Major Changes Are Coming to Apple Music in iOS 10

Apple’s music streaming service is getting a big update this fall with the release of iOS 10 and macOS Sierra.

It’s been nearly a year since the launch of Apple Music, and this year’s update is due to be the service’s first major overhaul.

One of the most prominent changes is Apple Music’s user interface. The company is replacing the app’s former colorful and translucent look with a simpler, more minimal black-and-white design.

The UI will also stop changing based on the color of the album being listened to. Instead, Apple is making album artwork the primary focus — perhaps to keep the more minimalist design from getting bland. Album art will be much bigger, and a nice contrast to the update’s stark white backgrounds.

The new Apple Music update consolidates previous tabs into only three sections: Library, For You and Browse.

When the app is first opened, it takes you straight to the revamped Library menu, which has replaced My Music. The new tab shows you your playlists, albums, artists, songs and downloaded music.

There’s also an option to edit which menu items you want to see. Going into any of these menus shows you a clean interface, showcasing Apple Music’s new focus on album and artist artwork.

Below this menu is a collection of recently added albums, so you can find your new music quickly and easily.

The ‘For You tab’ has also gotten a much-needed upgrade in an effort to increase usage of the feature. Instead of just showing an assortment of albums and playlists, For You now has a scrollable list of curated playlists and new releases tailored to your tastes.

Additionally, the ‘Connect’ tab will be done away with and folded into the ‘For You’ tab — which will now show you a scrollable list of artists and music curators that you follow.

In the new update, the ‘New’ tab has now become ‘Browse’. At the top is a banner featuring new album artwork, and below that are curated lists of Apple playlists based on mood, activity and genre. A Top Charts playlist also shows you the day’s most popular tracks and albums.

In addition to the interface change, Apple is adding several clever little updates.

Instead of a button on the now playing screen, users can simply swipe down to go back to the previous menu. Swiping up on this screen will show upcoming tracks.

The new update also makes use of 3D touch options, allowing you to delete songs or add them to playlists on the fly. For iPhone users who don’t use 3D touch, the new menu can also be activated with a simple long press.

Other improvements include lyric integration within Apple Music, and an improved search bar that simplifies the search process.

Apple Music is currently in beta testing, and should be released alongside iOS 10 and MacOS Sierra sometime this fall.

Are you looking forward to the new Apple Music? Let us know in the comments below!