Apple Music UX Problems: An Example

In the past few weeks there have been quite a few articles posted about a perceived decline in the quality of Apple’s software.

I’ve found that little of these articles give any examples that speak to me personally. As a result, I’d like to throw my hat in the ring with a case from Apple Music that has left me infuriated.

Use case: I want to add music for offline listening

It’s hard for me to believe that offline-listening isn’t a large part of what people expect from streaming media mobile apps. If I’m going to the gym or outside for a run, I’d like to take my music with me. Apple Music has such a confusing solution to this problem. They should be embarrassed. Heads should roll.

Ok, I want to take my music with me offline — I guess I’ll click the plus?

All right, step one. Where’s the phone icon? Hmm, expected a phone icon. That’s fine, it must be the plus. Lemme click the plus.

The next screen says it’s been added to “My Music.” Is that good?

Cool (I think?). It’s been added to “My Music” with a nice big animation. Guess I’ll head to the gym now.

It’s about 19°F and snowing in Chicago right now, so let me bundle up and start my 15 minute or so walk to my (wi-fi-less) gym. I think this Mogwai EP will be a chill gym soundtrack. I could have gone with Migos but I don’t wanna get too turnt up. You can’t too get too turnt in the gym. It makes people uncomfortable.

At the gym now. Wait a second –why are all the songs greyed out?

This doesn’t make any sense! I mean, I hit the plus! It said it added the album to “My Music” (whatever the fuck that means).

Maybe if I click the song anyway something will happen? Nope — nothing happens.

The oh-so-not-obvious solution

Oh how could I be so dumb! Of course the only logical thing for me to do is to click the plus and then click the cloud with the arrow that the plus morphed into after I clicked it initially. Oh man, I’m sorry for doubting your UX skills there Apple. Here I thought clicking the plus would add it to my phone when in fact it just means I can add the album to the “My Music” section so I could stream it over wi-fi. Oh man, I’m such a stupid user. No wonder I’m not making the big bucks over at the Apple offices.

Somehow Apple let this make it to production

I don’t know who the person is that wants to add an album to “My Music” for later streaming. I’ve asked around — I haven’t met her yet. Apple Music has lots of problems. This is just one of them.