Apple Music for Android beta now available for download via Google Play Store

A couple of weeks back we came across leaked screenshots of Apple Music app for Android. Keeping the promise made at the WWDC 2015, Apple has finally launched its 24*7 global music radio and streaming app for Android users. Still in beta, Apple Music for Android is now available for download on Google Play Store in regions where Apple Music service is available.

While Apple is not known to extend its services to rival platforms, this is the fourth app from the company, including two Beats-related apps and the Move to iOS app that got poor reviews from the users.

Apple Music for Android brings the same interface as the iOS counterpart. The app is compatible with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and above. To use the service, you’ll need to sign-in with your existing Apple ID or create a new one.The app doesn't appear to work on tablets right now -- I wasn't able to download it on a Nexus 7 or Nexus 9.

Similar to iOS, Apple Music on Android also offers three-months free trial, but you’ll need to enter your credit card details to create the account and avail the service. Subscription charges for the service in India costs Rs 120 per month for individuals and Rs 190 for family plan, which is very cheap compared to $9.99 in the US (which translates to Rs 650, approximately).

Apple kept much of the same design from the original iOS app, but embraced the typical Android layout too. True to Android design, the app has a left slide-out "hamburger" menu (so named for the three horizontal lines that look like a hamburger) where you can jump to different sections. That menu is where you'll find the For You, New, Radio, Connect, Playlists and My Music tabs. The hamburger menu keeps things a bit more organized, but it does make it more tedious to switch between tabs.

Google Play Prepaid voucher launched in India

Back in June, Google launched prepaid cards in India that could be redeemed on its Play Store. Today the company has taken a step forward by launching ‘Google Play Gift Cards’ that can be bought at offline stores, as well as e-commerce site.

Unlike the prepaid vouchers, the Play Gift Cards are available in dominations of Rs 750, Rs 1,000, and Rs 1,500. These Gift Cards are available offline retail stores namely Spice Hotspot, Vijay Sales, Planet M, Planet Mobile and Sangeetha Mobiles. Alternatively, one can also head to Snapdeal and buy a Gift Card with cash on delivery(COD) option.

These vouchers are the same as the prepaid cards that were launched earlier this year, and they can be used to purchase apps, games, movies or games. These cards essentially circumvent the hassle of using a debit or credit card. All one needs to do is launch the Google Play Store and swipe from the left of the screen. Tap on the newly introduced redeem option, enter the code of your Google Play Gift Card and start downloading any digital content from the Store.

“We hope the increased availability of Google Play Gift Cards will make it easier for users to enjoy your favorite movies, books, magazines, apps, and games across all your devices. Users in India can buy games like Prince of Persia at Rs 10 or get big discounts on movies like The Great Gatsby or Sherlock Holmes during this promotion ” Saurabh Agarwal, Head of Retail Partnerships – Google Play, India said in an official blog post.

As an introductory offer, Google is offering discounts for popular games, movies and books. For example, the Prince of Persia Android game is available for only Rs 10, while movies like The Hangover part III and Captain Phillips, which usually cost Rs 390, are now available for Rs 170 and Rs 20 respectively. Books like Gyan Prakash’s Mumbai Fables, which usually costs Rs 399, is now available for Rs 180.50.

Source : BGR