Apple Music on Android Testing Support for Android Tablets

Even the peasants have Apple Music now.

Apple's showing more support for Android tablets than most Android devs.

It's been available on Android tablets since the Android app launched, you mean to say they are getting around to optimizing the app for tablets specifically which is new.

And while I agree I don't foresee them doing it voluntarily I do see RCS at least being somewhat of a pending competition and it wouldn't hurt to incentivize people to more exclusive features of Apple through freebies like iMessage that if offered, would eradicate WhatsApp rapidly. Also on the security portion of it, RCS isn't encrypted and that could be another push. Apple is running into shallow water with the prices of their phones putting them out of reach of even beginning to get into the ecosystem to enjoy the full benefits let alone partial ones. It's theories really but I do see just reasons for them to open the gates, even if it's watered down.

I just remembered that Steve Jobs said FaceTime would be open source when it was announced, but I believe that never happened due to a patent dispute. I don't know if I missed that being mentioned in the discussion. Apple has been getting more aggressive in the services arena, so it's not impossible.

Depends on the new Amazon Apple relationship, I would say that Apple Music will eventually be on the Fire Tablets since it’s shockingly coming to the Echo.

I have Apple Music on my $40 Fire HD 8. I just sideloaded the apk. The UI isn't perfect, but it's as good as most Android tablet apps.

Well yes iTunes was a great source of media management but you aren't required to own an iPod to use it, granted it does have a revenue generating effect. But to the point of them not being able to split time, they seem to do it just fine with their services that run on Windows and I doubt their overly saturated developer infrastructure would be taxed by taking on something that isn't a wild goose chase for once. Apple picks up and drops new ideas and avenues for products internally on a daily basis and after working with them for over 3 years this would really not be a detriment to dedicate some resources to something long term that's got 95% of the groundwork covered as it is. There is also co-development that already exists to handle their own stuff that does exist like this already to cover both sides of things. They "don't" store any of those features, the backend of the work is through their already optimized systems that don't cost any more to operate than they do now and they already have a capacity to (and do) handle continents worth of traffic that would be generated for the handshakes of device-to-device while the majority of the workload (data) is handed off to the service providers.

iMessages and FaceTime would both consume additional resources on Apple's servers that you seem to be ignoring as well. Who is going to pay for that?

If they want to get out of the hardware business and be in "services" they better start making everything run on other people's stuff. Music, FaceTime, Messages...

Well, I think precisely zero people think Apple has the vaguest intention of “getting out of” the hardware business...

But, if Services is going to continue to take a more leading role- I agree that some cross platform work on their paid services is definitely in order (obviously, they feel the same... hence, this article).
Not sure why you (or anyone) would think offering their free services like iMessage & FaceTime to non Apple users would be a good idea. That’s ridiculous.
Encouraging people to go ahead & use other hardware, give Apple $0 & 0¢, yet enjoy multiple free services that they bear the cost of??!!! Ummm... towards what end?
Quite intelligently, it seems like they’re going a very different direction- sounds like their new video service will be 100% free, but ONLY available to people with Apple hardware.
Now, THAT is clever! I know if a device came with a Netflix or Amazon Prime subscription, free forever- it’d catch my attention! =)