Are you switching to Apple Music?

[skiltrip]

The Google Music app doesn't get very highly rated in the App Store. Whether this is more about the app and or the Google Music service then I'm not sure.

I'm not sure what the low rating could possibly be. It's stable, well thought out, has a catalog as good or better than any other.

I've had no glitches or issues with it either.

I think user experience with Google Music depends on how you use it. It's awesome that you can upload your entire library to the cloud, and I've done it on another Google account, but things can get unruly when searching for music if there's a lot of your own.

I started a new Google Music account where I only upload my own music to fill holes in their catalog, like the Beatles for example. It's redundant to upload all your music if you plan to subscribe to the streaming service too.

 

[navaira]

I don't plan to subscribe to their streaming service but 50,000 songs for free in the cloud is awesome sauce. There's a standalone app called Radiant Player which means I don't need to have a tab open at all times if I want to listen. I can download my library back with one click. I checked all my "tricky" files like demo versions and live performances and so far Google hasn't broken anything. Take notes, Apple.

 

[Hawk999]

I checked all my "tricky" files like demo versions and live performances and so far Google hasn't broken anything. Take notes, Apple.

That’s because Google uploads your music files as you provide them. They don’t try to ‘match' them.
This is where AM fails IMHO. The question is; why can Google accept your files as you provide them and is AM trying to ‘match’ them?

Is Apple trying to minimize server space because it will offer 100K in September? Possible, but I am guessing here.
Ideally, as far as I can see it, AM stops matching our files and starts accepting the user files ‘as is’. That would solve a lot of problems. I realize it would be a huge investment to get enough storage for all those files.

I am willing to see how Apple resolves this. But if they keep on failing to match the files I upload, I will be switching to Google Music in the long run. 50K limit or not.

 

[navaira]

I don't know if Google accepts my files exactly as they are or matches some of them (regular album versions) in some way – I could check that by downloading my library back and checking. But for now I am amazed with how simple it was. In a way I should thank Apple because AM made me explore a lot and find out new things I didn't know existed.

As for huge investment, we're talking about company which has... how many billion dollars was it at last count? 172? Either they are truly invested in AM, in which case they can surely spend some of that money on storage, or they aren't, in which case why did they bother in the first place? And why isn't the original iTunes Match technology used in AM?

 

[Hawk999]

As for huge investment, we're talking about company which has... how many billion dollars was it at last count? 172? Either they are truly invested in AM, in which case they can surely spend some of that money on storage, or they aren't, in which case why did they bother in the first place? And why isn't the original iTunes Match technology used in AM?

All very good points.

 

[skiltrip]

I don't know if Google accepts my files exactly as they are or matches some of them (regular album versions) in some way – I could check that by downloading my library back and checking.

They definitely serve up the exact files you give them. I used to have some MP3s with ripping errors in them (pops/glitches). They were albums that Google Music had in their catalog, but Google served me my glitchy ones.

 

[navaira]

Discovering that I can stream any of my 31k songs to my phone and tablet EXACTLY as they are made my day. I don't know whose recommendation made me check out Google Music, but whoever you are, thank you!

 

[Tech198]

Switched and staying (for now)

Apple music will be coming to Apple TV anyway finally shortly, so that should bring even more Apple fans over.

They were albums that Google Music had in their catalog, but Google served me my glitchy ones.

lol... u prefer the songs that get stuck over songs that will get matched providing its the same version which plays all the way though... ? You've made my day..

 

[imlovinit]

Sticking with Spotify. Apple is coming along but I pretty much love Spotify and its offers. Plus, with how many playlists I have and things set up the way I want already...tbh I'm too lazy to go through the hassle of starting new with anything else. Sticking with what works for me.

 

[skiltrip]

lol... u prefer the songs that get stuck over songs that will get matched providing its the same version which plays all the way though... ? You've made my day..

Not sure what you're taking about. At no point did I comment on Match. I was simply stating a fact about how Google does things.

 

[Uofmtiger]

That’s because Google uploads your music files as you provide them. They don’t try to ‘match' them.

Interesting. At one time, Google was matching files:

http://techland.time.com/2012/12/19/google-play-musics-scan-and-match-service-comes-stateside/

The downside to taking a file and converting it to a default of 320k mp3 is the loss of quality during a transcode from a different lossy format. In other words, if they take a 320k AAC lossy file and convert it to a 320k MP3 lossy file, they lose data during the transcode. Also, if you have 128k mp3s and they convert them to 320k mp3, the resulting file will sound worse than the original 128k file. Apple matches your files, which means they don't have to convert them unless the file isn't on their server. Unless you are using lossless for your library (which would avoid the loss related to lossy to lossy transcoding), matching should result in better sounding files. Even then, if you have lossless files, sometimes Apple has a better version (MFiT) of the file that they would match.

Personally, I think their money is better spent on fixing some of the matching issues (although I believe many of the complaints are overblown) than transcoding and uploading every file. Transcoding would usually result in a file that does not sound as good as the file Apple has on file. The only exception would be if they would allow you to upload and stream lossless formats.

 

[ggibson913]

For me the six family members for $14.99 was the kicker.

 

[dmrowley]

Add me to the list of people sticking with Spotify. I have nothing but problems trying to get a decent stream at my house with Music, but Spotify never fails. I found the discovery process to be so much more user friendly with Spotify. I have already disabled the auto renewal feature of Music, and will keep supporting Spotify with my $10/month.