Google Music Review
Best for online music storage
- Fully integrated with Google's cloud storage
- Integrated into the Google Plus social network
- Free space for uploading 20,000 tunes
- Library doesn't include Warner Brothers artists
- Only available in the U.S.
The most recent entry into the music download service market is Google Music (*Est. $0.99 to $1.29 per track). Music downloads were originally available through Google's Android market, but this has been replaced and re-branded as Google Play. Google Music users can select from more than 13 million songs to purchase from Google Play, though Warner Brothers, one of the major record labels, is not represented in the catalog.
The lack of availability of music from Warner Brothers' artists is generally seen as a mild inconvenience by some reviewers, offset by its arrangements with over 1,000 independent labels and distributors. For a small fee (*Est. $25) independent musicians can release their work on Google Music through the Artist Hub feature. Some reviewers point out that though there's quite a lot of free music available via Google play, you need to enter credit card information to access it. Although Google emphasizes music sharing among Google Plus users, you can only share music purchased from the Google Play store.
The latest development in the music download business is to offer music lovers the opportunity to store their music on the web in a cloud. Google Music takes this a few steps further than either AmazonMP3 (*Est. $0.69 to $1.29 per track) or iTunes (*Est. $0.69 to $1.29 per track) by fully integrating its music store with cloud storage. Users can store their music libraries, both songs purchased from Google Play and those uploaded from their computers, in the Music Locker (up to 20,000 tracks) at no cost. Free songs or those purchased from Google Play don't count toward this limit. Google Music's cloud accepts MP3 and AAC file formats, as well as FLAC-encoded songs. You can also load Microsoft's WMA files if you use the Windows version of the Music Manager.
When you purchase music from Google Play, it is automatically stored online. Users can then wirelessly download songs and tracks to all their home and mobile devices, with apps for all Android smartphones and tablets. Music purchased from Google Play is in MP3 format with a 320 kbps bitrate, and anything uploaded to their cloud servers is transcoded to this format. Unlike iTunes, Google Music cannot rip music from CDs.
In spite of its newness, there are some reviews for Google Music. Reviewers at established consumer electronics sites, including ZDNet.com and PCWorld, as well as at TechRadar.com and Wired, have been quick to test Google Music. In general, reviews are very positive, with strong support for the readily available, free cloud-storage capacity.
Our Sources
1. Wired
Mike Isaac reports on the launch of the Google Music Service, which introduced a music section into the Android Market from which users can purchase songs. He highlights that Google is tying the music store into Google Plus, its social network.
Review: Strapped to Android, Google Aims for iTunes with Music Store Debut, Mike Isaac, Nov. 16, 2011
2. PC World
PC World's Ginny Mies is satisfied with Google Music's selection of tracks, in spite of not being able to access artists, such as Led Zeppelin, signed to the Warner Brothers' label. She says that the Artist Hub and exclusive content make up for this lack, and highlights the opportunity for independent bands to publish their music with this service.
Review: Google Music Store: Strengths and Weaknesses in Catalog, Ginny Mies, Nov. 17, 2011
3. ZDNet.com
This editor tries out the beta version of Google Music as well as its full-blown release, and says that it's a great service. He uses Google Music mainly for uploading his existing music library to Google's cloud and treats it as an online storage locker, rather than purchasing songs from the Google music store (now Google Play).
Review: Google Music: Your Great Music Locker in the Cloud (Review), Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols, Nov. 17, 2011
4. TechRadar.com
John Brandon explains the different components of Google Music and says that the site is easy to use, with a "lot of power behind the service." He especially likes the link to Google Plus, but finds the service to be lacking a few elements, such as a sound equalizer.
Review: Hands On: Google Music Review, John Brandon, Nov. 24, 2011
