"Hey Siri" support and possibly wireless charging case alongside AirPower charging mat.
Apple Music to Launch on Amazon's Echo Devices the Week of December 17
Apple and Amazon today announced that Apple Music will launch on Echo devices beginning the week of December 17. In a blog post, Amazon explains that Apple Music subscribers will be able to ask Alexa to play their favorite songs, artist, playlists, Beats1 radio stations, and albums, all through an Echo speaker.
One example they give is the command, "Alexa, play Bebe Rexha on Apple Music."
The integration will launch as an Apple Music skill that will need to be enabled within the Alexa app, where users will also be able to link their account to start listening to Apple Music on an Echo speaker. Apple Music will join the ranks of a few other music streaming services already supported on Echo, including Spotify, iHeartRadio, and Pandora.
These numbers refer to global paid subscriber users, and in a report over the summer it was suggested that Apple Music is actually ahead of Spotify's paid subscriber count in the United States. Both Apple Music and Spotify were said to have more than 20 million paid subscribers in the U.S. as of July 2018, and at the time Apple was "a hair ahead" of its rival.
One example they give is the command, "Alexa, play Bebe Rexha on Apple Music."
The integration will launch as an Apple Music skill that will need to be enabled within the Alexa app, where users will also be able to link their account to start listening to Apple Music on an Echo speaker. Apple Music will join the ranks of a few other music streaming services already supported on Echo, including Spotify, iHeartRadio, and Pandora.
“Music is one of the most popular features on Alexa—since we launched Alexa four years ago, customers are listening to more music in their homes than ever before,” said Dave Limp, senior vice president, Amazon Devices.Apple Music is said to have over 56 million total subscribers, including those on the free trial. The company is in a battle with Spotify as each tries to grow their numbers. In November, Spotify reported 87 million paid subscribers on its service, and 191 million monthly active users.
“We are committed to offering great music providers to our customers and since launching the Music Skill API to developers just last month, we’ve expanded the music selection on Alexa to include even more top tier services. We’re thrilled to bring Apple Music – one of the most popular music services in the US – to Echo customers this holiday.”
These numbers refer to global paid subscriber users, and in a report over the summer it was suggested that Apple Music is actually ahead of Spotify's paid subscriber count in the United States. Both Apple Music and Spotify were said to have more than 20 million paid subscribers in the U.S. as of July 2018, and at the time Apple was "a hair ahead" of its rival.
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2 weeks ago
Still amazes me that people are happy to have these 'smart' speakers in their homes. Who really trusts the likes of Amazon & particularly Google with your data & privacy? Not me.
2 weeks ago
Overall, great move for Apple Music as a service being on more devices. From a hardware perspective, bad news for HomePod.
2 weeks ago
Personally, I do not care if it listens to my conversations. I am not doing anything illegal.
So someone easdropping on your personal life in general is ok with you? There are far more implications with the device than one being concerned with criminal behavior being revealed. :apple:
2 weeks ago
Didn’t see that one coming.
Makes me assume that HomePod sales must be lacking and this is their response to stay relative.
It was probably part of the agreement with Amazon starting to sell Apple Products again.
2 weeks ago
Didn’t see that one coming.
Makes me assume that HomePod sales must be lacking and this is their response to stay relative.
Makes me assume that HomePod sales must be lacking and this is their response to stay relative.
2 weeks ago
Still amazes me that people are happy to have these 'smart' speakers in their homes. Who really trusts the likes of Amazon & particularly Google with your data & privacy? Not me.
Personally, I do not care if it listens to my conversations. I am not doing anything illegal.
edit: Just to be clear I know people are concerned with privacy and not just doing "illegal" things. I just flat out do not care if it listens to my conversations. The same way I still use google services because I do not wear a tin hat.
2 weeks ago
Personally, I do not care if it listens to my conversations. I am not doing anything illegal.
I think the argument "I am not doing anything illegal" so let them spy, doesn't hold anymore.
And I am really not the kind of guy who gets paranoid with data and privacy concerns.
2 weeks ago
YES!!!! I have a number of Alexa devices, and refuse to pay Apple's ridiculous price for HomePod, but I find Prime Music to be lacking (I'm an Apple Music subscriber). This is awesome!
2 weeks ago
So someone easdropping on your personal life in general is ok with you? There are far more implications with the device than one being concerned with criminal behavior being revealed. :apple:
Yeah, it does not bother me to be honest.
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