’s an experience much similar to Apple Music for iOS and in fact many other such music streaming services, though there is one place in which Apple Music falls short: the signup process. When you first start up Apple Music you can choose the free 3 month trial, with one drawback, you’ll have to then choose the AED 20-a-month plan that’ll kick in after the trial ends. As a result you’re then forced to sign up for an Apple ID if you don’t have one, enter your details, write down answers for questions such as “What’s the name of your first pet” and then input your credit card details.
While having done all of the above, it is quite the process when there are much more user friendly applications out there such as Anghami.
Apple Music can be download for free from the Google Play Store here.
