by 
Google just launched its own version of iTunes Match. The software company’s music service, Google Play, allows users to add songs from their music library and stream it to any Android device or computer. Now, users will be able to upload songs much faster because Google Play will scan their computer’s files and rebuild the matched songs in the cloud.
This is big news for Google. The company’s music streaming service has been gaining popularity since its launch. One of the problems with the previous versions of Google Play was the extensive upload times. With the scan and match feature, tracks will “upload” instantaneously.
The feature is not currently available for songs that already exist in the cloud. So, if you have already uploaded thousands of songs to Google Play, you’ll have to wait a bit longer. The company will roll out matching for preexisting songs, but that level of technology takes a little bit of time.
Google Play’s scan and match feature is fairly similar to Apple’s iTunes Match and Amazon’s Cloud Player. The question is whether consumers will ditch the above-mentioned services in exchange for Google Play.
With Google Play, users will be able to stream music at up to 320 kbps, which is higher than Apple’s iTunes match service, which allows streaming at 256 kbps. However, Apple lets you re-download music at 256kbps, even if the original file was of a lower quality. Google Play will only let you download the same quality of file that the song was originally. Google play allows users to store 20,000 songs in the cloud. Amazon Cloud Player lets you store as many as 250,000 songs with the premium account ($25)
Apple and Amazon both charge $25 per year to access the full features of their matching services. While Google Play’s features don’t equal those of its competitors, is the low price of free worth the switch?
It is definitely going to stir things up. There will be users who have been storing their music in iTunes match who will switch to Google Play as a statement against Apple and Amazon for charging money for a service that Google provides for free. There will be others who will switch out of curiosity. They will be interested in discovering if Google Play is easier or more convenient. Still others will jump immediately on the bandwagon because they are Android users and are looking for a new way to get out from under Apple’s wings.
At the same time, Apple users won’t be as quick to switch. The music infrastructure of iTunes and iOS devices is set up perfectly to communicate and distribute music in a way that is easy to understand and fun to use.
iTunes is by far the most popular digital music seller. It will be difficult for Google Play to disrupt the status quo. However, the fact that they are offering their service for free makes them a force to be reckoned with. While most iOS device owners are likely to stick with what is familiar, Apple haters have been looking for more reasons to hate and charging for something that Google gives away for free is just another nail in that coffin.
[Via:CNet]
» Related posts:
Google Reinvents Android Market With Google Play– Can it Unseat Apple?
iOS 6: iTunes Match Now Supports Music Streaming on iPad and iPhone
Having Problems with iTunes Match? Check Out Apple’s New Guide
