Google Music Beta [updated 9/10/11]

[hak]

Have used it for awhile thanks to Swathe and I believe its special enough for its own thread for a healthy discussion



Google Music characteristics

- currently in beta and FREE (just like many of their other "beta" software )
- might be a paid service in the future or a slim chance it will be subsidised by ads (I don't mind the ads)
- 20,000 songs per account regardless of size, only one account is able to sync in Android, which is the main gmail account
- will play your music via any flash supported web browser or through the Android app
- still requires an external program to upload songs

Supported file types can be found here

Understanding Google Music Beta outside US

Common error,



- You can only ask for an invitation through a proxy, an error will show if not done correctly (check error pic)
- If you received an invitation via email, you still might not be able to sign up depending on luck with your ISP (check error pic)
- Upon a successful registration, you can login to your Music account via any web browser with Flash, there is NO REGION CHECKING AT THE MOMENT once you have an account with Google Music.




Ok with the most important issues covered, I have been churning out invites because I am able to, so leave your main gmail address here or PM me if you want take your collection to the clouds. When receiving your invitations, click on "Get Started" and in normal situations, you should be getting the screen above.

If it's spitting out the common error, refer to the following tips from fellow members to create your Google Music account

Originally Posted by zach

All good now! Got it second go, used http://www.usaip.eu/en/free_vpn.php, clicked one US IP and huzzah. If anyone needs an invite let me know Thanks again!

Originally Posted by Flecktone

successfully installed using http://proxy-ip-list.com/free-usa-proxy-ip.html

=============================================

After completing the creation process, you will be asked to download the Music Manager program. Install it on your PC and log in, it should look something like this on your computer,



You NEED this program if you want to keep uploading songs to your Google account. It will stay in the system tray and carry out its operations in the background. To sign out from your account just go to Advanced tab and Sign Out option is at the bottom.

Music Manager will take every upload bandwidth available from your internet connection and will upload songs in two's, (2 by 2). There is currently no option to limit your upload speed unfortunately, hopefully this option will be available in later versions.

=============================================

Using Google Music on Android

Next step is to install the Google Music app for your Android device (phone or tablet), this is only available in US Market so sideload the apk from your internal memory instead,

Latest leaked version - Google Music Beta for Android 4.0.1

*Non-rooted Nexus S 2.3.6 reported not working, the app won't install, try 3.0.1 instead*

*Important step* Uninstall any previous Music version prior to installing this. Go into settings -> applications -> manage applications -> 'all' tab and scroll down till you find "Music" and tap on Uninstall. Proceed to install this APK, once it's successfully installed, launch it and you will notice in notifications bar the app will ask for permission to allow access, just allow it and quit the app, go back into applications list and locate the Music app again, enter and check that it says version 4.0.1, force stop it and CLEAR DATA. The reason for clearing it is that the app was leaked and contains the previous owner's sync'ed account and settings, you need to reset the app back to its original state before it allows you to sync your gmail account. Now launch Music again and enter Settings to re-sync your gmail account.

Previous version - Google Music Beta for Android 3.0.1 here

Once installed, load up the app and you should see something like this,



If you have had music in your internal memory, Google Music will jumble up everything together here. Do not worry about it for now. Notice the tabs on top starting from Artists, swipe from right to left to pick a different category.

Go ahead and tap on menu key on your phone and tap on Settings. First thing you want to do is to jump straight into Google Account,



You will then notice your main gmail address here, make sure the circle on the right is green which means Google Music is synced with your online account.



Now that you are all set, any music you upload will automatically appear (similar to how gmail is synced)

There will also be a new option visible in Settings -> Accounts & Sync in your Android device,



=============================================

Tips on using Google Music web app


There are many windows-like commands that you can apply to organise your music in the web app.

To see more options for a songfile, left click to highlight it and notice a small arrow on the right, you will have some options to play with including adding it to a new or existing Playlist. Mix and match your tracks and it should appear on your Android phone within seconds. An ID3 tag editor is included as well so you can change Album art, artist name etc.



You can also use CTRL + LMB or SHIFT + LMB to do mass edits on an entire album

More Google Music tips & tricks provided by Google here

=============================================

Improving sound quality on Google Music (and others)


Starting from Gingerbread onwards, the equalizer API has been added and music players have started appearing with an equalizer built in. You may also opt to have the equalizer run in the background for every sound played. The app "Equalizer" has a basic free version and a paid version that allows you to save your custom presets. My preferred settings sounded way too similar to Rock so I have chosen the default Rock preset instead.



Do take note that an app like Equalizer require extra processing horsepower off the phone and a beast like the galaxy S2 or Sensation should be able to handle it with ease. It will drain some additional battery life as well but shouldn't be too noticeable.
It will apply your preferred effects across all sources,

- from internal system memory (ringtones)
- from internal SD/external SD
- from external flash memory/hdd
- from network streaming (SMB, uPNP, FTP, Remote)
- from cloud streaming (google music)
- from internet streaming (youtube, hulu, netflix)

On external speaker you won't notice much difference but pick up a basic set of earbuds like the CX-300II and the detail in bass and treble really kicks in. There should be an improvement as well if connecting to a basic 2.1 speaker system.



*IMPORTANT* Please try not to bring up subjects about the sources of your music, I don't really want to dwelve into subjects about where people are getting them from or what sort of abuse will be possible with the cloud system (just like the ongoing debate about abusing iTunes match) etc etc everything has been explained in the T&C so go read up on it

[FerrisXB9R]

Yeah I'm in the Google Music beta as well, if you want it to work on your android devices you'll need the altered music app too:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1072655

I've only got 8 invites to give out though, what gives?

[DJ Fusion]

Tempted to try this but I'm signed up for Spotify premium until 2013. I wonder how their libraries will compare. Do google provide any music other letting you stream what you already own?

[Dodoman]

I'm signed up for spotify free, but I didn't like it. What they have is what I already have, only the GF likes it for the new mainstream songs. Therefore I wouldn't mind an invite Spoiler below, highlight to read:
dodo.trix@gmail.com
.

[hak]

Originally Posted by Dodoman

I'm signed up for spotify free, but I didn't like it. What they have is what I already have, only the GF likes it for the new mainstream songs. Therefore I wouldn't mind an invite

done.

have fun! and let me know if you get the error while signing up.

Originally Posted by DJ Fusion

Tempted to try this but I'm signed up for Spotify premium until 2013. I wonder how their libraries will compare. Do google provide any music other letting you stream what you already own?

lol won't force you, its free for everyone to try, I treat it as my own skydrive for music.

yes, while signing up they will ask you if you would like to try some of their free songs based on the genre you prefer, well I didn't go ahead with that for fear of shoving me Rebecca Black, Bieber or Ke$ha songs into my personal space.
I think Google is still trying to get the major labels to sign up with them, probably working out on the yearly fees just like iTunes.

[zach]

Cheers for this hak, signed up through a proxy, how long did they take to send you a request?

[SaTaN]

Originally Posted by zach

Cheers for this hak, signed up through a proxy, how long did they take to send you a request?

you're unlikely to get access without an invite... i have 5 available if anyone wants

[hak]

Originally Posted by zach

Cheers for this hak, signed up through a proxy, how long did they take to send you a request?

oh just realised u were asking the initial invite, that was from Swathe who got the account first

[zach]

Actually wait I think I'm getting the error still.

Reckon you could swing me an invite, if you don't mind?

Much appreciated!

[hak]

Originally Posted by zach

Actually wait I think I'm getting the error still.

Reckon you could swing me an invite, if you don't mind?


Much appreciated!

done, it works perfectly fine from my TPG line for signing up, let's see how yours go lol

[SaTaN]

Originally Posted by zach

Actually wait I think I'm getting the error still.

Reckon you could swing me an invite, if you don't mind?
Spoiler below, highlight to read:
znedwich@gmail.com


Much appreciated!

enjoy...........

[zach]

Thanks boys, unfortunately I'm getting the error, iiNet here, will try some mates internet and see what happens!

[SaTaN]

Originally Posted by zach

Thanks boys, unfortunately I'm getting the error, iiNet here, will try some mates internet and see what happens!

you still need a us IP address to get past the invite screen. something like http://www.freeusvpn.com/

[HairyMerkin]

Originally Posted by DJ Fusion

Tempted to try this but I'm signed up for Spotify premium until 2013.

http://www.geekwire.com/2011/practic...den-price-free

But was less pleasantly surprised to see that when Spotify wasn’t playing audio, it was using my network connection. A lot.
Google searching this time uncovered something not immediately disclosed by Spotify: the application employs built-in peer-to-peer networking technology to share streaming music from its cache on my computer with other Spotify users who want the same tunes, presumably taking the load off Spotify’s own servers. There’s almost no mention of this P2P functionality on Spotify’s own site. And no way to throttle or turn off the upstream P2P use in either the free or paid version which, probably, is a key part of Spotify’s business and technology model.

I don't like that part of spotify.

[hak]

Originally Posted by zach

Thanks boys, unfortunately I'm getting the error, iiNet here, will try some mates internet and see what happens!

try to exhaust your sources first, your 3g mobile, your mate's adsl line etc.

it doesn't work on my mate's tpg line but it did on mine, no VPN needed

problem with proxies is that gmail would sometimes spit out "please enable your cookies" error so you can't access the invite at all.

the good thing is this pain is only once-off as stated above