Apple Music’s 2 quiet new features
Image credit: Daniel Cañibano
Apple’s music streaming app has added two exciting new features, though you probably haven’t even heard about them.
Whilst Apple’s music streaming service didn’t get any updates at their WWDC keynote, two new features have soft-launched into Apple Music on Apple devices. Whilst it’s clear there aren’t any big plans for Apple Music right now, iOS 18 brings these two new features to compatible iPhones.
Feel the songs on Apple Music with Music Haptics
Apple have added Haptic support for Apple Music that allows users to feel vibrations that are played in sync with the music. The new feature – named Apple Haptics – provide a sensory experience with taps and vibrations.
The feature is tipped towards those with hearing disabilities but is available for use by anyone with the compatible software. They use the Taptic Engine built into modern iPhones to provide a musical experience that the deaf or hard of hearing can take part in by feeling the vibrations of songs.
Music Haptics are available in iOS 18. Active them by heading to ‘Accessibility’ and then tapping ‘Music Haptics’. From there, you can toggle the feature on to activate it on Apple Music.
Everyone can join the playlist with updated SharePlay
Apple’s SharePlay enables multiple people to collaborate on the music queue. This means that everyone at a party or gathering can take part in the music from their own device. Until now, that’s required everyone involved to have an Apple Music subcsription.
Apple are updating the feature in iOS 18 so that users no longer need an Apple Music subscription to contribute to a SharePlay queue. They say: “With updates to SharePlay with Apple Music, even more users can share control of music playing from HomePod, Apple TV, or any Bluetooth-enabled speaker, making listening together even more fun and rewarding.”