Published 2025-06-03
tag(s): #yell-at-cloud #reviews #music
So a while ago, I managed to switch the fam to Apple Music. Here are my thoughts on the topic.[1]
I was having trouble with my phone, like, third device in about the same amount of years. And at this point in my life, getting a new device wasn't an exciting and fun thing, but an annoyance.
I really wanted a Linux phone or a hardened Android, but as I hinted here before, you can't run, for example, banking apps on them. Switching to an iPhone is the simplest alternative to anything requiring a Google account.
Now, why do I feel I need to justify the decision? It's beyond stupid.
I could just say "I figured I would try the alternative". Who cares? Well, lots of
people seem to, but why care that they care?
In short, that's my relationship with Apple - one of reluctance. I see them as a bit less worse than Google (I can't even say "slightly better"). When I was looking for a streaming box, the Apple TV was the only one approved in Privacy Not Included and I will be honest, the positive experience with the iPhone as a consumer played a role. My review is linked above, and with the device came a trial for Apple Music.
The interface is cleaner, only music, no podcasts, audiobooks, etc. Search features are about the same, library is equivalent for my uses. But I will reckon I don't listen to "fringe artists".
I am no audiophile, but I immediately noticed that it sounded better than Spotify. I went back
to the Spotify app(s) and checked settings to make sure I was getting the best quality during
streaming and downloads, but still, a noticeable difference.
One day on the car we used my phone to play music and my wife commented that it sounded
crisper. When I told her it was Apple Music, she sighed and asked if I was trying to
convince her to switch. Which might or might not be true.
EDIT: One thing I forgot to mention, is that Music doesn't have the concept of cross-device
listening. Depending the day, this is great or terrible.
If I am listening to a jazz playlist on my laptop, and want to play something while driving,
the fact that the queues are separate experiences is great. When I get back home, I can pick
up where I left.
If I get home while listening to an album, it is nice to open my laptop and resume from the
exact same spot. So, the opposite.
(And this Spotify feature doesn't always work well, sometimes it would reset the playlist when
moving between devices)
Yes, ethics.
Apple is a terrible company, from malicious compliance with right to repair, to many instances
of choking their competition, and the closed down ecosystem.
On other side of the equation we have Spotify, which pays artists even less per stream than
Apple, and gives millions to Joe Rogan.
It feels like choosing between the Devil and Lucifer.
I hate this timeline.
I looked briefly into this. I knew the fam wouldn't be up for it. And a lot of bands are not
in Bandcamp. And when they aren't, the alternative is to buy music...usually through
Apple.
Would love to know if there are other options, but still, wife and kiddo will want,
understandably, a streaming option.
A long while ago we had an Apple Arcade trial, which was good to let the kiddo try games
knowing they didn't have micro transactions crap nor ads.
With the Music trial ending, and while watching a couple new shows in the TV+
service[2], I figured I would look into the Apple One subscription.
Every time I get their billing email, I feel a hint of shame that I am giving money to what I consider a bad company...but I find their services better than the alternative. And I am not principled enough to not use any music streaming service, it seems.
Oh, one more negative is that there isn't an Apple Music client for Linux, and probably there never will be.