Michal Ždanský Google Play Music was at the beginning of last month made available in new countries, which includes the Czech Republic, however, the client for iOS was still missing and music could only be listened to via a web browser or an Android application. Today, Google finally released a version for the iPhone, saying that it is working on a tablet version and should appear a little later.
Google Music represents a kind of mix between on-demand services (Rdio, Spotify), iTunes Match and iTunes Radio (with the Apple version coming later). All users can sign up for free at play.google.com/music and upload up to 20 songs to the service, which are then available from the cloud and can be listened to from anywhere, from the web or mobile client. You can also create playlists from them and share them with friends. So similar to iTunes Match, but completely free.
For a monthly fee of CZK 149 (or discounted CZK 129), users then get access to the entire Google library, in which they can find most of the artists that are also in iTunes, and they can listen to music unlimitedly, either by streaming, or by downloading songs, albums or playlists for offline listening. If you have a higher FUP and don't mind streaming music, Play Music offers three levels of stream quality based on bitrate.
Another main function is Radio, where you can search for different artists, genres or a specific category (for example, 80s Pop Stars) and the application will compile a playlist related to the search according to its own algorithm. For example, when you search for Muse, the playlist will not only include this British band, but also The Mars Volta, The Strokes, Radiohead and others. You can add the created playlist to your library at any time or go directly to individual artists from it and listen only to them. When listening to the radio, Play Music doesn't restrict you from skipping songs like iTunes Radio, and you won't even encounter ads.
As you gradually listen to songs, playlists and albums, the app will be better able to offer you artists you might be interested in in the Explore tab. Not only that, the app includes different charts based on user popularity, shows you new albums or compiles playlists based on genres and subgenres.
The app itself is kind of a weird mix between the classic Google design on iOS (tabs), Android elements (fonts, context menu) and iOS 7, while you can find traces of iOS 6 in many places, for example in the case of the keyboard or the button to delete songs. In general, the app feels quite disjointed, confusing in places, the main menu looks strange with a large font, but the album screen did well, although due to the layout of the elements, you don't need to see the longer album name. The player conveniently hides in the lower bar and can be pulled out from any screen at any time by tapping, and playback can also be controlled directly from the bar.
The Google Play service is definitely interesting and the cheapest of the other on-demand services by a few tens of crowns. At least for the ability to upload 20 songs to the cloud for free, it's definitely worth a try, and if you don't mind pairing your credit card with Google Wallet, you can try the paid version of the service for free for a month.
e.com/cz/app/google-play-music/id691797987?mt=8″]
Apple should hurry up with its iTunes Radio.
Is it possible to register there even without the credit card?
Yes, but only for free operation, not for a trial month.
I have already seen in iTunes that the Czech radio is not functional, but it can be seen that they have already completed it and it is only a matter of legal issues.
http://lifehacker.com/how-to-access-itunes-radio-outside-the-us-without-a-pr-1417005225
Then I will cancel google play, competition in services is great.
It still asks me for the credit even if I give the free account
I absolutely do not understand why the new application has the old keyboard and other elements from iOS6, Google is still unable to at least adapt its applications for iOS7, no one wants them to redo the whole design, but at least they could put the keyboard there, Chrome already has it also has The same icons of all applications that still have a shadow at the bottom, I don't know why.
That's a worry :) I don't understand why it took Apple several years to make a control center. But probably because users mainly want a nice keyboard color and new icons...
so i tried it. The music selection is really nice. Unfortunately, the application is very much in the spirit of Android. Google shouldn't make software for people :-) It even crashed the system on my iPod, something I've never seen before.
Music from the subscription can be downloaded to the device and listened to offline. It has a small flaw: without being connected to the net, the application remembers the last state of the music library, and one has to SEARCH what has been downloaded. I would say that in offline mode I should only see what is actually downloaded on the device.
App is for iphone/ipod only. There is no iPad version, which is really sad.
I recorded a test song there, but it only plays for 29 seconds and then it's over. Don't know what to do with it? He doesn't do it to anyone. I googled it, but I don't know if it would work for anyone. Thanks. Karel