Apple developers are excited now that Apple has released a beta of its latest mobile OS, iOS 8.4, and it comes with a bonus surprise: a refreshed Music app that promises to make music collection management and search easier, and the capability for personalizing playlist.
The revamped music app boasts a streamlined iTunes Radio, a new MiniPlayer and a global search function with just a tap on the magnifying glass. There's even a new Artists view offering up illustrated images of musicians.
The news comes as competition in the music streaming services segment is heating up with new tech players and even musicians, such as Jay Z, getting into the industry. Meanwhile longtime third-party music service players like Spotify are expanding user bases.
The new Apple OS update comes under a week after Apple pushed iOS 8.3 out. The update fixed a few connectivity bugs and flawed landscape orientation viewing option, and brought new features as well, as Tech Times reported. The features included diverse emojis, wireless car support, and a new iCloud photo library feature.
The diverse emojis effort drew a fast wave of media attention given the sensitivity regarding racial profiles. Now the emoji keyboard boasts 300 characters and a diverse selection of skin color. The emoji board now also features diverse relationships including one with two men and one of two women.
As Tech Times noted, the emoji expansion even includes a Vulcan salute, approved by the Unicode Consortium. The salute, as most techies know, was made famous by Spock on Star Trek.
The iOS 8.3 update caused issues with Touch ID in the App Store for iPhone 6 users. In addition, many other issues started popping up in forums regarding that update, such as the inability to install it on iPhone 4s and the iPod Touch 5th generation.
The streaming service element will arrive at the annual developer event, WWDC, in June.
The initial Apple mobile iOS 8 debuted in September, 2014. Reports expect iOS 9 to arrive sometime between late summer and early September just as Apple pushes iPhone 6S into market.
