Apple Music is the newest global radio station, music-streaming service, music store and social networking site launched by the tech company last Tuesday. It is designed similarly to other services such as Spotify or Pandora, but it promises a few other features that should set it apart.
To access Apple Music, you will need an upgraded iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch device with an iOS 8.4 version. You will also need the latest iTunes version 12.2, for personal computer users, which can be downloaded from the Apple Store. Android users will be able to enjoy this service on their devices when the app arrives in the fall.
Initially, Apple Music's service is free for a three-month trial period; after which, there will be a monthly charge of $9.99 for individual accounts. Family membership, on the other hand, is at $14.99 a month, which is good for sharing among six people, according to MacWorld.
The family membership lets you keep track of the song purchases by each member, especially if you have kids in the house who constantly discover new songs or artists. Controls and prohibitions can be set on iTunes via its "Parental Control" preferences.
Other than discounts for families, the feature is still limited. However, it is expected that as Apple Music moves forward, the feature will also offer more.
Apple Music has Beats 1, a live global radio service that broadcasts music 24/7. For programming, you can select from its list on the Apple page. It's worthy to note for parents that songs played on Beats 1 are clean and free of any explicit language.
The service also presents users with a curated list, suggested list, new release and top chart lists as well as a "connect" list posted by artists who share their tunes on the service. "Apple Music is for more casual listeners who need help with discovery," according to TechCrunch.
As the service has a lot of features, it can be overwhelming to use, specifically for the first few months. To get the most of the feature, you can tap on Siri's help. Ask her to find a song on a specific date, a playlist by a selected artist, theme or genre, and she will be able to come up with a good playlist.
Apple Music also allows for copies of songs to be downloaded so that you can also listen to them offline. Currently, there are no limitations to the download feature as long as you are a paying subscriber.
