Google Play or Spotify

[MRU]

I just cancelled Spotify after using it for some time now. When I got my Nexus they offered me 6 months free so I ran them side by side to see which I preferred. GPM integration into android made it a no brainer for me coupled with the fact that you have access to music videos, ability to play YT in the background and my integration of my existing library, not to mention the visual overhaul is very nice.

I just wish they integrated with your existing library with GPM on iOS too, and I cold just use 1 app instead of 2. Not sure why they don't as other music player apps can access your library so why Google have opted to not do so on iOS really annoys me.

 

[Oletros]

Both of them right now, I suppose I will stay with GPM when the offer I have with Spotify expires, not having the possibility of uploading my own music is a big caveat

 

[tbayrgs]

Both of them right now, I suppose I will stay with GPM when the offer I have with Spotify expires, not having the possibility of uploading my own music is a big caveat

This is exactly why I choose Play Music--only option that allows me to have ALL music, both my library and everything GPM offers, in a single app. Well, that and the lower introductory price when it was first launched.

 

[MRU]

My carrier plan includes my spotify subscription in there monthly premium and I just gave my account to a relative to use for their own music whilst I pay for my GPM service. I know this is very superficial but I really hate the dark GUI of spotify.

 

[ozaz]

I just wish they integrated with your existing library with GPM on iOS too, and I cold just use 1 app instead of 2. Not sure why they don't as other music player apps can access your library so why Google have opted to not do so on iOS really annoys me.

My irritation with Google Play Music on iOS is that they don't have a proper iPad app. I can't understand why they are stalling.

On the other hand Spotify have irritated me a bit by announcing they're not going to support Google Cast for audio. Unless it becomes common for speaker manufacturers to support both Google Cast and Spotify Connect, I'm starting to lean more toward Google Music. Google Cast speakers will be much more useful.

 

[jeffe]

I just wish they integrated with your existing library with GPM on iOS too, and I cold just use 1 app instead of 2. Not sure why they don't as other music player apps can access your library so why Google have opted to not do so on iOS really annoys me.

Are you talking about your existing library on your ios device or the music you uploaded to GPM?

 

[MRU]

Are you talking about your existing library on your ios device or the music you uploaded to GPM?

existing library on my iOS device.


On Android GPM - I have tracks on my device from my computer - and they are there in GPM app too.

On iOS GPM - I have tracks in my device transferred from iTunes - but they don'r appear in the GPM app.

Plenty of other 3rd party music apps on iOS that can read your library and your iTunes Match content - so it's not Apple blocking an API - It's clearly a choice google have made in the iOS version of GPM - and it's annoying because it forces me to use 2 apps.

 

[Hastings101]

I prefer Spotify, but only because I've used it for so long without any issues.

 

[jeffe]

existing library on my iOS device.


On Android GPM - I have tracks on my device from my computer - and they are there in GPM app too.

On iOS GPM - I have tracks in my device transferred from iTunes - but they don'r appear in the GPM app.

Plenty of other 3rd party music apps on iOS that can read your library and your iTunes Match content - so it's not Apple blocking an API - It's clearly a choice google have made in the iOS version of GPM - and it's annoying because it forces me to use 2 apps.

Why not upload the tracks from iTunes to GPM? Google has software for your computer that will do it for you automatically.

 

[MRU]

Why not upload the tracks from iTunes to GPM? Google has software for your computer that will do it for you automatically.

I have done that with some albums, but seriously it's a pain in the arse work around.

Upload albums from my computer to their server and then have to download them again to put them in my iOS device so that they appear in Google Play Music app offline, when I already have them here and just want to put them from my computer onto my device and have GPM see what is on my device.

 

[El3ctronics]

I have done that with some albums, but seriously it's a pain in the arse work around.

Upload albums from my computer to their server and then have to download them again to put them in my iOS device so that they appear in Google Play Music app offline, when I already have them here and just want to put them from my computer onto my device and have GPM see what is on my device.

That doesn't sound like a big deal at all to me. You do it once and forget about it.

 

[MRU]

That doesn't sound like a big deal at all to me. You do it once and forget about it.

And every time I want to Change the music on my iOS device from my existing library on my computer I have to make sure they are uploaded to Google Play Music and then redownload them onto my iPhone GPM app., When I have the files on my Computer anyway. It's adding two extra steps. I should like I can on android transfer music from my computer to my device and it automatically is seen by Google Play Music app.

Why add extra steps - making me redownload 1.5gb every time I want to change 10 albums stored on my device from my existing collection of music is NOT IDEAL, especially with data caps and download speeds being imposed by my ISP. A process which should take a couple of mins - thus taking considerably longer to accomplish.

Especially when in GPM on iOS you have to have to app open and running as it won't download on the background unless you are actively using the application.

So yeah no big deal to you - but it's a massive pain in the arse when there is totally no need for it to be so.

 

[El3ctronics]

Can't you just upload all your music to GPM and then create a playlist with the songs you want to download? Then on your phone you make sure that playlist is downloaded. Every time you add new music to that playlist your phone will automatically download the new songs. Done.

 

[MRU]

Can't you just upload all your music to GPM and then create a playlist with the songs you want to download? Then on your phone you make sure that playlist is downloaded. Every time you add new music to that playlist your phone will automatically download the new songs. Done.

I'm still having to redownload files that I already have downloaded on my computer and could transfer via usb in seconds - compared to taking ages to download on the Google Play Music App - because that has to kept active and open - otherwise it doesn't download in the background on iOS.

Basically the simple solution of Google allowing GPM app to see music on the device is far more user beneficial than having to re-download my music, and having all my music utterly compartmenatalised on the device.

I can do this on Android with GPM without issue - but for whatever reason only known to Google - they do not allow it on GPM iOS. Yet other third party music applications allow access to music on the device so it's not Apple blocking them, it a choice Google have made - and it's one that is annoying.

 

[ggibson913]

I actually feel bad so many responses thanks guys. I switched over to Google Play Music and it works pretty well for me. I do think about Spotify sometimes and switching back but GPM seems to work well. I will say that Spotify is a bit stronger on the Music discovery end.

Both are fantastic services. Though I do like Google Play Music I did recently switch back to iPhone so I do think about going back to Spotify but I love the fact that my own library imports to GPM, the beauty is that I can vacillate back and forth without much consequence so long as I do it on a month to month basis.