What is the music player for Google cloud?
Google Cloud Player is a music service and mobile app created by Google that lets users upload songs from their music library and stream them on any device. The service launched in 2011 as Google’s answer to similar cloud music services from Amazon and Apple. It allows users to store up to 50,000 songs from their personal collection in the cloud for free and stream them instantly across devices, without needing to sync or download files.
Some key features of Google Cloud Player include the ability to play any song in your library wherever you go as long as you have an internet connection, create playlists that are synced across devices, get recommendations based on your taste, and store high-quality audio at no charge. The mobile app is available on both iOS and Android. Overall, it provides a convenient way for listeners to access their entire music library from anywhere.
History
Google Cloud Platform first launched in April 2008 as App Engine. Initially it only supported Python applications but later added support for Java, PHP and Go. In November 2011, Google launched the beta version of Google Compute Engine, which provides users with on-demand virtual machines.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Cloud_Platform] This marked the beginning of the Google Cloud Platform as we know it today.
Some key milestones in the development of Google Cloud Platform include:[https://www.pluralsight.com/resources/blog/cloud/history-google-cloud-platform]
- April 2008 – Google App Engine launched
- November 2011 – Google Compute Engine beta released
- May 2013 – Google Compute Engine generally available
- March 2014 – Managed VMs launched
- November 2014 – Google Container Engine beta released
- March 2016 – Google Container Engine generally available
Over the years, Google has continued expanding the services offered through Google Cloud Platform. Today it provides a comprehensive set of cloud computing services including computing, storage, networking, big data, machine learning and more.
Features
Google’s cloud music player, called CloudPlayer, allows users to stream and download music stored in cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive. The main capabilities and functionality of CloudPlayer include:
Access to music libraries stored across multiple cloud services – CloudPlayer connects to Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and Box, providing access to music uploaded across these platforms. Users can combine their music libraries from multiple cloud accounts into one interface (https://www.doubletwist.com/cloudplayer).
Streaming music playback – CloudPlayer allows users to stream songs directly from the cloud without needing to download them first. Streaming works over WiFi and mobile data (https://www.doubletwist.com/cloudplayer).
Downloading songs for offline playback – Users can download songs, albums, or playlists for offline listening when internet connectivity is limited. Downloads are stored locally on the device.
Android and iOS apps – CloudPlayer has free apps for Android and iOS that sync with the cloud library. Users can access their cloud music through the apps when on mobile devices (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.doubleTwist.cloudPlayer&hl=en_US&gl=US).
Desktop app – There is a CloudPlayer desktop app for Windows and Mac that provides access to cloud music libraries on laptops and computers.
Smart playlists – CloudPlayer can generate smart playlists based on various criteria like recently added, most played, recently played, and more. Users can customize auto-generated playlists.
High quality audio – CloudPlayer can play high-resolution audio formats like FLAC for an enhanced listening experience.
Chromecast support – Users can stream music to Chromecast devices from the CloudPlayer mobile app.
Music Library Options
Users have a couple options for accessing their personal music libraries on CloudPlayer. One way is to upload music files directly to CloudPlayer from a computer. This allows you to store up to 250 songs for free in CloudPlayer’s cloud storage. To upload, you simply drag and drop files into the CloudPlayer desktop app.
Another option is to link CloudPlayer to your Google Drive storage. This gives you access to all the audio files you have stored in Drive, with no upload limit. After installing the CloudPlayer mobile app, you can tap “Add cloud account” and select Google Drive to connect it. This syncs your Drive music to the app so you can stream songs directly from the cloud. According to the CloudPlayer website, “Your music stays safe, secure, and private in your Google Drive.”
In addition to personal libraries, CloudPlayer grants access to a catalog of over 30 million songs for free. You can search or browse this catalog directly within the app and instantly play music just like a streaming service. So CloudPlayer essentially combines cloud music locker and storage features with a built-in streaming music catalog.
Platform and Device Support
The Google Cloud Player is available on a range of platforms, browsers, and devices. It can be accessed through the web app at play.google.com or through mobile apps for Android and iOS devices.
The web app can be accessed on any desktop or laptop computer through compatible web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. Mobile access is available on both Android and iOS smartphones and tablets.
According to Google, the Cloud Player web app is optimized for the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, while the mobile apps are compatible with Android 4.1 and up and iOS 10 and up (Exact details depend on the client platform). So most modern devices should be able to access the Cloud Player, with the best experience on newer devices running the latest OS versions.
Audio Quality
The Google Cloud Player supports high quality audio formats including MP3, AAC, FLAC, WMA, and ALAC files up to 320kbps. According to Google’s documentation on audio encoding, higher bitrate encoding like 320kbps captures more information and results in better audio quality compared to lower bitrates like 128kbps https://cloud.google.com/speech-to-text/docs/encoding.
For streaming, the Cloud Player uses 256kbps AAC format which provides excellent audio quality for most listeners. This is comparable to other top music streaming services. However, some users feel the audio quality could be improved, especially when listening on high-end audio equipment https://www.reddit.com/r/audible/comments/seux58/how_terrible_audiblecoms_cloud_player_really_is/.
Overall, the Cloud Player supports high quality audio across a range of formats and bitrates. But there is room for improvement in the streaming audio quality to satisfy audiophile listeners.
Offline Playback
One of the key features of the Google cloud music player is the ability to download songs, albums, playlists, and podcasts for offline listening when you don’t have an internet connection. According to the DoubleTwist help article, you can select content to download by using the “Keep Offline” option from the menu for items like albums, artists, and playlists. Anything marked for offline playback will be cached on your device so you can listen without using mobile data or needing WiFi.
This offline playback feature is useful for situations like traveling on a plane or train, being in an area with poor signal, or wanting to conserve data usage. It allows you to download your music library ahead of time rather than streaming it. The Google cloud music player will intelligently manage your offline content, removing listened to podcasts episodes for example, while keeping your favorite playlists available for offline listening.
Pricing
Google offers a few pricing options for using their cloud music player. The basic free version allows you to upload up to 50,000 songs to your library and stream them through the web player or mobile apps. However, the free version has audio quality limited to 128kbps and no ability to download music for offline playback (Pricing, 2022).
For full access to features like improved 320kbps audio quality, downloads, and an expanded 100,000 song capacity, Google offers a paid subscription plan called Google Play Music All Access for $9.99 per month (Pricing, 2022). This plan also removes advertisements and unlocks on-demand access to stream over 50 million songs available in the Google Play Music catalog.
There are also family plans available for Google Play Music All Access that allow up to 6 members to share the same subscription for $14.99 per month (Pricing, 2022). Overall, Google aims to provide flexible and affordable pricing options to suit the needs of both casual listeners and music enthusiasts.
Competition
Google’s cloud-based music player competes with other major cloud music services like Apple Music and Spotify. Some key differences between Google’s offering and these competitors include:
Apple Music has a larger catalog of over 90 million songs compared to Google’s 50 million. However, Google offers more platform support, with web, Android, iOS, smart speakers, and more. Apple Music is limited to Apple devices primarily.
Spotify has a massive user base with over 422 million active users compared to Google’s more modest base. However, Google offers uploaded locker storage for up to 50,000 of your own songs at no charge. Spotify has storage limits unless you pay.
Overall, Google’s cloud player competes well with its seamless integration across Google services and platforms. But Apple Music and Spotify have advantages in content and subscribers that keep them as major players in the market.
Conclusion
Google’s cloud music service, officially called Google Play Music, offers users extensive benefits when it comes to accessing their music library from any device. With Play Music, you can upload up to 50,000 songs from your personal collection to the cloud and listen to them on your phone, tablet, computer or speakers via the internet. This gives you instant access to your entire music library no matter where you are, without having to carry around any files or external storage devices.
A key advantage of Play Music is its ability to scan and match the songs you upload to copies already stored on Google’s servers, saving storage space. Play Music also intelligently organizes your collection and makes recommendations based on your listening habits. On the downside, the 50,000 song upload limit may not be sufficient for users with extremely large personal libraries. However, overall Google Play Music provides an excellent cloud locker solution for storing and streaming your personal music collection anytime, anywhere.
