Appears that Spotify is Broadening its Streaming Trial on the Apple Watch
The Apple Watch's Spotify experience has been a bone of contention for many since the device's inception. While the first Apple Watch launched in 2015, it wasn't until November 2018 that a Spotify app graced the popular smartwatch. And let's just say, the initial offering left a lot to be desired. It was more of a glorified remote control.
Fast forward to September 2021, and rumors started swirling that some users were seeing "blue 'beta' banners" in the Apple Watch Spotify app. Today, it seems that the beta might be seeing a wider rollout, with more users receiving prompts to stream music directly from their Apple Watch.
Macerkopf, a German blog, was the first to report on this development. They claim that users with access to the feature can stream their playlists, podcasts, artists, and albums over both cellular and Wi-Fi. The feature also supports casting music over Bluetooth headphones and speakers, although there's no in-app search function, leaving users to rely on Siri.
Unfortunately, I wasn't one of the lucky ones to get the Spotify beta. But my colleague Catie Keck did, on her Apple Watch Series 6. She reported receiving a notification asking if she'd like to stream on her Apple Watch, with the option to select the Apple Watch by tapping the phone icon in the lower right corner. However, since Catie's Series 6 doesn't have cellular, they couldn't confirm if streaming over a cellular network is possible.
Having the ability to stream Spotify directly from the Apple Watch is significant. It means users can leave their phones at home during workouts or casual outings, as most third-party music apps on the watch only function as remote controls. Apple Music and Pandora have long been the go-to options for those who want online playback. But with Spotify joining the party, users now have more choices, avoiding the feeling of being limited to Apple Music.
In fact, Pandora recently became the first third-party music service on the HomePod. Considering last month's Apple event, it's likely that other services will follow suit, including Spotify. Although Spotify wasn't highlighted during the event, this beta could be a step in the right direction.
For Spotify Free users, while they can't download music for offline playback, they can still control playback and listen to music through Bluetooth headphones. However, they need to carry their iPhones to play songs on the Apple Watch.
As a Spotify Premium subscriber, the newly updated Apple Watch app offers several key features. You can download playlists for offline playback, control playback, browse playlists, catch up on podcasts, and even control smart speakers at home. The app is also compatible with various entertainment systems and supports Spotify Connect.
In case you're a Spotify Free user and can't play music on the Apple Watch without an iPhone, a third-party solution like NoteBurner Spotify Music Converter can help. This tool allows you to convert Spotify songs to open-source formats like MP3, AAC, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, or ALAC, which can then be synced to your Apple Watch via your iPhone for offline playback.
- The tech community has been eagerly awaiting improvements to the Spotify experience on Apple Watches, given the device's limited functionality in this area since 2015.
- The rumored upcoming Spotify beta for Apple Watches could revolutionize the way users interact with music, potentially allowing for direct streaming over cellular or Wi-Fi.
- The inclusion of Spotify in the list of compatible music services for the HomePod, following Pandora's lead, is a clear indication of the tech giant's strategy to expand its ecosystem and provide users with more choices.
- With the recent beta confirmation, Spotify Premium subscribers can now download playlists for offline playback, control playback, browse playlists, and even control smart speakers at home directly from their Apple Watch, making the device a more independent music player.
