Google Play Music on the App Store

Re:Google Play Music on the App Store by sahaskatta on Friday November 15, 2013 @12:20PM (#6740653)

I've been trying out a different music service every few months, here's something interesting I found.

Number of songs:

  - Xbox Music 30 million.
  - Apple iTunes 26 million.
  - Amazon MP3 25 million.
  - Spotify 20 million.
  - Rdio 20 million.
  - Google Music 18 million.

I've most recently been using Google Music since I can upload songs albums which aren't available in their library (e.g. Beatles). However, Xbox Music is pretty neat too. It's actually pre-installed on every Windows 8 computer and you can listen to just about any songs without ads in high quality for free. (Not sure why Microsoft doesn't advertise this more.)

Other thoughts: Apple is the only one without a cross platform mobile offering. For I instance, I'd like iTunes radio on Android or Windows Phone. Spotify has by far the best social experience and Rdio has the best designed web/mobile interface.

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Re:Google Play Music on the App Store by notlisted on Friday November 15, 2013 @12:54PM (#6740876)

There are two big issues with quoted catalog sizes.

#1 - Catalog sizes are inflated for international services

Services in multiple countries have larger catalogs because they include content in local languages. This means much of the catalog is there, but less useful for you (unless, of course, you're into German polkas or Swedish midsummer dances). XBox and Spotify do tally all of these up to arrive at their totals.

#2 - The full catalog in international services isn't usually available to you

At least on Spotify, you cannot access all of the items in the catalog of another country (e.g. with a US account, you cannot access all of the Dutch catalog, I tried). I'm assuming this is also the case for XBox. They list the total, but access is limited by billing address or geo location.

In that context I suggest that you and everyone else checks out the mother of all streaming services, Rhapsody (18MM songs, US only, i.e. these are actually 18MM songs available to you). I've tried the others, but time and again I found Rhapsody's catalog to be somehow bigger, more older albums, more classical music, etc.

Note: I've been a Rh member since 2004 (longer if you count listen.com). Use it on my Android, iOS, Desktop and Sonos. Haven't bought a CD since I joined (except Dutch ones, of course)

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Re:Google Play Music on the App Store by bentcorner on Friday November 15, 2013 @12:33PM (#6740739)

Regarding Xbox Music, I thought it was too good to be true. Fine print: Free streaming limited to 10 hours/month after 6 months

Understandable, TANSTAAFL. 6 months is still great value, MS should definitely market this more.

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Re:Google Play Music on the App Store by sahaskatta on Friday November 15, 2013 @12:42PM (#6740802)

Good catch. I guess I hadn't used it long enough to run into those limitations. FYI they have an Android and iOS app as well as an incredibly nicely designed web player. http://music.xbox.com

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Re:Google Play Music on the App Store by taopao on Friday November 15, 2013 @01:19PM (#6741075)

I'd exhaust that quota after just a couple work days!

Why are they being so stingy with just- 6 months?

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Re:Google Play Music on the App Store by jimueller on Friday November 15, 2013 @01:36PM (#6741226)

Umm, so the company that is giving away free streaming is stingy? How would you describe someone who complains about free things, or an unwillingess to pay for a service?

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Re:Google Play Music on the App Store by taopao on Friday November 15, 2013 @05:37PM (#6742624)

Gold membership isn't free...

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Re:Google Play Music on the App Store by manojlds on Friday November 15, 2013 @12:29PM (#6740723)

There is Nokia Music too - 20 million songs

http://conversations.nokia.com/2012/11/17/10-things-you-didn...

Free streaming on Nokia Lumia devices and free 1 year subscription. 3 hours of offline mixes ( at a time ) for download.

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Re:Google Play Music on the App Store by joebo on Friday November 15, 2013 @02:51PM (#6741720)

Rdio is fantastic. It's the only online service I pay for. I just tried xbox music and was turned off. Rdio instantly starts playing and I can switch tracks without a delay. I have the same experience on my android and sonos. It feels like a CD. Xbox music has a slight delay, which is enough to turn me away.

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Re:Google Play Music on the App Store by cjlm on Friday November 15, 2013 @01:05PM (#6740956)

At least on iPhone, I much prefer the Spotify interface over the Rdio one. I figured I would give Rdio for a month and I'm already missing the Spotify app. In particular the Search in the Rdio app is abysmal.

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Re:Google Play Music on the App Store by eddieplan9 on Friday November 15, 2013 @01:20PM (#6741084)

Second. I jumped from Rdio to Spotify just for that. I don't understand why people rate Rdio as the best app when basic things like search is broken: search for something, see some bad results, go back to change search, sorry, your search term is gone. Also, the Rdio is app is way too flat and there is big lack of context hint. Often time, I don't know where I am and how to get back to the "parent view", or if there is one.

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Re:Google Play Music on the App Store by k-mcgrady on Friday November 15, 2013 @01:36PM (#6741225)

I despise the Spotify interface. I was a customer for years (UK so it's been available here a while) and switched to Rdio last year mainly because the web and mobile interfaces are so much better (imo).

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Re:Google Play Music on the App Store by cjlm on Friday November 15, 2013 @05:15PM (#6742527)

The Spotify interface has definitely improved somewhat in the last 6 months.

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Re:Google Play Music on the App Store by k-mcgrady on Saturday November 16, 2013 @03:41AM (#6744182)

I still use it from time to time and it has got better - but I still think Rdio is miles ahead.

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Re:Google Play Music on the App Store by ntnj on Friday November 15, 2013 @12:28PM (#6740710)

Free music on Xbox Music on Windows 8 only lasts 6 months, and has ads.

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Re:Google Play Music on the App Store by smackfu on Friday November 15, 2013 @12:24PM (#6740684)

Those are large enough differences that it is probably entire labels that don't have a contract with certain services.

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Re:Google Play Music on the App Store by lmm on Friday November 15, 2013 @01:05PM (#6740955)

Note that you can upload your own music for amazon too (though there's a limit of 250 free tracks).

There are albums that I'd buy on itunes if there was an android version. But there isn't. Makes me quite annoyed at artists who go itunes-exclusive.

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Re:Google Play Music on the App Store by mark_l_watson on Saturday November 16, 2013 @10:40PM (#6747456)

Yeah, I switched to Amazon also. Like the apps for Android and for my iPad. I only wanted to upload about 100 tracks purchased elsewhere so the 250 free limit is not a problem. Amazon is fairly good on price for buying new tracks.

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Re:Google Play Music on the App Store by nakkiel on Friday November 15, 2013 @01:02PM (#6740940)

- Deezer 30 million, available on all devices

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Re:Google Play Music on the App Store by nathcd on Friday November 15, 2013 @02:51PM (#6741719)

I really wish Deezer were available in the US. From what I can tell, it seems to be a great service. Blackberry support is cool, too.

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Re:Google Play Music on the App Store by nakkiel on Saturday November 16, 2013 @09:51AM (#6744915)

I am in fact very surprised it's not available in the US but it looks like you're right:

http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/d...

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Re:Google Play Music on the App Store by matthuggins on Friday November 15, 2013 @01:01PM (#6740930)

Is "Radio" supposed to be Rdio?

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Re:Google Play Music on the App Store by sahaskatta on Friday November 15, 2013 @01:16PM (#6741052)

Yes, I blame auto correct! http://rdio.com

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Re:Google Play Music on the App Store by aaront on Friday November 15, 2013 @12:56PM (#6740898)

Deezer - 30 million

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