[iOS] Implement Native HomePod Support

[robotoman22]

Details

Just this week at WWDC (June 22, 2020), Apple announced support for third party music services on the HomePod.  I'm requesting that Spotify implement native support for the HomePod such that one or even multiple HomePods will appear in the "Connect to a device" menu on any Apple device WITHOUT having to connect through Airplay.  This will also allow users to ask Siri to play songs from Spotify on their HomePod(s). 

Apple is opening up the HomePod, and I know there are many other HomePod users that would love to have native Spotify support on their speaker. 

Resources

• WWDC 2020 video and further resources about this topic: https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2020/10061
• More details on this site: https://developer.apple.com/siri/
• Form to request music service integration from Apple: https://developer.apple.com/contact/request/sirikit-media-intent-for-homepod

Please upvote this idea to garner attention for it.  Thank you Spotify and the Spotify community.  Let's get this implemented so it's ready for general iOS 14 release this September!

[tryingtothink]

I'm still trying to work out what it is they think is to their advantage by
witholding this and alienating so many.

[FinnRoe]

i agree with everything mentioned here. can we get an explanation on whats preventing spotify to be available on the best smart speakers out there?

also how do i vote?

[Stefanzzz]

Today I used SongShift to transfer all my playlists over to Apple Music. What shall I say, it worked. So I say slowly good bye to Spotify. Thanks for 5 years of an awesome music experience. But for me it‘s time to leave. I love my Homepods more 😀

[aboutlastnight]

Easy 

Spotify is really trying to hit Apple hard right now just like everyone else with all these legal things going on (epic Facebook etc.) 

why would they do something that doesn’t support their case and makes Apple look like a better corporation

www.timetoplayfair.com is all about why Spotify doesn’t like Apple 

this is why they haven’t implemented HomePod support. It’s basically what they asked for, but they want even more. 

[Slim08]

Interesting. Glad you shared this.

I hadn’t seen this website before. I read through and watched the video. Nothing I hadn’t heard before.

Some bits are out of date. Eg. Apple now does allow Spotify to be the default music player. Perhaps they’re not adding this functionality because they are happy to allow a large number of users to continue to believe it’s Apple’s fault. And they want to turn the public opinion against Apple.

I feel fairly neutral about this. Yes, the 30% tax is high, but then Apple did create the entire platform and does maintain it. This seems to be their only real beef, even though users can subscribe directly and avoid the tax.

They need to just get on with it. For the sake of consumers.

[tryingtothink]

Re voting--it is a while since I did it but if I recall correctly I thought
I could just vote and I couldn't. I can't 100% recall if I was signed in,
but I think I was. I signed in(again maybe) and then could vote.

[tryingtothink]

Extremely interesting. Thanks. I will try the 'handoff' later. Presently I
am trying to set up my Homepods again as Spotify forced a password change
via an email that was almost textbook for Spam and this is not the thread
for the hassles that followed.

[Kikodekato]

I enjoyed my Spotify journey, but I cannot share this political b***t. Apple Music works just fine. Perhaps one day when Spotify puts customers first I will think on coming back. So long to a long term premium subscriber.

[BristolMusic]

We have also now ended our Spotify subscriptions - mine expired a few days ago.

I have been with Spotify from the start, since receiving an invite code from my cousin back in the day! But Spotify's silence on this issue - regardless of their reasoning - and the way they communicate with their customers is objectionable and erodes loyalty. I believe it is good for Companies to stand up to what they believe in, for example anti-competitive behaviours, but this should not be done at the expense of it's customers - the very people who are responsible for their success. This approach also risks becoming as unethical as their reasoning to block the features in the first place which again - is not a cool way to do business.

I'm a few days into my Apple Music trial and so far I'm happy. Time will tell, but it's come a long way and I've been served some interesting playlists and recommendations so far. I enjoyed my Inspired by Four Tet playlist a few days ago! Goes without mentioning the integration with the HomePod is brilliant.

Actually - Apple Music were offering a four month free trial a few days ago through the music app - not sure if it's still live. I saw the promo when I opened the Music app on both my iPhone and my MBP so that was a nice surprise!

Apple Music 4 Month Free Trial

[piotrko]

As of today (29th DEC) when I say to my HomePod: "Hey Siri, play Metallica from Spotify" it answers back: "the app hasn't added support for that with Siri". What I get from this answer is, that Spotify CAN ADD THE SUPPORT now. Is it going to happen? I am an Apple Music subscriber, because it works seamlessly, and if I want to go back to Spotify (I used it before), it is a hassle. 

Comparison of workflows:

Workflow 1: Play Metallica on HomePod from Apple Music:

1. Say "Hey Siri, play Metallica"

2. Listen to Metallica

Workflow 2: Play Metallica from Spotify on Mac:

1. Search for "Metallica"

2. Play it

3. Run Spotify on iPhone

4. Choose "listen on this device"

5. Go to "airplay' section and choose the speakers to play to

6. Listen to Metallica

The Workflow 2 is cumbersome and if I want to be using Spotify again I need to go through it several times a day (sometimes I stop and start again) and I can't change the music using my voice, because the change is not transferred to Spotify, but to default -- Apple Music. Since I am the subscriber it is seamless for me, but this is a showstopper for me to stop paying for Apple Music and start paying for Spotify Premium.