Apple Music Classical 2.0 Adds Thousands of Full Album Booklets

[kirkmc]

Being a pedant, the correct name for a 'booklet' of this type for classical music is a libretto. I know. Sue me.

No, these are the liner notes, like the booklets in CDs. Just being a pedant...

 

[kirkmc]

The Reader view (similar to Safari) could be an option 🤔

They're PDFs , so Reader won't make them any better.

 

[dominiongamma]

Excellent news! Apple Music Classical just keeps getting better and better.

If only Apple lets us listen for offline uses

 

[knappeduivel]

Yeah isn't it supposed to be super easy to port apps? Like it's a part of the whole strategy of a unified ecosystem, then they can't even port over easy - like damn you're not inspiring confidence here Apple lol.

A ported iOs wouldn't do. MacOs users are used to way more functionality.

 

[Cesar Battistini]

Apple always touts how easy it is to adapt an iPad app to the Mac...

THEM DO IT APPLE.

 

[kirkmc]

Yeah isn't it supposed to be super easy to port apps? Like it's a part of the whole strategy of a unified ecosystem, then they can't even port over easy - like damn you're not inspiring confidence here Apple lol.

The app itself is just a wrapper for HTML pages that are on Apple Music. There's no reason why they couldn't add a sidebar entry for Classical in the Mac app, which would display the same content.

 

[jdavid_rp]

Please let the introduction of better visual material be a sign that a Mac and Apple TV release is coming soon. Look at those iPhone screens, you need a bigger screen for this.

You have the iPad 😉

 

[lindros2]

Why don’t they add CarPlay?

Was going to say same thing.
It used to be, then gone.

 

[carswell]

Glad to see this. For classical music, opera and lieder buffs, it was always a shortcoming and one of the reasons I liked Idagio and have been happy with Qobuz.

At some point I may switch back to Apple Music, perhaps as part of an Apple One subscription, though I see that, FWIW, What Hi-Fi? just declared Qobuz the best streaming service for audiophiles, beating out Tidal and with Apple Music getting hardly a mention.

 

[timmodugdale]

CarPlay?

 

[Lvivske]

normal Apple Music subscribers withering away in the corner

 

[pcaleb]

FYI: I had to delete the app and reinstall it to get the update.

 

[guzhogi]

The intention is good, but they are just PDFs of CD booklets, which are, for the most part, unreadable. Yes, you can zoom, but the experience is terrible. If they want to do this right, they should get the labels to convert their booklets to ePub - which some labels who sell downloads already have - that can reflow for the size of the screen.

Anyone else remember iBooks Author? That was a fun app which allowed interactive features.

 

[gwhizkids]

Why don’t they add CarPlay?

They did. And then took it away when it kept crashing. 9 months ago. 😡

 

[nickster777]

FYI: I had to delete the app and reinstall it to get the update.

Thanks. That worked for me too. Loving these liner notes!

 

[davemacdo]

Being a pedant, the correct name for a 'booklet' of this type for classical music is a libretto. I know. Sue me.

Nope. Music professor here. While "libretto" is literally the Italian word for a little book (or a booklet, I suppose), in English, it is used pretty much exclusively for the sung text of an opera.

 

[Snake111]

Why is Classical not available on the Mac?

 

[CChrisG]

I want this for Jazz!

 

[Will Co]

Why don’t they add CarPlay?

That is by far the most glaring omission, even more of an omission than macOS and tvOS versions of the app. Apple, what are you thinking?

 

[Will Co]

They did. And then took it away when it kept crashing. 9 months ago. 😡

I didn't know that. Makes the fact that it's still not available even more frustrating.

 

[Ntombi]

Great addition! I love the app, and this just makes it even better.

 

[Hank001]

This is a great enhancement to the app! The booklets are always very informative and enjoyable to read while listening to classical music.

Fully agree.

Also enjoyable: looking at your avatar ;-)

 

[davys]

FYI: I had to delete the app and reinstall it to get the update.

Thanks, I was wondering how to get it updated!

 

[Anonymous123]

I wish Apple Music would show booklets, too. I'm from the old days, you know. I love to read additional information and look at photos..where the album was recorded, engineers, producers, guest musicians, used instruments, studios, mixers and so on.

FYI Apple Music provides a lot of that info with the “View Credits” option if you tap the ellipsis next to a song, but I agree having a booklet would be great too.

 

[lazyrighteye]

THIS... Needs to be added to Apple music. Like a decade ago.

While I'll take PDFs, as @kirkmc stated above, there is a lot of opportunity to improve the overall user experience in this regard. Liner notes afford listers the ability to dig deeper into the music. Connect the dots between studios, producers, musicians, etc. Facilitates discovery - which only strengthens the bond between listener and art/artist. The soul nourishing, full circle, human connection, is what's missing from the digitization of everything in the name of convenience. Yes, a bazillion songs in my pocket is great. But convenience isn't why people turn to music. Let's expand the experience to better facilitate moments that afford the discovery and connection humans crave.