Spotify blows through 2021 HiFi streaming deadline, with no release in sight
Ten months after initially announcing Spotify HiFi lossless audio and subsequently missing its 2021 deadline for launch, Spotify isn't offering any hint of a revised timeline for the feature.
In February 2021, Spotify attempted to spoil the launch of lossless audio streams on Apple Music by declaring its own feature was on the way. Spotify HiFi, which would provide CD-quality lossless audio to Premium subscribers, was supposed to launch in "select markets" later in 2021.
Almost ten months later without a release, Spotify has offered an update on Spotify HiFi. However, rather than being hopeful and offering when to expect its launch, the update is somewhat disappointing for those paying a monthly subscription to the music streaming service.
In an update to a lengthy community thread for feature ideas, Spotify posted on Friday an assurance that it is still working on the feature. "We know that HiFi quality audio is important to you. We feel the same, and we're excited to deliver a Spotify HiFi experience to Premium users in the future," the update reads.
While initially hopeful, the update then follows up by admitting "But we don't have timing details to share yet." Spotify concludes by saying it will update the community about the feature in the future.
Spotify doesn't offer any explanation for why it missed its quite long deadline, nor what is stopping it from offering the service to paying users.
Though Spotify attempted to spoil the launch of Apple Music lossless audio the Apple streaming service's feature seemingly wasn't affected by the announcement. Apple announced lossless audio and Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos in May, then made the features available to users in June.
Read on AppleInsider
In February 2021, Spotify attempted to spoil the launch of lossless audio streams on Apple Music by declaring its own feature was on the way. Spotify HiFi, which would provide CD-quality lossless audio to Premium subscribers, was supposed to launch in "select markets" later in 2021.
Almost ten months later without a release, Spotify has offered an update on Spotify HiFi. However, rather than being hopeful and offering when to expect its launch, the update is somewhat disappointing for those paying a monthly subscription to the music streaming service.
In an update to a lengthy community thread for feature ideas, Spotify posted on Friday an assurance that it is still working on the feature. "We know that HiFi quality audio is important to you. We feel the same, and we're excited to deliver a Spotify HiFi experience to Premium users in the future," the update reads.
While initially hopeful, the update then follows up by admitting "But we don't have timing details to share yet." Spotify concludes by saying it will update the community about the feature in the future.
Spotify doesn't offer any explanation for why it missed its quite long deadline, nor what is stopping it from offering the service to paying users.
Though Spotify attempted to spoil the launch of Apple Music lossless audio the Apple streaming service's feature seemingly wasn't affected by the announcement. Apple announced lossless audio and Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos in May, then made the features available to users in June.
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
Kind of speaks to Spotify's market position as the "big dog". When you are the major player, things don't come cheaply or easy anymore.
To be clear: As a Spotify Premium subscriber, I certainly wish they wouldn't promise features they're unable to deliver. However: Glass houses and all, given Apple's inability to deliver its full menu of promised features in iOS 15 or Big Sur, even months after their launch. Software development is incredibly difficult. The push-pull between what marketing wants to tease and what engineering can deliver is real, and present at any company, whether Apple or Spotify or a 5-person app shop. Difficult, under the best of circumstances.
Maybe be better, AI? You write some great articles and often cut through the junk that passes as content elsewhere. Kudos. Stuff like this is not up to standard, IMO (Offered respectfully. Obvi, I'm one reader among thousands. Take my comments within that context.)
https://www.macrumors.com/2021/11/22/spotify-users-impatient-lack-homepod-support/
From an article on MacWorld
"There was a time, last decade, when Apple would ship new versions of iOS and macOS whether or not all their features were ready for public consumption. It’s become much more disciplined lately, choosing to delay features when they don't work."
Nowadays, if there's a feature I think would be nice to have, I'd certainly like it to be ready on launch day, but my expectation is that it appear before next WWDC.
I'll stand by my broader point, however: The entire tech sector—Apple, Spotify, and everyone in-between—would benefit from the discipline that focus brings. Fewer features, fewer promises. Deliver what you can intelligently and shut up about the rest.
since they’ve already claimed that they pay too much, it’s going to be difficult for them to compete against Amazon and Apple, neither of which have to worry about profit/loss balance sheets for their music offerings.
The stuff that's clearly written to "hit an audience" as sportsball-style fan service I mostly ignore, here and elsewhere, and I probably should've done the same to this article. Not sure why I chose to pull the thread, but as is often the case, now the whole sweater lays at my feet. I'll own that. I appreciate that people have been reasonable/measured in their pushback, however (yourself included).
Some of you are so focused on maintaining the Apple narrative that anything to the contrary is automatically trolling. If AI's handlers believe I'm trolling, I'm sure they'll intercede and I'll respectfully shut my yap and stop contributing here (not that my 50-60 odd posts matters much, I'm sure). I offered feedback, they can tell me to pound sand if they so wish, I won't take it personally, just like I don't take my technology choices personally. I use what works for me. You use what works for you. We both win. No company deserves our time as cheerleaders, however.
"It's like being a Sox fan and going into Yankee stadium and trash talking the Yankees."
Fair analogy, but I'm not the one trash talking.
Side thought: their marketing visuals are so forced. All the psychedelic colours feels as poorly as "hello fellow kids".