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tbayrgs

macrumors 604
Jul 5, 2009
7,467
5,097
Google Play, hands down. I found Apple Music to be an unintuitive mess and their suggestions to me weren't very good. I love how I am able to upload my entire library for free to Google so that I have access to it, either to stream or download for offline use, on any of my devices or computers. Install their Music Manager app on your computer and it'll automatically upload anything you add to your music library on that computer, even in iTunes. I also like integration of the functionality previously from Songza. I also have Chromecasts (both video and audio versions) scattered throughout the house and much prefer using them vs. AirPlay as I can play simultaneously to all of them if I choose. No Chromecast support in Apple Music.

Oh, and I'm presently using mostly Apple hardware. That should give you a better idea on my feelings about Apple Music. ;)
 

co.ag.2005

macrumors 68020
Jun 17, 2009
2,365
1,810
Fort Worth, TX
OP, I know this wasn't on your list, but I actually prefer Spotify to those 2. Yes, my entire offline library is uploaded to Google Play Music and not Spotify, but I don't actually listen to my downloaded, personal music very often. I prefer streaming these days. I prefer Spotify over Google Play because of its UI and curated playlists. I can't stand the cartoonish style of Google Play Music. From the bright orange colors to the hideous playlist cartoon cover art... bleh... IMHO, of course ;)
 

Nancy bout

macrumors regular
Mar 24, 2013
162
36
Apple
Music -
Actually I've tried both prefer Apple on my iPhone cause every song I paid for us in there and I just add to it- in the music app
 

The Game 161

macrumors Nehalem
Original poster
Dec 15, 2010
30,987
20,171
UK
OP, I know this wasn't on your list, but I actually prefer Spotify to those 2. Yes, my entire offline library is uploaded to Google Play Music and not Spotify, but I don't actually listen to my downloaded, personal music very often. I prefer streaming these days. I prefer Spotify over Google Play because of its UI and curated playlists. I can't stand the cartoonish style of Google Play Music. From the bright orange colors to the hideous playlist cartoon cover art... bleh... IMHO, of course ;)
but isn't Spotify only able via data connection?
 

LIVEFRMNYC

macrumors G3
Oct 27, 2009
8,877
10,987
Google Play, hands down. I found Apple Music to be an unintuitive mess and their suggestions to me weren't very good. I love how I am able to upload my entire library for free to Google so that I have access to it, either to stream or download for offline use, on any of my devices or computers. Install their Music Manager app on your computer and it'll automatically upload anything you add to your music library on that computer, even in iTunes. I also like integration of the functionality previously from Songza. I also have Chromecasts (both video and audio versions) scattered throughout the house and much prefer using them vs. AirPlay as I can play simultaneously to all of them if I choose. No Chromecast support in Apple Music.

Oh, and I'm presently using mostly Apple hardware. That should give you a better idea on my feelings about Apple Music. ;)


My only issue with streaming songs that I uploaded, is that Play music replaces to many of them with censored versions. I had to keep a good amount of music on my SD card to avoid that issue.

Other than that, I also prefer Play Music.
 

tbayrgs

macrumors 604
Jul 5, 2009
7,467
5,097
My only issue with streaming songs that I uploaded, is that Play music replaces to many of them with censored versions. I had to keep a good amount of music on my SD card to avoid that issue.

Other than that, I also prefer Play Music.

Did you have the box checked in Settings that restricts explicit content over radio? Not sure if that specifically affects streamed content from your library...might affect all streamed content.
[doublepost=1471385799][/doublepost]
People say Apple Music is a mess, but hell, Google Play Music ain't that much better. However, I do subscribe to Google Music because you get YouTube Red as well. No commercials.

Great point--forgot about this bonus.
 

LIVEFRMNYC

macrumors G3
Oct 27, 2009
8,877
10,987
Did you have the box checked in Settings that restricts explicit content over radio? Not sure if that specifically affects streamed content from your library...might affect all streamed content.

I allow everything. That's not the issue.

The issue is, it seems the to match up to whatever it finds first. And doesn't care whether censored or uncensored. The uncensored versions do exist in Play Music. But when it matches what I upload to a censored version, it's a pain going through my playlists and fixing it. It's not a huge problem, but something I run into every now and then. Apple rarely does this.
 

HiDEF

macrumors 68000
Jun 23, 2010
1,711
395
Miami, FL
I've contemplated switching from Spotify to Google play but haven't figured out a way to transfer all of my playlist to Play. Any recommendations?
 

Nancy bout

macrumors regular
Mar 24, 2013
162
36
Oh Google red is awesome hahahhah I'm on my free trial-
I'll be letting it go but if Google play allows you tube red - I'm in!
I have Amazon music too- lots of music I downloads a LONG time ago and still have it lol
The thing w Amazon music there isn't every song I want from the real singer lol
 

MRU

macrumors Penryn
Aug 23, 2005
25,370
8,952
a better place
Anybody use either or the other? which do you prefer?
I use Google music, used it first and was grandfathered into cheaper price.

Apple Music i tried for the free period. It's ok, much the same fundamentally, But personally I prefer Google's aesthetics.

One issue some may have is that whilst you can have up to 10 devices allocated to your account, you can under normal circumstances only de-activate 4 devices in a year. This de-activation limit wouldn't affect most folks, but for those who go through a lot of devices could be awkward.

I have a few issues with GPM (and Apple Music) in that it's categories for new releases is very small. If you are looking for something outside of the populist genres of hiphop, pop, dance, alternative, rock etc.. then you will likely be doing more searching. Whilst the music will be there, it's a shame new releases are limited in the predefined categories. I listen to a lot of folk and classical music and will have to search for new releases a little more effort wise.

But it's great to be able to find stacks of music and click download or add to library. I have listened to far more music than i ever did on physical format and i was the kind of person who bought a new CD every week at €15, so my monthly fee represents a massive saving and I'm listening to more than ever before.

I can't see myself switching anytime soon. Plus Google were exceptionally helpful to me and pro-active at fixing an issue i had. So very happy GPM user.

I also have a Spotify subscription that comes with my mobile carrier plan, i let a relative use that. I don't like Spotify - i could never warm to its dark aesthetics.
 

Shanghaichica

macrumors G5
Apr 8, 2013
14,725
13,245
UK
I've never tried Apple Music. I don't like the concept of streaming. I prefer to buy my own music and have it stored locally on my phone. I've had free trials with Spotify and deezer in the past but never used them.

I haven't even signed up for the free Apple Music trial because I wouldn't use it and I've heard too many stories of it messing up people's music libraries.

I tried the free trial of Google play music when it first launched. It's fine enough but didn't use the streaming part of it. If we got YouTube red in the U.K. I'd probably subscribe because that element of it interests me. I have all my songs uploaded to Google play for free and it works well enough but I like to keep a self curated version of my library in iTunes.
 
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JaySoul

macrumors 68030
Jan 30, 2008
2,629
2,865
I'm on Google Play Music, and recently upgraded to the Family Plan thingy for £15 a month.

It's not perfect, but generally very happy with it.

I uploaded my entire library to it (I'm a DJ so you cannot conceive how complex and huge it was!) but - ironically, just like tbayrgs - hardly ever listen to it!

It's just awesome for finding old albums and checking out new ones. Also it improves every couple of months, they don't rest on their laurels.
 
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sk1wbw

Suspended
May 28, 2011
3,483
1,010
Williamsburg, Virginia
I'm on Google Play Music, and recently upgraded to the Family Plan thingy for £15 a month.

It's not perfect, but generally very happy with it.

I uploaded my entire library to it (I'm a DJ so you cannot conceive how complex and huge it was!) but - ironically, just like tbayrgs - hardly ever listen to it!

It's just awesome for finding old albums and checking out new ones. Also it improves every couple of months, they don't rest on their laurels.

Thingy? Woah dude, you lost me here. lmao :)
 
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JaySoul

macrumors 68030
Jan 30, 2008
2,629
2,865
I've never tried Apple Music. I don't like the concept of streaming. I prefer to buy my own music and have it stored locally on my phone. I've had free trials with Spotify and deezer in the past but never used them.

I haven't even signed up for the free Apple Music trial because I wouldn't use it and I've heard too many stories of it messing up people's music libraries.

I tried the free trial of Google play music when it first launched. It's fine enough but didn't use the streaming part of it. If we got YouTube red in the U.K. I'd probably subscribe because that element of it interests me. I have all my songs uploaded to Google play for free and it works well enough but I like to keep a self curated version of my library in iTunes.

It depends how you listen to music, whether you like old stuff or new, how often you listen to it...

This sums bit up pretty well: https://medium.com/@JesalTV/what-to-do-when-youre-bored-of-music-d6d6f512acd6#.ochppr9wv
 

ozaz

macrumors 68000
Feb 27, 2011
1,615
577
Anybody use either or the other? which do you prefer?

I've spent significant time with 4 music services and each one has at least one aspect I prefer over the other 3. So I find it pretty hard to decide on a best. My opinions:

Spotify - best for sharing playlists and new music discovery.
Deezer - Best one-click listening (Flow feature).

Problem with Spotify & Deezer is lack of integration with your own library.

Google Play Music - Best interface for integrating your own library with a streaming service + I like the ability to cast direct from GPM Android app to Sonos. But sharing & new music discovery let it down.

Apple Music - Probably best combination of integration of own library and new music discovery. But is a non-starter for me because of requirement to use iTunes on Windows and lack of Google Cast support.

I think my ideal service would have GPM as the interface, but would replace "I'm feeling lucky mix" with Deezer's Flow, and would add in Spotify's playlists/sharing and new music discovery.
 

Ffosse

macrumors 68000
Nov 5, 2012
1,827
652
Google Play Music for me; I tried out Apple Music for the free 3 months when I bought an iPod and, apart from the playlists, it was worse in every single way.

Plus I have 30k songs uploaded to Google.
 
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THE JUICEMAN

macrumors 68020
Oct 3, 2007
2,371
1,122
I prefer Apple Music. In my use case their playlists in the "for you" section are excellent. Also, they get some of my favorite artists music first like Drake and Future so that kind of makes it a no brainer for me.
 
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