Post #2 - Web/Mobile App Critique
Spotify is a well-known digital music streaming service. Its users have access to a huge library of songs, podcasts, and other audio files. It was established in Sweden in 2006 and has since grown to become one of the top music streaming services globally. BBC (2018)
One of the reasons I use Spotify is because of its user-friendly and accessible layout. Spotify has a simple, clear user interface that is painless to use. I can easily locate what I’m looking for thanks to the App’s prominent sections at the bottom, which are well-labeled and include “Home”, “Search”, and “Your Library”. At the top, there are icons displayed, these include a notification bell icon or “what's new” as Spotify likes to call it. Also, at the top, there's a clock with a dots icon, this is your recently played section. Then you have your traditional settings gear icon where you can access your account, languages, privacy, and audio settings.
I can rapidly search for artists, albums, songs, or playlists using Spotify's search feature. Finding content is also made simpler by the autosuggestions that are provided as you type.
To tailor the user experience, Spotify utilizes algorithms. It generates daily playlists like "Discover Weekly" and "Release Radar," which are customized to your musical preferences, depending on your listening history. Spotify also has a feature where you can listen to the “radio” based on an artist. For example, you can listen to “Post Malone” radio, and Spotify will generate songs based on Post Malone's style of music. This is similar to selecting genres. This leads us to my first recommendation for improvement: I would recommend that the algorithm be adjusted to randomize and pick different music. I use the app frequently in my day-to-day life and it seems like I keep hearing the same music repeatedly, even if I pick different playlists. I would prefer more variety as well.
The offline listening function on Spotify is simple to use. With only a few clicks, premium customers can download songs and podcasts for offline listening. This leads me to my second recommendation for improvement: The offline function is stellar if you’re in need of music somewhere with bad service, like driving, hiking, or on an airplane. However, it’s a bummer you must be a premium user to access this feature.
Spotify has applications for many different operating systems and browsers, including iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS. This allows users access to their music library from their favorite devices since it provides a consistent user experience across different platforms. Also, Spotify connects with social media sites, so you can share your playlists, favorite songs, and other activities with friends and followers.
Spotify provides a 30-day free trial for those interested in trying out the premium features, and it’s simple to upgrade to a premium subscription or manage your account settings. The premium subscription costs 9.99 per month (same as Apple Music).
My final recommendation for improvement circles back to the offline music feature. It’s a great feature, but it takes up a lot of valuable gigabytes on your device. If there was a way to download music from Spotify without taking up so much storage, the offline feature would be even better.
All-in-all, Spotify has excellent usability, simple design, and great features. I’d recommend this music platform to anybody.
References:
BBC. (2018a, March 1). How spotify came to be worth billions. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-43240886Links to an external site.
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