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Spotify new mobile UI roll out

5 points by mattpallissard ↗ HN
Anyone know if Spotify measures UI usage? I find the new UI unusable for browsing.

I'd like to think they're distinguishing between the various forms of usage like search, home screen, library (I know I would). I'm tempted to forego the app entirely. But my wife didn't get the update and my playlists are still usable.

PS, If anyone here worked on the new UI; how about giving us guinea pigs an opt out option?

6 comments

[ 3.2 ms ] story [ 24.1 ms ] thread
bunbun69
If you want to opt out from A/B testing then it means the testing is working.
switch007
Spotify has shown over a number of years that they take the Apple approach to UI (our way or the highway). But then again that’s unfair to Apple, as at least Apple gives you a damn light mode

I got sick of all the UI updates and cancelled my subscription after 10 years a few months ago.

(Apple Music is a crap replacement so I’m not sure what to do now…)

drakonka
I've only used the free version of Spotify briefly over a decade ago so can't really compare, but I've been on YT Music (originally Google Play Music) for a few years and like it quite a lot. I use the recommendations and auto-playlist features quite heavily and it usually does a decent job with those.
Jeremy1026
Out of curiosity, what are your gripes with Apple Music? I switched from Spotify to Apple Music when Music launched and haven't ever felt like I'm missing out.
switch007
Where to begin

Apps are laggy. Sync is delayed. Split brain with home pods. Really unreliable in the car whereas Spotify was flawless - often pauses for 30s-1min while buffering.

music.apple.com is a hot mess. It auto redirects to the US store even though I'm in the UK AND LOGGED IN, then complains my content isn't available in the UK. To change, I have to click a dropdown with the option selected "Select country or region", click "Continue", scroll to the "Europe" section, click "United Kingdom". It still doesn't think I've selected the right region, so it pops ups up the region selection bar at the bottom persisently.

iTunes on Windows. Needs no explanation. Just a total piece of crap. Out of sync with iOS - I added an album 2 days ago and it's not showing up in iTunes.

huehehue
Big fan of the Spotify app, because it keeps shoving pop-ups in my face about artists and shows I don't care about despite disabling these notifications in the settings. Points for discovery.

I also like how it constantly resets my "car mode" settings, so that my brain does a full reset every time I get behind the wheel.

Or how every week my "liked songs" is un-downloaded from my phone, so instead I get to binge a full season of British Bake-Off on the plane ride.

My favorite is the Terminator-esque widget/notification. I can swipe that sucker away, and force-close the app and it doesn't go anywhere.