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Apple and Shazam planning to team up for music identification feature built into iOS

Apple and Shazam are teaming up to build a music identification feature natively into iOS, according to a Bloomberg report. The feature will allow users to find the name and artist of a song that’s playing, likely with the option to download the song from the iTunes Store or create an new iTunes Radio station.

Unlike some of Apple’s other music-releated features (such as Podcasts and iTunes U), the system will be built into the OS directly rather than require a separate download. So far there isn’t any confirmation of whether this feature will appear in iOS 8 or a later version, but with WWDC right around the corner, Apple will need to work quickly to secure the deal if the feature is to be announced with the next-gen software update.

Apple is currently looking for new ways to improve iTunes Radio, including breaking it out of the Music app and hiring new developers to work on the iTunes backend.

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Comments

  1. antrikshy - 10 years ago

    FYI: iTunes is misspelled in the first line of the second paragraph.

  2. FYI: You misspelled “releated” in the first sentence of the second paragraph.

  3. rogodoc - 10 years ago

    Now that is a good idea.

  4. ashraftoto1138 - 10 years ago

    thanks agean

  5. shm1ck83 - 10 years ago

    Just going by previous comments.

    You wrote “so far there isn’t an confirmation”

    This should be “so far there isn’t a confirmation”

  6. Mr. Grey (@mister_grey) - 10 years ago

    Sounds good to me. Shazam is amazing technology but the company behind it is one of the worst, most despicable, anti-consumer outfits that there is. Apple using the same tech but without all the advertisements, interruptions and deception sounds like a win-win.

  7. themis333 - 10 years ago

    This would be a cool little feature. Definitely nice to have stuff like this built in.

  8. Cameron Graham (@Scenick) - 10 years ago

    Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes…. I’ve been waiting for this for some time. I always wished that there was another physical button.. below the volume bottons that you could predefine to a 3rd party app.. Quick photo’s etc.. (i thought of this ages ago) instant flash light on/off. whatever the user defined as being the most handy. But having something like this built into Siri (<— Most likely) or even having a quick shortcut from homescreen.. replacing either alarms or calculator or whatever..

    But yes.. not sure why the article didn't mention Siri.. Seems like a no brainer.

    "Siri what song is this?" – "Siri download this song"

    • Court Kizer - 10 years ago

      So your using iTunes to play back music. You see the name of the song track right on the lock screen. Why would you need Siri to tell you? Every app that plays music on the iPhone tells you exactly what you are listening too.

      Music identification sounds really silly. It’s not like anyone listens to the radio.

  9. Gerardo Gonzalez - 10 years ago

    Yes!!!

  10. Court Kizer - 10 years ago

    How could this ever be useful? So I’m in iTunes listening to music and I’m going to need Shazam to tell me what’s playing? I use iTunes all the time, but I’m going to be listening to the radio? (haha) and bust out my iPhone to identify a song? Why would Apple spend time and money for song identification. It’s only useful for the radio. What other possible time would you need to identify a song that’s playing that someone doesn’t know exactly what it is.

    Am I missing something?

    • border1ine - 10 years ago

      I use song identification all the time. For example, if I am out and hear a song I like, or if I am watching TV and they play a song, or if I am at a club listening to a DJ and I don’t want to bother them by asking. There are so many cases where it is useful, not just listening to the radio.

    • Gawain (@iGawain) - 10 years ago

      Yes, you’re missing the whole point. It’s not for identifying songs playing directly on your device, but songs playing around you in every day life. Perhaps in a store, bar, a live performance etc.

    • Richard Everson - 10 years ago

      It’s for songs being played on tv or radio.
      Not on the device it self,

      So your watching tv or a movie. And hear a song you like, but don’t know what it’s called or who it’s by.
      You use this service to find out the info

  11. This would be very useful! I was thinking that this would definitely be incorporated into Siri massively. I, because I’m so cool, often uses Shazam in stores that play music to see what songs they are. I can see it now…

    “Siri, what song is this?”

    “It’s _________ by _______. Quite a catchy number.”

    “Buy this song for me Siri.”

    “I just need you to confirm with your Touch ID (or password)” … “Thank you, your song is now downloading.”

    Easy! They have so much potential with Siri I feel, they just need to go out there and do it.

  12. South Jersey Droid - 10 years ago

    Crazy… Android has had this for a while now. Glad to see Apple copying another feature from Android.

  13. justinjoylife - 10 years ago

    If this is true then apple is thinking too small about music.. They are so behind compared to spotify

  14. Zoctor Ziglari - 10 years ago

    Finally… this has been on Android and WP for a while now, and it’s about time iOS integrate it.

  15. Benny Costello - 10 years ago

    “Siri, what song is this?”

    FINALLY!!! 😄🎉