Results 1 to 22 of 22
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Wasatch Back: 7000'
    Posts
    12,964

    Music and Listening app.: iTunes v. Pandora v. Spotify

    After 6+ years my iPhone 7 is on its last legs. I need a new iPhone. Probably go with a 128 iPhone 11. Right now, I am committed to Apple in many ways (computers, phones, etc.) My phone is connected to my son's apple account, because we have all of out iTunes on that account. I just set up my new desk top with a different Apple account that is brand new and has zero tunes. I have heard that buying tunes on iTunes is not the way to go. Some people like Pandora, while others like Spotify, and maybe other music outlets. Then, there are "premium" accounts for each. What can you guys recommend? Why?
    Last edited by schindlerpiste; 10-30-2020 at 10:24 AM.
    “How does it feel to be the greatest guitarist in the world? I don’t know, go ask Rory Gallagher”. — Jimi Hendrix

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    Montreal, Canada
    Posts
    1,837
    Spotify is good. The UX sucks balls, but i pay 10CDN per month and can basically listen to anything. Helps if you are not worried about data and can stream while off wifi.
    27° 18°

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Posts
    6,643
    If you like music, and want to listen to anything you want to listen to, it's Spotify. No question. I held out for a long time using other services. I was a fool.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Looking down
    Posts
    50,491
    I like Spotify. Ten bucks a month allows me access to basically a massive record store in the sky. I make playlists at my desk by just dumping stuff that I like into one or two folders, and then I'll make artists playlists when I have the time. All playlists can be downloaded to your phone, and will play without any connection at all. Spotify has also jumped waist deep into the podcast world, but I still use Castbox for that out of habit. Joe Rogan just signed a never have to work again contract with them for exclusive rights.
    Their algorithm watches what I like and suggests stuff every week with a long playlist called Discover weekly. I usually find something in there, and go directly to that album or artist to check out more, with a few clicks. I like that a lot. I have discovered a lot of new stuff that way.

    Pity the poor artist, though. They don't make much money from this model. But, it's pretty awesome to walk around with earbuds or a speaker and my phone, and I can listen to anything, anytime.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Posts
    656
    I've been using spotify basically since it first came out. it's got some irritating quirks, like the fact that when it updates, it deletes and redownloads all of the music you've chosen to keep on your phone. If this happens when you dont have a good signal or are near wifi, you can end up with no music to listen to. really fucking annoying when it happens right before you get on a plane. Also, the 10,000 song limit is irritating. Every few months I have to spend a couple hours deleting albums I ended up not listening to, so that I can add new stuff.

    That said, overall it's great. It does a way better job than any of the other music apps at suggesting music you'll like. plus you get Hulu with your subscription. I personally prefer the UI to iTunes. I'm currently taking a break from spotify to try out Apple Music for free for 3 months. It's not bad. So far there hasn't been anything I could find on Spotify that I can't find on Apple Music, and I listen to some very, very obscure music. meaning for me, there is music I can't find on any app. but overall it's pretty good. The one thing I like about Apple Music over Spotify is that it's easier to add files to your library that you got from places other than the app itself. i.e. adding stuff you bought on bandcamp that isnt on apple/spotify, etc. If you add bandcamp songs or your personal music etc to Apple Music on your computer, it puts the file on your phone for you, as well.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Wasatch Back: 7000'
    Posts
    12,964
    Anyone listen to Rory Gallagher Radio on Spotify? It is my new go to station to listen to while driving. In addition to a lot of Rory, it played a set that included JJ Cale, Keith Richards, Melvin Taylor, Jimmy Page, Pat Travers, Dire Straits, Link Wray and Love Sculpture.
    ....Great stuff
    “How does it feel to be the greatest guitarist in the world? I don’t know, go ask Rory Gallagher”. — Jimi Hendrix

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    in the trench
    Posts
    15,690
    Just saw amazon music has 3 free months for sign up then 8.99/month after. Is that a good option? I guess i could try it for the 3 months like above^^.
    Has it been decided whats best? Apple v spotify v amazon v others?
    Ive never had an online streaming service, i figure its about time

    Sent from my SM-A536W using TGR Forums mobile app

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Vacationland
    Posts
    5,911
    Been using Spotify for a few years, shopped around about a year ago and stayed put. Their predictive algorithm has brought so many new artists into my ears is why.


    Sent from my iPad using TGR Forums

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    33,546
    Quote Originally Posted by grinch View Post
    Just saw amazon music has 3 free months for sign up then 8.99/month after. Is that a good option? I guess i could try it for the 3 months like above^^.
    Has it been decided whats best? Apple v spotify v amazon v others?
    Ive never had an online streaming service, i figure its about time
    Big fan of Amazon Music - especially the amount of Ultra HD content.
    Quote Originally Posted by Downbound Train View Post
    And there will come a day when our ancestors look back...........

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    in the trench
    Posts
    15,690
    Quote Originally Posted by ticketchecker View Post
    Been using Spotify for a few years, shopped around about a year ago and stayed put. Their predictive algorithm has brought so many new artists into my ears is why.


    Sent from my iPad using TGR Forums
    Quote Originally Posted by PNWbrit View Post
    Big fan of Amazon Music - especially the amount of Ultra HD content.
    Thank you both. Any drawbacks with either?

    Sent from my SM-A536W using TGR Forums mobile app

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Vacationland
    Posts
    5,911
    Sound quality is supposed to be better with Apple, Quobuz and that other one I can’t remember the name of. Most of my listening time these days is in the van or through a little bose speaker so can’t say I noticed the difference.


    Sent from my iPad using TGR Forums

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Vermont
    Posts
    1,483
    I had been a long time Spotify user until last year. Realized I could get Apple One for only a few dollars a month more for the family plan. Apple Music is higher quality and we get Apple TV, Arcade, and upgraded iCloud for 6 users. Seemed to be a better deal with no downside so far. Guess I’ve come full circle because the first service I used was MOG which became Beats, and is now Apple Music. The sound quality of Apple is much better than Spotify.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    in the trench
    Posts
    15,690
    I remember my iphone being a pita. Can i use apple one on an android?

    Sent from my SM-A536W using TGR Forums mobile app

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Dec 2020
    Location
    Idaho
    Posts
    1,725
    Live One user here formally known as Slacker and Live X. Works great for $10/month. They have a huge catalog of music available, which along w usability would seem to be a key factor in choosing a service.


    Wiki:
    LiveXLive/Slacker offers traditional genre, specialty, and artist stations pre-programmed by professional DJs, while also letting users build entire stations of specific artists. Users can continue to develop any of these stations by rating favorite songs and banning artists or songs they dislike. LiveXLive/Slacker also allows subscribers to customize any station to their liking by adjusting settings like: more hits or more depth, more or less of their favorites, and more current or more classic material. The music could also be interspersed with music, sports and ABC News updates, alongside some DJ banter. LiveXLive also offers access to over 40 live-streamed music events a year such as Rock In Rio, Rolling Loud, and iHeart Country.
    When a user inputs the name of a specific band or artist, LiveXLive/Slacker will instantly create a station based on that musician along with similar artists. This feature allows users to discover new artists similar to the ones they already like. Users can also create their own stations by inputting artists they like. The rest of the station is automatically populated with similar songs and artists. Pre-programmed themed stations (holidays, music festivals, and artists) are also available.
    In July 2010, Slacker added the ABC News station, with an option to include headline news for top-of-the-hour updates on any Slacker Radio station.[26] In late summer 2011, ESPN channels were also added.
    LiveXLive/Slacker allows users to share content via Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to share news, features, contests and song updates.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    in the trench
    Posts
    15,690
    That last part is interesting. Is it possible to add the music to a vid for socials from all of these streamers?

    Sent from my SM-A536W using TGR Forums mobile app

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    in the trench
    Posts
    15,690
    Ended up getting the amazon music. Ez set up . Works pretty well so far. Put some neil young in straight away because i can. Bumpin all the way to the hill znd back was nice

    Sent from my SM-A536W using TGR Forums mobile app

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    in the trench
    Posts
    15,690
    Do all these use data? Its been nice skiing withe the amazon music on my $30 bluetooth headphones. Did realize it was going to use so much data though. Should i be downloading my playlists on to my phone to save data? Is that costly? Im such a noob

    Sent from my SM-A536W using TGR Forums mobile app

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    10,095
    Quote Originally Posted by grinch View Post
    Do all these use data? Its been nice skiing withe the amazon music on my $30 bluetooth headphones. Did realize it was going to use so much data though. Should i be downloading my playlists on to my phone to save data? Is that costly? Im such a noob

    Sent from my SM-A536W using TGR Forums mobile app
    https://freeyourmusic.com/blog/minim...azon-music-use

    HOW MUCH DATA DOES AMAZON MUSIC USE?
    It’s a bit more complicated with Amazon Music as they haven’t revealed the standard streaming quality of their service. It might be hard to pin down Amazon Music data usage without the specific bitrate, but we can take an educated guess here. Since Most music streaming services offer quality up to 320 kbps, we expect Amazon Music uses approximately 175MB per hour.

    As for the premium tiers, Amazon Music HD offers a bitrate up to 850kbps, while Amazon Ultra HD with a bitrate up to 3,730kbps (which is 10x times higher than most streaming services!). This also means that Amazon Music is going to use more data: 330MB per hour for “HD” and as much as 720MB per hour for “Ultra HD”

    Pro tip: Amazon Music gives you the option to reduce data usage when streaming. Simply tap the three dots in the upper-right corner of the app and go to Settings > Streaming Audio Quality. Head to the Mobile Data section and select Data Saver.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    On the Prairie
    Posts
    307
    With some of your posts over the years implying you have a good relationship with jam bands, if you don't already have the apps for Taper's Section or Live Music Archive, you might want to add them (they are free) - I find myself using them far more than my Spotify account.

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    in the trench
    Posts
    15,690
    Quote Originally Posted by JimmyCarter View Post
    https://freeyourmusic.com/blog/minim...azon-music-use

    HOW MUCH DATA DOES AMAZON MUSIC USE?
    It’s a bit more complicated with Amazon Music as they haven’t revealed the standard streaming quality of their service. It might be hard to pin down Amazon Music data usage without the specific bitrate, but we can take an educated guess here. Since Most music streaming services offer quality up to 320 kbps, we expect Amazon Music uses approximately 175MB per hour.

    As for the premium tiers, Amazon Music HD offers a bitrate up to 850kbps, while Amazon Ultra HD with a bitrate up to 3,730kbps (which is 10x times higher than most streaming services!). This also means that Amazon Music is going to use more data: 330MB per hour for “HD” and as much as 720MB per hour for “Ultra HD”

    Pro tip: Amazon Music gives you the option to reduce data usage when streaming. Simply tap the three dots in the upper-right corner of the app and go to Settings > Streaming Audio Quality. Head to the Mobile Data section and select Data Saver.
    Wow good one. That seems like the easiest solution. Ill try that "date saver" option. I was only on the regular setting. I guess i used it 10-15 ski days and burned almost 2 gb's. I think ill still add some more data to my plan. Its nice to have. Save it on the drive back and forth to the hill.
    Thanks for the tip. Def pro compared to me

    Sent from my SM-A536W using TGR Forums mobile app

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    33,546
    You can also download to your device on the Amazon Music app.

    If you're worried about phone data just do that when you're on Wi-Fi.
    Quote Originally Posted by Downbound Train View Post
    And there will come a day when our ancestors look back...........

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    in the trench
    Posts
    15,690
    Quote Originally Posted by PNWbrit View Post
    You can also download to your device on the Amazon Music app.

    If you're worried about phone data just do that when you're on Wi-Fi.
    Thanks, i was wondering that. Is there a charge/song?

    Sent from my SM-A536W using TGR Forums mobile app

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •