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(Pocket-lint) – The music streaming landscape is very different than it was a few years ago. As the big players compete to offer the most comprehensive services, we’re starting to see all kinds of new capabilities and new content packed into one of the most widely used apps year after year.
In 2022, companies scrambled to add more exclusive content, whether it’s live shows and podcasts on Spotify, exclusive live concerts, music videos and interviews on Apple Music, or spatial audio on Amazon Music, there has been a lot of development, with each provider looking to gain more subscribers.
POCKET-LINT VIDEO OF THE DAY
Our top picks for the 2022 EE Pocket-lint Awards each had a reason to be on our shortlist, and after being adjudicated by veteran journalists and tech experts, we’ve crowned our number one pick for this year.
Music Streaming Service of the Year: Apple Music
Apple Music is packed with features, with Apple also emphasizing exclusive content like radio shows, podcasts, and interviews with your favorite artists, as well as hosting music videos and, of course, music.
Many of its albums and songs are available in “lossless” audio formats, for higher fidelity music, and we’ve seen quite a rollout of its Spatial Audio feature powered by Dolby Atmos. A pair of compatible headphones, like AirPods, adds another dimension to the Apple Music listening experience.
Highly Recommended: Spotify
Spotify is a market leader in streaming and is compatible with virtually all internet-connected music playback devices. Whether it’s your phone, smartwatch, Amazon Echo, Nest Audio, TV, or computer, you can use Spotify. Plus, with Spotify Connect, you can control everything from one device.
Spotify also offers a wide selection of Premium plans, including individual and student plans, as well as a family plan for up to 6 subscribers and a unique Duo account that allows couples to access the service without paying for a family plan.
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The best of the rest
Of course, Apple Music and Spotify weren’t the only ones in contention this year. Before voting for our two favorite services, we had a number of other providers on our list, each deserving of praise.
This list included Amazon Music Unlimited, which offers 360 Reality Audio, lossless CD-quality albums, and a super-cheap single-device subscription. There’s also Deezer, which has its own “SongCatcher” function to mark and recognize songs played nearby, YouTube Music with its video-focused service and, of course, the Hi-Fi champion: Tidal.
What are the Pocketlint Awards?
The EE Pocket-lint Awards are held annually to celebrate the best in technology from the last 12 months. Products must undergo a full review by the Pocket-lint team to be considered for awards, with judging taking place towards the end of the year. Through a selection and shortlisting process, the expert judging panel evaluates the devices to decide the overall winner and a highly recommended runner-up.
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The Pocket-lint Awards were presented for the 19th time in 2022.
