[mactracker1138]

Thanks for that. Your experience mirrors my 3 months with Apple Music, so apparently nothing has really changed.

I had issues with offline music doubling, offline music not showing up and often re-downloading after I removed it, albums from my iCloud Music Library (that I have on my Mac) suddenly became unavailable with no way to fix it, crazy skipping of tracks on radio. I once watched it blaze through about 25 songs, failing to play each one, all Apple Music tracks. I've had tons of artwork discrepancies. Usually it'll be fine in iTunes but the art on my iPhone and iPad would be totally wrong. Only fix for that was deleting the artwork in iTunes, finding the artwork image on Google Images, downloading it, and then manually replacing the art, then re-sync with iCloud Music Library.
There was plenty of other stuff I'm not recalling at the moment. The bottom line is, I really wanted AM to work. I love so much about it, but it's totally an exercise in frustration. I'm pretty shocked they haven't regrouped and sorted this stuff out by now.

I love Google Music too, but have my list of complaints there as well. I can say though, that functionally, Google Play Music is 99% solid.


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I too have had the mysterious doubling and tripling of songs and the strange skipping you mention. Artwork vanishes and reappears at will. It's just swirling chaos when I open the app. It's so not Apple like.

I have all my music on Google as well and, by and large, that functioned pretty solidly. And, yes, there are some issues with it but nothing like what I'm seeing here with Apple Music.

I just downloaded and got Spotify up and running and am on a free 7 day trial. I've downloaded some playlists for offline use and nothing odd has happened. I get the feeling like its there to stay until I make the call to delete it.

Also I noticed the playlist on Spotify seem to be much longer, there's a lot more songs for anything you're looking for. However it seems lacking in discovering new artists. It's there but not as proactive as Apple's implementation in the "for you" tab. I am aware that the Apple Music library is slightly larger than that of Spotify and Spotify has lost some artists but overall I think both libraries in their totality will be pretty comparable.

In the end I'm going to have to go with what works more reliably. I get the feeling by what I'm reading from earlier reports by frustrated Apple Music users (including yourself) that nothing has improved over the last few months. That's a bit shocking to me considering how much hype they put on this.

I'm not thrilled at the prospect of using Spotify as my daily driver but in this case, it just works. It pains me to write that.


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[Ticojpunk]

I find Spotify to be 99% solid as well, functionally. However, Google Music's catalog is slightly better for my tastes than Spotify. I also need the ability to add my own music to fill the holes in a service's catalog. Only Apple and Google really offer that. Google's implementation is awesome for this. I don't upload my whole iTunes library to Google. I only upload things I find missing in the Google Play Music catalog (the Beatles for example, and some older punk records they don't happen to have, though they have a LOT).

There's something about Spotify I don't like. Maybe it's the dark interface, or just the way it's laid out. Trust me, I have plenty to critique when it comes to Google (what's with the dumb zoomed/cropped artwork?).

Enjoy Spotify. It's definitely a solid choice.

I'm hoping when the iPhone 7 and iOS X rolls around Apple Music gets an overhaul. I think it's incredible potential is being squandered right now.


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[beeray]

I love Apple Music. I have four kids and my husband and myself so for $15 a month, we all use it. Never a fan of spotify.

[mactracker1138]

I find Spotify to be 99% solid as well, functionally. However, Google Music's catalog is slightly better for my tastes than Spotify. I also need the ability to add my own music to fill the holes in a service's catalog. Only Apple and Google really offer that. Google's implementation is awesome for this. I don't upload my whole iTunes library to Google. I only upload things I find missing in the Google Play Music catalog (the Beatles for example, and some older punk records they don't happen to have, though they have a LOT).

There's something about Spotify I don't like. Maybe it's the dark interface, or just the way it's laid out. Trust me, I have plenty to critique when it comes to Google (what's with the dumb zoomed/cropped artwork?).

Enjoy Spotify. It's definitely a solid choice.

I'm hoping when the iPhone 7 and iOS X rolls around Apple Music gets an overhaul. I think it's incredible potential is being squandered right now.


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There is something about Spotify that I don't like either. Something feels gloomy about it. I think it is the dark interface. It is a solid and functional app which Apple Music is proving not to be for me. Yet still, there's something with Spotify that's nagging me and making me have second thoughts.

The cropped, zoomed in artwork on Google annoys me to no end. I don't understand that either. Why?

I've tried over the last couple of hours to once again download Apple's own curated playlists for offline listening and every attempted download has failed in some way. New playlists put out by Apple's own curators are suddenly not available anymore but are under the "new" tab. What happened? Do these playlists suddenly expire without warning?

Some only partially downloaded. While some songs aren't available for offline listening, these were not the songs in that category.

Only way to really get it going is to go into each individual playlist and download the songs one by one.

Just a terrible experience. Is there a server issue that is happening? It seems anyone with a decent sized library is having issues. Those who just want to stream are fine with the occasional hiccup but any heavy lifting with music libraries seems to cause issues. I can't wait for iOS 9.1. I'm hoping there's a fix for all of this in there.


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[bobauckland]

I prefer Apple Music but without Sonos integration, staying with Google Music for now.
Tried and abandoned Spotify for Google Music and will likely move to Apple Music when Sonos integration comes.

[MissShayona]

I'm keeping it and canceling Spotify.

[Ticojpunk]

I'm keeping it and canceling Spotify.

What do you like or not like about one over the other?


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[MissShayona]

What do you like or not like about one over the other?


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I just have so much more music purchased through iTunes that I find myself using it more than Spotify. It's like I'm cheating on Spotify.

[GatsbyGlen]

I just recently got an iPhone after using Android for a long time. I've been a Google Play Music subscriber now for over 2 years and I'm checking out Apple Music's trial service. Apple ($9.99) vs Google ($7.99) - I'll read over the thread to glean some insight on the differences between the two.

Some questions

• Can you cast Apple Music to a device, say a TV like Google Play Music?
• Is there a limit to how much music can be made available offline?
• Google provides a web front end for managing music. For Apple, is this only done via iTunes?
• Does anyone know if there is a difference in streaming audio quality between the two?

Interesting hearing any info on differences from those that have used both

Thanks!

[Ticojpunk]

I just recently got an iPhone after using Android for a long time. I've been a Google Play Music subscriber now for over 2 years and I'm checking out Apple Music's trial service. Apple ($9.99) vs Google ($7.99) - I'll read over the thread to glean some insight on the differences between the two.

Some questions

• Can you cast Apple Music to a device, say a TV like Google Play Music?
• Is there a limit to how much music can be made available offline?
• Google provides a web front end for managing music. For Apple, is this only done via iTunes?
• Does anyone know if there is a difference in streaming audio quality between the two?

Interesting hearing any info on differences from those that have used both

Thanks!

The only way to get Apple Music to stream through your TV is with an Apple TV 2.

No limit to offline music other than device storage limitations.

No Web player for Apple Music, only through iTunes.

I used both back and forth all summer and noticed no quality difference.

I ended up sticking with Google Music because of a slightly better catalog, Web player, no bugs, and the ability to easily upload whatever of my own albums I want to fill in any gaps in Google's library. With Apple Music iCloud Music Library it was all or nothing.

The icing on the cake is the new ad-free YouTube Red will soon be included with a Google Play Music subscription.

If you still have that $7.99 promo price I'd without a doubt stick with Google Music. I had that promo price in the beginning and for whatever reason I wanted to go with Spotify at the time and like a dope I gave it up.

[GatsbyGlen]

The only way to get Apple Music to stream through your TV is with an Apple TV 2.

No limit to offline music other than device storage limitations.

No Web player for Apple Music, only through iTunes.

I used both back and forth all summer and noticed no quality difference.

I ended up sticking with Google Music because of a slightly better catalog, Web player, no bugs, and the ability to easily upload whatever of my own albums I want to fill in any gaps in Google's library. With Apple Music iCloud Music Library it was all or nothing.

The icing on the cake is the new ad-free YouTube Red will soon be included with a Google Play Music subscription.

If you still have that $7.99 promo price I'd without a doubt stick with Google Music. I had that promo price in the beginning and for whatever reason I wanted to go with Spotify at the time and like a dope I gave it up.

Yup, I still have that promo price. I wasn't aware of YouTube Red - I'll have to read more about that I see it's included for free for those with Google Play Music now, but I'm uncertain if the access to YouTube Red is just a trial for a certain amount of time, or for the life of your current subscription?

[GatsbyGlen]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll have to look into YouTube Red some more. I see that it will be available to the current Google Play Music subscribers, but is that only for a limited time?

I haven't found much difference between the two yet, but I have 3 months to try Apple Music. One thing I do like better about Apple is that it integrates better with the head unit in my 2013 Camry. When using Apple Music, the unit has a browse button and allows me to control what music to play from it. With Google Play music (on an iPhone or Android), I have to control it from the phone, I have no browse functionality. Not sure why that is - perhaps the head unit was geared for iPhone/iPod devices. However, I really like the ability to control playing music from the head unit! Maybe I need a new car to support Google better

[Ticojpunk]

I can see your reasons for leaning toward Apple Music. I have no controls in my car so it makes no difference to me in that regard.

The YouTube Red thing is brand new as of next Wed, but my understanding is subscribing to one gets you the other, no limited time or anything.

YouTube Red is not something I'd ever pay for by itself but if I'm already paying Google for Play Music, I'm liking the added value I'm getting there. My kids use YouTube a lot too and I'm liking that they won't have to watch ads either.

[dchandler]

I just signed up for Tital music to try it out. lets see how this goes

[mab4285]

Went back to Apple Music from Spotify after getting my Apple Watch. Just like the "all in" integration that it does and using Siri to listen to music, especially in the car.

[ShinKen]

I decided to cancel mine after this month and will be staying with my Spotify subscription. For me it came down to how and where I listen to music and sharing features. Most of my listening when I am at home is either on my PS4 when I am in the living room or on the sole Sonos speaker that I have in my bedroom. Both of these can be solved by adding an AppleTV and Sonos supporting Apple Music but until that happens it is a no-go for me.

Also I really like how playlists are handled and shared on Spotify. A very good friend of mine created a great playlist of music from Brazil spanning from the 60's to the present. I like when she updates the playlists and it is updated on my end as well. Other thing was it just seemed clunky for me to discover new music on Apple music vs. Spotify.

I know I will revisit Apple Music once a I get my hands on an AppleTV or Sonos updates it's software.

[fadedlogic]

While the Tidal lossless music is great, if you have great headphones; their poor music curation is a deal killer for me. I don't care about music videos, I want lossless playlists of all genre of music. Tidal just is no where near the depth of curation as Spotify and Apple Music. I cancelled my Tidal after 4 months. I will probably keep Spotify given all the playlists and music discovery features. I let Apple Music lapse, but I really miss the Alligator Radio Hour with Joshua Homme.

[Closingracer]

I just recently got an iPhone after using Android for a long time. I've been a Google Play Music subscriber now for over 2 years and I'm checking out Apple Music's trial service. Apple ($9.99) vs Google ($7.99) - I'll read over the thread to glean some insight on the differences between the two.

Some questions

• Can you cast Apple Music to a device, say a TV like Google Play Music?
• Is there a limit to how much music can be made available offline?
• Google provides a web front end for managing music. For Apple, is this only done via iTunes?
• Does anyone know if there is a difference in streaming audio quality between the two?

Interesting hearing any info on differences from those that have used both

Thanks!

I've been thinking of giving up my Google music but I noticed I get the new YouTube Red service included so I decided to stick with Google since I also happens to use YouTube a lot and now no ads

[Closingracer]

I can see your reasons for leaning toward Apple Music. I have no controls in my car so it makes no difference to me in that regard.

The YouTube Red thing is brand new as of next Wed, but my understanding is subscribing to one gets you the other, no limited time or anything.

YouTube Red is not something I'd ever pay for by itself but if I'm already paying Google for Play Music, I'm liking the added value I'm getting there. My kids use YouTube a lot too and I'm liking that they won't have to watch ads either.

Na you get both and as far as I read not a temporary thing either

[Closingracer]

Doesn't sound like a temporary thing either based off the email

[GatsbyGlen]

The ad free feature of YouTube Red is definitely nice. I watch a fair amount of YouTube on the Roku. I have 2 months to figure out which I'll keep

[Closingracer]

The ad free feature of YouTube Red is definitely nice. I watch a fair amount of YouTube on the Roku. I have 2 months to figure out which I'll keep

Honestly YouTube Red feature being included seal the deal for me along with being $7.99. As comparing Google to Apple solely on the App and integration I prefer Apple music.

[swandy]

So far very happy. Have had the common issues with the mis-matching my library and fact that Apple is yet to increase the limit from 25,000 to 100,000 (which will enable me to use my full iTunes Library instead of a portion of it), but otherwise very satisfied.
Discovered quite a few artists that I would not have listened to otherwise and added older albums from some artists that I did not have their full catalog. Rarely listen to Beats 1, but do like some of the other radio stations.
Like I said, I have a lot of live albums in my collection, so them fixing the mis-matching is my biggest peeve at this point.

[GatsbyGlen]

Honestly YouTube Red feature being included seal the deal for me along with being $7.99. As comparing Google to Apple solely on the App and integration I prefer Apple music.

I have the 7.99 deal, which will be hard to give up. I think I do like Apple Music better compared to Google, but the 7.99 deal can't be beat.

[GatsbyGlen]

Can iTunes tell you what songs are currently on your phone when it is connected to your PC? It appears it can for songs purchased through iTunes, but for songs downloaded through the streaming service it doesn't. It would be nice to be able to organize the downloaded collection on the phone through a PC or MAC.