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Apple Working to Add Home Sharing for Music in iOS 9

Monday July 6, 2015 4:29 pm PDT by Juli Clover
homesharingWith the release of iOS 8.4 and the new built-in Apple Music service, Apple removed Home Sharing for music on iOS devices, a move that many Home Sharing users have been upset about.

It was unclear if Home Sharing for music would be re-added in the future, but according to iTunes chief Eddy Cue, Apple is planning to add Home Sharing to iOS 9. In response to a tweet about the removal of Home Sharing for music, Cue tweeted "We are working to have Home Sharing in iOS 9."

Wording in the release notes for the last iOS 8.4 beta suggested that Home Sharing and Genius Mixes were "not currently available," hinting that the features could return at a later date, and it appears that is indeed Apple's plan.

While Home Sharing for music has been removed in iOS 8.4, the feature is still available for video. Home Sharing for music also remains available on the Mac and the Apple TV. It is unclear when Home Sharing for music will be introduced in iOS 9, but the next beta is expected later this week.

In recent weeks, Apple has been embracing social media, with Eddy Cue answering several questions about Apple Music and related services. Cue also used Twitter to announce Apple's plans to pay artists during the Apple Music free trial after an open letter from Taylor Swift, and he informed users about an upcoming iOS 9 beta seed that will add Apple Music to the new operating system.

Tag: Home Sharing
[ 93 comments ]


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ShadovvMoon
52 months ago
In other news, Apple removes a feature only to reintroduce it later as innovation.
Rating: 14 Votes
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vladzaharia
52 months ago

The whole thing leaves a bad taste in my mouth, really; we were finally moving away from DRM on music entirely and now here it is, coming back with a vengeance.


It's impossible to do streaming without DRM, by sheer fact that you have a time-limited subscription that could technically end at any time. You need some way to cut off access to the music when this finishes, hence you need some sort of DRM. Without it, nobody would subscribe past the trial. They'd get a trial, download all the songs they want, and then cancel and keep the songs. With purchases, going DRM-less makes the most sense, since it's a one time transaction.
Rating: 13 Votes
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zorinlynx
52 months ago
I wonder if this is because Home Sharing had a hole in its DRM that Apple couldn't leave open with Apple Music.

Before it was fine; music from the iTunes Store has no DRM so it's okay if FairPlay wasn't entirely secure for music. But now with Apple Music, a hole in FairPlay is serious because people can use it to remove DRM from the "rented" music and keep it forever.

The whole thing leaves a bad taste in my mouth, really; we were finally moving away from DRM on music entirely and now here it is, coming back with a vengeance.
Rating: 11 Votes
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justmewhoelse
52 months ago
Is it me, or has Apple lost it's direction/mojo? Way too much amateurish crap being released pretty buggy and/or lame? Apple seems to be reacting instead of acting/leading.
Rating: 7 Votes
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Arran
52 months ago

...I don't want to have to mess with creating playlists and using up next to listen to my music in the car.

Agreed. In my car is where I listen to my music most of the time. The cluttered UI is a dangerous distraction.

Looking at it all, I get the feeling the "suburban commuter in the car" persona wasn't even considered by the UI designers. It seems completely skewed towards musically-promiscuous, late-teen, early 20's commuters who ride the subway or the train to work, who have both hands free and are happy to interact heavily with the device as they listen.

That "urban-hipster" use-case should certainly be an option, not the default. Better yet, it should be a separate app that draws from the same local music database as the traditional iTunes mobile app.

Give me the old iPhone app back please Apple. I don't need this other stuff getting between me and my music.
Rating: 5 Votes
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nfl46
52 months ago

Eddy has to stop with his Twitter leaks. Where's the secrecy?

Actually, this is good that he responds to some tweets. I am liking this new Apple where they are being a little more open.
Rating: 5 Votes
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William Gates
52 months ago
Hopefully they fix it once and for all. Home Sharing with big libraries has been broken off and on for years on iOS devices.
Rating: 4 Votes
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Loge
52 months ago
Hopefully when it returns in iOS 9 the speed will be better than it was before, when it could take several minutes to load a large library.

Meanwhile the conspiracy theorists can shut up!
Rating: 4 Votes
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ErikGrim
52 months ago

And what about those devices that WILL NOT be able to run iOS9 but are left BROKEN by iOS8?

Typical modern day Apple, "if you want, that thing you USED to have go buy new hardware."

What are you talking about? Every device supported by iOS8 will be supported by iOS9. Same with El Cap and Yosemite.
Rating: 4 Votes
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Glideslope
52 months ago

And all of those people screaming....

"OMG I HATE YOU APPLE, HOW CAN YOU TAKE THIS AWAY FROM ME?!?"

...are nowhere to be seen


Um, if I'm not mistaken, Eddy was quoted as saying, "we are working on restoring Home Sharing in iOS 9." That leaves a fairly large amount of uncertainty as far as I'm concerned. How many would have upgraded to 8.4 knowing Home Share would be disabled? Please, save the Apple Speak. It's obviously a major issue now. They should have been upfront. :apple:
Rating: 4 Votes

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