Google got into the music sales game over a year ago, and launched its own subscription streaming service late last spring. Any iOS users who wanted to give Google Play Music a shot, though, were disappointed to find there was no iPhone or iPad app. Well, that could be about to change this month. Google has hinted in the past that an iOS music app was coming, and reports now claim it is in testing for a late October release.
Users in over 20 countries can already use Google Play Music to buy tracks and subscribe to All Access streaming. People are, of course, free to use Google Play Music on a computer or through the limited web app, but the nature of Google's cloud-based system makes a native app considerably more convenient.
With a free Google account, you can upload up to 20,000 of your own tracks to Google's servers and stream them to all your devices. Music purchased from Google does not figure into the limit, and can be streamed in the same way. Android devices can also cache any uploaded or purchased tracks with the Google Play Music app.
Adding All Access into the mix is a uniquely integrated experience on Android, and hopefully will be on iOS soon as well. Any of the millions of songs available in All Access can be integrated with your library and cached like normal songs. All Access is $9.99 per month like most competing services, but Google offered early adopters a reduced $7.99 price. It is unclear if iOS users will get any sort of grace period to sign up at the lower rate.
Rumors have been swirling regarding a possible Google event later this month to announce a new version of Android and new Nexus devices. The iOS Google Play Music app could also be announced at such an event.
Source PCMag
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