Apple has released a beta version of iOS 8.4, available to registered developers. In it, there is a new Music app. Totally redesigned, this app is most likely preparing for the introduction of a rebranded Beats streaming music service.
A lot has changed in the Music app, and I’ll discuss other changes in the future. But the first thing I noticed is that you cannot shuffle all songs, as you can in the current Music app.
Right now, in iOS 8.3 (and earlier), you can shuffle all your songs by tapping Songs in the tab bar at the bottom of the window, and then scrolling down a bit to display the big, very visible Shuffle bar above your songs, as you can see to the left.
In the iOS 8.4 Music app, the process is very different. First, you have to tap My Music in the tab bar, and then tap the menu in the middle of the window and choose Songs. Next, tap a song to start playing it, and then tap the shuffle button. In other words, you cannot start with a random song, but must choose a song first to be able to shuffle all your music. Once you’ve turned on shuffle, it will remain on. So if you start playing a song later, it will still be in shuffle mode.
If you choose an album – such as in the new Recently Added section at the top of the window – tapping the shuffle button will only shuffle the songs of that album, as it should.
It’s odd, as shuffle has always been a key feature in listening to music on portable devices, since the first iPod. This is just a beta, so perhaps Apple will add an easy-to-use shuffle button in the final version; at least I hope so.
There’s a simpler way to do this: if your device supports Siri, hold the Home button and say, “Shuffle music.”
I just downloaded today and I too find shuffle a bit more cumbersome than it was before. I do like the overall presentation and find it an improvement on the old version. I wish they would go “Full Ecoute” and add swipe gestures to skip forward and back. And the thing that may keep me using Ecoute for a while (although the developers seem to be hinting they’ll discontinue it now that Apple’s built in the “Up Next” functionality) is the tap and hold to jump to an artist or album. Super handy.
Another missing piece — is there any way to view lyrics in 8.4’s music app?
I just downloaded today and I too find shuffle a bit more cumbersome than it was before. I do like the overall presentation and find it an improvement on the old version. I wish they would go “Full Ecoute” and add swipe gestures to skip forward and back. And the thing that may keep me using Ecoute for a while (although the developers seem to be hinting they’ll discontinue it now that Apple’s built in the “Up Next” functionality) is the tap and hold to jump to an artist or album. Super handy.
Another missing piece — is there any way to view lyrics in 8.4’s music app?
Or “shake to shuffle” in Settings.
That, in my opinion, is the stupidest iOS feature. It’s the best way to break an iOS device.
Or “shake to shuffle” in Settings.
That, in my opinion, is the stupidest iOS feature. It’s the best way to break an iOS device.
Press play button in your iphone head sets to shuffle songs
Press play button in your iphone head sets to shuffle songs
thanks! good little explanation.
thanks! good little explanation.
I don’t see a shuffle button?
I don’t see a shuffle button?
I disagree totally. When I listen to an album I pretty much never want it to be shuffled. Now I can’t seem to turn it off? My genius playlists on the other hand are all unshuffled–grouped alphabetically by artist. Completely annoying.
I disagree totally. When I listen to an album I pretty much never want it to be shuffled. Now I can’t seem to turn it off? My genius playlists on the other hand are all unshuffled–grouped alphabetically by artist. Completely annoying.
I think this has been completely settled but everywhere I see this explained I can get to the ‘select songs’ from drop down menu part but then there is still no shuffle button. Can anyone give any more guidance?
I think this has been completely settled but everywhere I see this explained I can get to the ‘select songs’ from drop down menu part but then there is still no shuffle button. Can anyone give any more guidance?