Apple has released updates for its Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Devices apps for PC users running Windows 11, bringing what appear to be notable improvements and bug fixes to the preview apps.
Last year, Microsoft said that Apple Music and Apple TV apps would be coming to the Microsoft Store in 2023 for installation on Windows devices, offering a better experience of Apple Music and Apple TV+ than going via the web or using Apple's outdated iTunes for Windows app.
In January, preview versions of the two apps, as well as an Apple Devices app for managing devices such as iPhones, iPads, and iPods from Windows machines appeared in the Microsoft Store. However, Apple warned that, as preview versions of these apps, "not all features may work as expected."
Apple has provided no release notes for the latest updates, so we don't have a comprehensive list of changes and fixes. However, users on Reddit have discovered that the Apple Music Preview app now appears to include support for Windows 11 media controls and keyboard shortcuts, support for lyrics, and provides smoother continuous playback of consecutive lossless tracks.
As for the Apple Devices Preview, Apple has reportedly removed mentions of the software that will run on its rumored mixed reality headset. References to "xrOS" and "RealityOS" references are now gone. Apple internally called the headset software "Reality OS" or "rOS" when it was in development, then decided to update the public name to the less generic "xrOS" name, which stands for "extended reality." Apple is expected to unveil its headset at WWDC in June.
There is no information yet on what's new in the Apple TV Preview app, but we will update this article when we learn more.
Note that installing any of these apps will prevent iTunes for Windows from opening. As a result, other content types such as audiobooks and podcasts will be inaccessible until Apple releases a compatible version of iTunes or the user uninstalls the preview apps.
Top Rated Comments
But... I have to use Windows for work. Both for actual work and my own eagerness to keep exploring what else is out there. Just like I own a cheap Android phone as well. And yes, I very often use Apple Music on Windows. It used to be through iTunes, then I started using the web variant as a web app pinned to my start menu, which worked fine and at least had the Windows audio playback integration because it's essentially a website in MS Edge browser. And most recently I started using the preview apps.
I'm 100% sure there are a LOT of users like me out there. The macOS vs. Windows debate is fine, but there are huge groups of people who use both at the same time. Sometimes forced by their employer who doesn't allow MacBooks to be used, but whatever the reason, it's 2023 and the fact that MS Office and Teams is available on macOS and iCloud including KeyChain and Photos integration is available on Windows is just great. It means it's less painful to switch over. I used to have to use Google's services as that was basically the only one that played somewhat nice on all platforms, but nowadays most of them work fine and iCloud Photos integration on Windows is especially great.
Just because you don't use it, doesn't mean the rest of the world is like you.
Some people use both Macs and PCs.
There's a lot more iPhone users on Windows than there are on Macs. Please stop with this nonsense.
I have a bunch of Apple products (4 Macs in our home, 4 iPhones, 2 iPads, etc.). but a computer running Windows is my main work computer. Apple Music on Windows allows me to use my subscription and not switch to Spotify.
With everything in such constant flux, with new companies, new ideas, new concepts constantly at the forefront, it feels oddly self-limiting to corral yourself in a single company's garden. But, to each their own.