[ad_1]
Apple finally allows users to change the default music app on their iPhone.
Since its inception, Siri has only been able to play music from one source: Apple’s own Music app, whether she uses it or not. Asking for a song will bring users to that app, even if they are using Spotify, and there has been no alternative.
Now, in a beta of the upcoming iOS 14.5, users are offered the option to modify the app. When requesting music, users will be prompted to indicate whether they want it from Music or from another app.
Users can choose not only Spotify but any other service as well. Screenshots shared by users seem to indicate that it will also be possible to play audio from podcasts or audiobook apps.
The change seems to work differently for different users. Some report that if they ask Siri for music, it will bring up a long list of apps; others say that asking takes them to Spotify, and the requests are then sent to that app.
This is just the latest change to allow users to change the default apps on their iPhones and iPads. With iOS 14, released in September, Apple finally gave people the option of choosing a different browser or email app than its default Safari or Mail.
Apple has been criticized for the way it uses its power on iOS and its other platforms to help support its own apps. These led to a regulatory review and discussions about possible antitrust investigations.
The change is just one of many tweaks added to iOS 14.5, which is expected to arrive in a full release next month.
It also allows users to unlock their phones using their Apple Watch, rather than Face ID facial recognition technology, to bypass mask-wearing issues. It also adds support for Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 controllers.
But the most controversial change will probably be the addition of Apple’s Ad Tracking Transparency or ATT feature. This will allow users to opt out of tracking their data as they move between apps, and has led to a public feud with advertising companies, notably Facebook.
[ad_2]
Source link