One of the more peculiar announcements during Apple’s event this week was their new “Apple Music Voice Plan.” When I first heard it, I thought Apple was perhaps announcing something to do with Podcasts. Or maybe an a capella group? Thankfully, it’s neither of those things.
Instead, Apple’s new plan is Apple Music, minus the app. Rather than having access to Apple Music in the app, you just have it through Siri. You know, with your voice. Or, for those who can’t use their voice, or simply never had one, through Type to Siri. It really should be named the “Siri Plan,” as it’s not exclusively, with your voice.
This is Apple Music, without the app. It’s a bit more difficult to navigate, so who would want it? Well, it is half price, so maybe a lot of people.
Just What is the Voice Plan?
Apple’s new Voice Plan is just $4.99/month, half the price of a standard Apple Music subscription. For that, you get most of the services that Apple Music provides, just not the apps. You can’t hunt down playlists or spend time crafting and reordering songs to create the perfect one, but you can easily listen to playlists you’ve already created on a device with your own music, listen to pre-made playlists by Apple or others, and listen to all the music you want. It’s all of the music of Apple Music, without the app. Almost more like radio, perfect for casual listeners who just want to be able to say a sentence starting with “Hey Siri…” and start listening to music. Tell it you want to listen to “something chill,” or that you need music for a party. Apple Music is good at quickly finding generic playlists to fill up with popular songs spanning their full catalog so you can expect a few favorites and plenty of new songs in the mix.
Isn’t it Limited?
In some ways, yes. Apple is adding more playlists for specific moods, activities, settings, and genres. Users can also ask Siri to “Play more like this” when they find a song that fits the mood perfectly. I’ve already asked my HomePod mini to play some “Late night jazz,” and didn’t get what I was looking for. I was in the mood for that very specific, almost muffled horn-driven jazz that you can just have in the background or sip whiskey while thinking about your dark and mysterious past to. Siri didn’t nail it, I’d have to hunt through the app to find something much closer to what I wanted (the “Jazz Chill” playlist is close, by the way). However, to a more casual listener just looking for a playlist to match a mood or setting, Apple’s suggestions will likely turn up exactly what they’re looking for.
With more playlists tuned specifically for moods and the current user’s tastes, it could pick out the right music for you. Maybe it won’t be perfect for someone looking for something extremely specific, but it’ll be perfect for someone looking to simply set a mood. It’s the original promise of the HomePod. Coming home, saying something as simple as “Hey Siri, play me something I like,” and getting exactly that, something you’ll like.
Who Would Want That?
The interface of Apple Music allows you to build playlists, find other playlists easily, reorder your music as its playing, listen on Android devices, and much more. It’s a decent app. You’re missing out on a lot by using the service without the app.
But here’s the thing, not everyone wants to shell out nearly $120/month for their music. Many people just need music as background noise and don’t care much about what it is. Some just use the radio for that, which is free. They don’t need to hunt down particular songs, build playlists of their favorites, or share with friends. They just want music, and perhaps the occasional interruption of a radio host.
For them, this new plan is perfect. It’s a low enough price point that the allure of a huge catalog of music on demand could be worth the $5/month. Being able to find the perfect radio station or playlist by just asking a small speaker for what you want to listen to is easy, and worth the price. Furthermore, some people may simply not want to use their smartphones much, if they have smartphones at all. For them, all their favorites across decades may be worth about $60/year. While people obsessed with music, building playlists, attending shows, and music culture may scoff at it, those who just want easy listening, or music to constantly fill their home, would love this plan. It may not be right for me, but it may be perfect for someone who just wants a better radio.
Should You Get It?
The fact that you can try it out for a week before buying into it is a huge win. However, it’s best listened to over speakers, scattered through your home. Specifically, the HomePod mini. This plan is perfect for the HomePod mini, and using it without one is like using half of a service that is already half of a service. So, while you could try it out for a week with your iPhone, your Mac, an iPad, etc, it’ll be best experienced when you have something like a HomePod mini to give you access to both Siri and your music everywhere. That’ll be important to keep in mind if you try it out before you have a HomePod. Other than that, though, the trial is a great way to figure out if the cheaper plan is enough for your needs.
When I first heard of it, Apple’s new plan seemed like a waste, a missed opportunity. However, after talking to some more casual music listeners, I can see how it would be perfect for people who just want to fill the silence with something they’ll like. Maybe they’ll find they only ever need is access to Apple’s vast library of songs. A home filled with music just feels more like a home, after all.