It’s not iTunes, but — shhh, don’t tell anyone — it’s basically iTunes
IT HAS THE the same icon
as the iTunes app, and
works similarly except for
the eviction of TV Programmes,
Films, Podcasts, and Audiobooks.
Links to your Library and Playlists
appear on the left, populated with the
tracks already on your Mac or synced
via iCloud Music Library. Any
connected iOS device will also appear
in the sidebar, but almost all of
iTunes’ local sync and backup
functions have moved to the Finder.Apple Music tabs
You don’t have to subscribe to
Apple Music to use the Music app, but
Apple certainly wouldn’t mind if you do.
The For You, Browse and Radio tabs,
previously arranged across the top,
are now at the top of the left sidebar.Take a look
Don’t have Apple Music? You can
still click Browse to see what you could
stream if you did. But trying to play a
track doesn’t give a clip, just a box
offering “Get 3 Months Free”. Click
this, then Not Now to cancel.Recommendations
The Radio tab also lists exclusive
content, although you can hear Beats 1
Live free. For subscribers, the For You tab
recommends tracks. Not interested? In
Music > Preferences > Restrictions >
Disable, tick Apple Music.HOW TO Use or lose Apple Music
Words don’t come easily
The Lyrics feature has moved from
a tab on the Up Next pop–up in iTunes
to its own icon at the top right of Music’s
window, beside Up Next. Click this to
see... well, maybe nothing. Lyrics are
only available to Apple Music
subscribers, and don’t exist yet for all
tracks. Unlike in iOS, they won’t scroll
along with the music.NEW
ARRANGEMENTS
Content tabs (previously
found across the top of the
window in the iTunes app)
have moved to the left
sidebar, where it’s clearer
which ones refer to Apple’s
optional Music service as
opposed to your library.STICKY CONTENT
All the music you had
before in iTunes should
appear here; the Music
app accesses the existing
music library on your Mac
(if you have upgraded
to Catalina) plus your
iTunes Match or Apple
Music syncs.NEXT PLEASE
When you play a track,
others in the same playlist
are added to Up Next,
previously a pop–up but
now a pane activated by
the menu button (top
right). Drag other tracks
onto it, or just right–click
to remove.
Feature
18 DEC 2019 maclife.com