Overview
Google unwrapped a gift for all Internet music fans in the form of their new streaming platform Google Play Music All Access. The new service is Google’s attempt to stake a claim on the music streaming market, which now has a customer base in the hundreds of millions, and steal some of the users of already popular apps Spotify and Grooveshark.
The product not only offers the streaming of music and radio online but also allows users to merge their existing music libraries with the millions of tracks available on Google Play (minus The Beatles of course who are digitally exclusive to iTunes), with new tracks suggested based on their similarity to your own music. Users can then create playlists from their amalgamated music log that can also be accessed offline.
Whilst these features are very similar to platforms like Spotify, it is their unique radio features that Google is hoping will prove the difference. The primary selling point is that you can reorder and skip tracks at will. That’s right, you can organise the radio that you are listening to.
Unlike many other products that offer a free version, the service is subscription-only with a fee of $10 a month. However, Google are offering a 30-day free trial to sweeten the deal. You can also purchase tracks to keep forever if you want to. It can all be popped into your cloud as well, meaning you can access it anywhere, anytime, even on your Android. Google have tried to cover all needs of the online music user here and whilst the service is only available State side at the moment, it will be soon be accessible to all World Wide Webbers.
The announcement wasn’t the only reward offered by the Internet moguls at Google I/O, every tech developer’s favourite annual conference. The giants are also upgrading their maps, removing the sidebar from the platform to concentrate activity on the map itself. Maps are also set to be personalized, with your favourite restaurants and hangouts appearing so that you can find you way there quickly no matter where you are. Public transport directions are also improved, meaning all we bus users can finally find out exactly where to hop off, instead of being left with an unplanned walk resembling a marathon. Plus it just looks cooler — you can even go underwater.
Having a verbal conversation with Google is about to get a whole lot easier too, with the new Conversational Search feature employing data about you to create a more relevant search result. Other announcements include a new API that will sync your notifications so that if you dismiss one on your tablet, it won’t annoyingly set your phone off too; Google Now Cards to remind you about appointments and Game of Thrones episode releases; as well as other more minor developments and upgrades. Like Google Play Music All Access, these features may not be immediately accessible in Australia and New Zealand but they should be on their way soon.
[Via Gizmodo]