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Apple Music now available for Android on Beta, missing some key features
Apple Music has finally made its way to the Android ecosystem. The arrival on Android comes a few months after it launched on iOS. Apple is hoping to win over the Android market to its music streaming service.
On Android, the app will have a three month free period, in which the Android users can test and then after choose to pay the monthly subscription fee when the period expires. In addition to having access the catalogue of Apple Music, Android users will be able to listen to Beats 1 radio.
When we used Apple Music, during its three months free period, we had some praise and a few objections. It would be interesting to see what Apple’s approach is to Android. It is worth noting that the Apple Music app is in Beta on Android and is missing some key features that make it great on iOS. It comes to the Google Play Store without its music video capabilities. On iOS, this feature has seen users have the chance to see some exclusive music videos. Android users will surely be looking to this feature.
Read more: Chinese market can now access Apple Music, iTunes movies, iBooks
The Android app does not come with features that can be seen as unique to Android and if this will happen remains to be seen.
Apple Music has a family tie option on iOS, for now Android users do not have this. To get it, according to Apple, Android users will need a Mac or iOS in order to sing up for a family membership and upgrades. It is not clear when this will change but will sure not make Android users happy. For the app to work, it has to be independent of the iOS ecosystem and be truly Android. The other missing thing is a sign up process that is optimised for Android.
Read more: Tim Cook lifts the lid on Apple Music’s subscriber numbers
Moving to Android will give Apple a bigger market to target and outplay its arch-rival, Spotify. Last month, Tim Cook, Apple CEO, revealed that Apple Music currently has 6.5-million paid subscribers, with another 8.5-million using the free three month trial. Should the Android app take off, the numbers will quickly increase.
To use the Apple Music app, Android users need to be using Android 4.3 or latest version. The app is already available for download on the Google Play Store.
