iphonefeatured121Apple has offered developers a glimpse at the future of its musical ambitions with the launch of a new beta version of iOS today. The first beta of iOS 8.4 was released to members of the iOS Developer Program today, and the marquee feature that it brings is an all-new Music app for the iPhone and iPad.

Based on the release notes, this new app is a major revision to functionality that has been built in to the iPhone and iPad since their launch – the ability to play music. It includes a new design and a new MiniPlayer that allows people to control their music playback while browsing their collection of songs and albums. The app also includes a new Global Search feature that allows users to search their music library from anywhere in the app.

All of these changes sound like good news for the Music app, which got its last major update with the launch of iOS 7.

The revised app comes amid rumors that Apple plans to release a new music streaming service sometime this year that takes advantage of its acquisition of Beats Music along with its existing position in the music industry. The improvements to browsing and searching would be important steps towards making a service that includes a massive music catalog usable.

Of course, it’s not clear yet when this update will make its way to consumers, but it likely will be more than a month before it’s available to the public. Apple just released iOS 8.3 last week, and that was a major release in its own right that took months to arrive. Apple’s next major event will likely be its Worldwide Developers Conference, which is usually held annually every June. Odds are, we’ll see the final release sometime around then.

 

Here are the release notes in full:

The iOS 8.4 Beta includes an early preview of the the all-new Music app. With powerful features and an elegant new look, enjoying your music is easier than ever. This preview provides a sneak peek into what we’ve been working on, and what’s to come — the music is just getting started.

All-New Design. Music app has a beautiful new design that makes exploring your music collection easier and more fun. Personalize playlists by adding your own image and description. Enjoy stunning pictures of your favorite artists in the Artists view. Start playing an album right from the album list. The music you love is never more than a tap away.

Recently Added. Albums and playlists you’ve recently added are now at the top of your library, making it effortless to find something new to play. Simply tap play on the artwork to listen.

Streamlined iTunes Radio. Discovering music with iTunes Radio is easier than ever. You can now quickly return to your favorite stations in Recently Played. Choose from a selection of hand-curated stations in Featured Stations, or start a new one from your favorite artist or song.

New MiniPlayer. With the new MiniPlayer, you can see what’s playing and control playback while browsing your music collection. To open Now Playing, just tap on the MiniPlayer.

Improved Now Playing. Now Playing has a stunning new design that showcases your album artwork the way it was meant to be. In addition, you can begin wirelessly streaming your music using AirPlay without leaving Now Playing.

Up Next. It’s now simple to find out which songs from your library will play next — just tap the Up Next icon in Now Playing. You can even reorder, add, or skip songs whenever you like.

Global Search. You can now search from anywhere in the Music app — just tap the magnifying glass. Search results are conveniently organized to help you quickly find that perfect song. You can even start an iTunes Radio station right from Search.

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