As promised by Apple, iOS 8.4 is now available for download on iPhone, iPad, and the iPod touch. The update brings an updated Music app that includes the much-touted Apple Music streaming service as well as a 24/7 free radio service called Beats 1. The updated Music app also includes Apple Music Connect, a social network of sorts that aims to connect artists with their fans.
The iOS 8.4 update is a 218MB OTA update for iPhone 6 factory unlocked (GSM) users running iOS 8.3, and the exact size will vary depending upon your iOS device, carrier, and current iOS version. Apart from the revamped Music app, the update also includes improvements for iBooks and other bug fixes. These include fix for the infamous bug that caused the iOS device to reboot when it received a specific series of Unicode characters.
As expected, Apple Music and Beats 1 Radio are available in India as well. After a free 3-month trial, users can continue to enjoy Apple Music at just Rs. 120 per month, with family plans (for up to six users) at Rs. 190 per month. That's a considerable discount compared to their dollar equivalents. Beats 1 Radio is of course free for life.
(Also see: Everything You Need to Know About Apple Music)
The world's biggest company is launching Apple Music as it sees consumer trends shift to streaming, which allows on-demand unlimited content online. At the heart of the strategy is Beats 1, which bills itself as a first global radio station and will be available in more than 100 countries.
Beats 1 will be free even without a subscription to Apple Music, whose streaming platform costs $9.99 a month (Rs. 120 in India) after a trial period a key distinction from streaming leader Spotify, which offers a free tier for on-demand music despite criticism from some artists.
Apple Music has sought to make a splash through big names on Beats 1, poaching the influential New Zealand-born DJ Zane Lowe from BBC Radio 1.
Written with agency inputs
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