google.com/music
Google Play is a digital marketplace that offers users access to audio content, apps, and pretty much anything else.
Whenever Google releases something, I am always excited to try it out. And Google Play was no exception to this rule. Their software continues to be excellent year after year, decade after decade, which few other companies (excluding Microsoft and Apple) are ever coming close to competing with.
However, as far as Google Play is concerned, it would probably be fairer to compare it to iTunes or the Apple App Store than to compare it to Spotify or Tidal. That being said, it does everything that all of those platforms do and some would say it does so better. But we will get to the bottom of whether that is true by the end of this review.
Google Play is a unique media distribution center that offers music streaming, books, movies, TV shows, and apps.
History
When it came time to develop a streaming and digital content distribution service, Google did not take the task lightly. They evaluated many different options before choosing YouTube. YouTube is an established platform with a large user base, so it made sense to use it as the foundation for their new service.
Google Play, which we know today as a consolidated product of the Android Market, Google Music, and Google eBook Store, was created as a result of the brilliance of Google employees. They reasoned that it would be more convenient to merge these three services into one giant service, and so they did. This has resulted in what I believe is a more user-friendly service overall.
The Android Market was originally announced on August 28th, 2008. It became available to users on October 22nd of that year. For the following 2 years after that, the Market was improved and convenient features like product filtering were added until it was a robust online app store.
On December 6, 2010, Google released the Google eBook Store. This store had an extensive collection of eBooks and quickly became the largest eBook collection in the world. Only Google could pull off such a successful launch.
In November of 2011, Google announced Google Music, a new section of the Android Marketplace. This was separate from their main music store, Google Play. It wasn't until March of 2012 that all these platforms were merged into one. This is when 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.
Today, Google Play seems broadly similar to Netflix. At least if you are viewing it through a web browser. In the center of the page, there is a gallery of new and hot content. Scroll through by medium - movies, music, books, etc. Or you can browse more precisely by using the content filters found on the left-hand side of the page.
The Google website is brightly designed with an intuitive layout. The site is divided into sections including Apps, Movies and TV, Books, Devices, and Entertainment. Each section has a menu option that allows you to browse for new content or explore your library, respectively.
Beyond that, Google Play Music offers a more user-friendly interface for finding the music you want to listen to, and the ability to create playlists is really helpful.
However, once you enter the VIP area for Google Play Music (as opposed to the general site), the site changes almost entirely. It is less generalized and made for flawless streaming of your favorite artists and songs. One thing that I love about Google Play Music's design is the fact that artist pages span the entire page, making for a more cinematic (if you will) listening experience than many other streaming services can provide. It creates a very immersive experience, offering in-depth artist bios and any other information that Google Play Music can provide. Beyond that, Google Play Music offers a more user-friendly interface for finding music you want to listen to and the ability to create playlists is really helpful.
Upon logging in, you will be greeted by the top songs of the moment. Beneath that, you will find all of your recommended listens, be it of a podcast or a new single. Google Play Music strives to provide a aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly site design in addition to catering to users' needs.
Content
As far as the number of songs is concerned, Google Play Music is a significant player on the streaming market. With more songs than Spotify, Google Play Music offers a broader range of music genres and plenty of popular podcasts.
Google Play Music offers many features similar to those found on other music streaming services, including the ability to download songs and listen offline, as well as access radio stations based on mood, activity, situation, genre, or artist. One of my favorite aspects of Google Play Music is its Upload feature which allows users to upload up to 50,000 songs from their own library. If Google Play does not have a song or artist you are looking for, you can add them easily with the Upload feature.
If you elect to upgrade to Google Play Music Unlimited, you will also gain access to YouTube Music. This means that, in effect, you are receiving two great music streaming services for the price of one. This is an excellent choice, don't you think?
Desktop and Mobile Experience
I have looked into the app and I believe it will be well designed.
If you gamble on that, you would be collecting your winnings right now. Because this app is extremely user-friendly and simple. Some apps like to get a little too full of themselves with features and redundant buttons, but Google Play Music just keeps it simple - here is your music, here is your search bar, here are the charts; have fun! I like that hands-off approach, personally, when it comes to app design. No clutter, just flawless functionality that is easy on the eyes.
Pricing and Plans
Google Play Music is a free service with some limited features, while Google Play Music Unlimited offers a full suite of features for $9.99/month.
, ad-supported
-Ad-free listening of over 40 million songs with ads supported
is a great feature of the app.
The app enables users to access songs on-demand.
is a feature that is being looked into by the company
-The company is currently looking into ways to make downloading music offline easier for its customers.
is now available on the desktop
YouTube Music is now available on the desktop.
Although you don't have to upgrade, it is highly recommended that you do. At least if you want to get the most out of Google Play Music.
Suggestions that I have for Google Play Music
I believe that on-demand song playing should be offered in the freemium version of Google Music. After all, ads are not enough to support the free version; it's annoying just to have them pop up all the time. I also believe that this would prompt more people to upgrade to the paid version. It would be nice if we could choose a song and listen to it as we please!
Conclusion
Despite some drawbacks, Google Play Music is a strong contender in the music streaming market. Its trademark Google design, vast music and podcast library, and affordable monthly pricing make it a favorable option for many consumers. However, there are some minor complaints that could be improved upon.
However, I think that Google is being a little stingy with its free services and there is not really much that Google Play Music offers that you can't get on any other music streaming service. There is nothing content-wise that is really setting it apart from the bunch, in my opinion.
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