google.com/music
Google Play provides users with an entire digital marketplace for audio content, apps, and pretty much anything else under the Cloud. The app provides a simple streaming music experience, as well as an app store with a wide variety of content to choose from.
Whenever Google puts out something, I always find myself excited to try it out. And this was no exception with the release of Google Play. The software is excellent year after year, decade after decade, and few companies (excluding Microsoft and Apple) come close to competing with Google in this area.
Despite being comparatively new to the market, Google Play has quickly gained a following for its user-friendly platform and excellent selection of apps. Compared to other music streaming platforms, it does everything that is required of a music streaming service and offers some features that rivals only offer in their highest-end offerings. However, as far as comparing it to Apple or Spotify goes, there is no clear winner.
Without further ado, let's take a look at everything that Google Play has to offer! First and foremost, it is a truly unique media distribution center. It offers music and audiobooks as well as movies, TV shows, books, and magazines. As far as streaming services go, Google Play functions extremely well in today's market.
History
Clearly, Google was not just going to give up its leading position in the digital content distribution market--even if it means some tough competition. So, the company developed a streaming and digital content distribution service that rivals those of its more established competitors.
Google Play, as we know it today, is the result of the consolidation of three formerly separate products: The Android Market, Google Music, and Google eBook Store. The good people at Google, geniuses that they are, figured out that consolidating these three services into one mega service would be a more convenient option for users. As a result of this decision, users have access to a wider variety of apps and books than ever before.
The Android Market was first announced on August 28th of 2008. And it became available to users on October 22nd of that year. For the following two years after that, the Market was improved and convenient features like product filtering were added until it was a robust online app store.
In 2010, Google released its eBook store on December 6th. The store boasted an impressive 3 million eBook titles, making it the largest eBook collection in the world. Only Google could pull off such a large launch.
In November of 2011, Google announced Google Music, a new section of the Android Marketplace, on which people could purchase individual songs or full digital albums. However, it wasnât until March of 2012 that Google finally merged all of these platforms into one. And, thus, Google Play was born.
Design
Google Play has undergone many interface and design changes over the years. It has oscillated between looking like an app store, something similar to iTunes, and settling into the more sophisticated and modern design that it boasts today.
To the right of this main content area, you'll find a list of popular and recommended apps.
Today Google Play looks much like Netflix. In the center of the page is a gallery of new and hot content. If you scroll through by medium, you'll find movies, music, books, etc. You can browse more precisely by using the filters on the left-hand side of the page. To the right of this main content area is a list of popular and recommended apps.
The Google homepage is characterized by its bright colors and intuitive design. The site is divided into sections based on content, such as apps, movies and TV, books, devices, and entertainment. Clicking into each section will give you access to new content or your library, respectively.
I personally love the design of Google Play Music's site- it is very streamlined and makes it easy to enjoy your favorite artists and songs. One thing I love is the fact that artist pages span the entire page, giving you a more cinematic listening experience than many other streaming services can offer. It creates a very immersive experience, offering in-depth artist bios and any other information that Google Play Music can provide.
When you log in, you'll be greeted by the top songs of the moment. Below that, you'll find all of your recommended listens - whether it's a podcast or a new single. Google Play Music is all about catering to you, the user, and offering a beautiful, vibrant site design in the process.
Content
The number of songs available on Google Play Music is impressive. There are more songs than Spotify, and this streaming service has a wide variety of music, including popular podcasts. If you're looking for a lot of music to choose from, Google Play Music is the app for you.
Google Play Music offers many of the same features as other music streaming services, such as downloading songs and listening offline and enjoying radio stations based on mood/activity/situation/genre/etc. One of my favorite aspects of Google Play Music is the fact that you can upload up to 50,000 of your own downloaded songs onto their servers- this means that if Google Play does not carry a particular song or artist, simply add them to your library with no problem.
If you upgrade to Google Play Music Unlimited, you'll get access to YouTube Music, which is a great music streaming platform on its own. So, if you're looking for two great music streaming platforms, upgrading to Google Play Music Unlimited is the way to go!
Desktop and Mobile Experience
Plus, it incorporates all the features you would want out of an app, plus some things you probably wouldn?t expect.
I have already looked into enjoying the desktop site a bit more, but what about the app? Well, I feel like I can't stress this enough- this app is made by Google; so, you can basically bet money on the fact that it will be well designed. Plus, it includes all of the features you would want from an app, as well as some things you probably wouldn't expect.
If you were to gamble on using this app, you would be collecting your winnings right now. This app is extremely user-friendly and simple, and some apps like to get a little too full of themselves with features and redundant buttons. I like that Google Play Music just keeps it simple - here is your music, here is your search bar, here are the charts. Have fun!
Pricing and Plans
Google Play Music Unlimited offers a lot of features for $9.99/month. It includes ad-free listening, the ability to download songs and albums to your device, and more. If you want more features, you can pay more money.
-Access to your favorite music without ads
-No limits on how much you can listen in a day
-Get recommendations for new music based on what you've listened to
3. Listen to Unlimited Music with No Ads boasts unlimited listening of over 40 million songs, no limits on how much you can listen in a day, and the ability to get recommendations for new music based on what you've listened to before.
is a great feature of the Spotify app.
The great feature of the Spotify app is the ability to access songs on-demand.
is very convenient
The ability to download music and listen offline is very convenient.
has been discontinued
YouTube Music access has been discontinued.
upgrading is strongly recommended if you want to get the most out of Google Play Music.
Suggestions that I have for Google Play Music
I would like to see on-demand song playback offered as a free feature in the Freemium version of Google Music. Ads aren't enough for the free version, and anyone who has used the free version of any music streaming app already knows all too well that frequent ads are more than enough to inspire an upgrade. If nothing else, they annoy you into action. At least let us poor folk choose a song and listen to it as we wish!
Conclusion
Overall, Google Play Music is a formidable music streaming service. With killer trademark Google design, tons of music/podcasts, the ability to upload your own libraries, and a competitive monthly price point, there are plenty of things that are working for this service.
Despite these drawbacks, I think Google Play Music is a good music streaming service. It has a lot of services, including the free version, which are all very helpful. Additionally, there is not really anything that sets it apart from other music streaming services in terms of content.
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