Google Play Music now uses machine learning to suggest songs

GooglePlay Music will now use machine learning and contextual tools to suggest music you like. Users can opt in to get access to personalised music based on their location, activity and weather. “Your workout music is front and center as you walk into the gym, a sunset soundtrack appears just as the sky goes pink, and tunes for focusing turn up at the library,” explained Elias Roman, Lead Product Manager at Google Play Music. Also, the home screen of Google Play Music has been revamped to show music you like at the top. The feature is powered by Google’s machine learning systems that keeps getting better with time.
Google Play Music works offline as well. The app looks at songs you’ve recently listened to and curates an offline list for when there’s no Internet connection. “As long as you remember to charge your phone, you’ll have your favorite tunes, even if you forgot to download them ahead of time,” said Roman. The new version of the Play Music will be rolled outstarting this week on Android,iOS and the web. It will be available in 62 countries globally.
Google had earlier announced it is looking to sharpen Play Store recommendations with artificial intelligence and expand support for various payment platforms, among other initiatives. The Play Music update is an indication company’s plans have started to materialise. Also, the Google Play Store is also expanding to new platforms, including wearable devices, virtual reality headsets and Google’s Chromebook laptops.

Pandora now lets you share tracks and start radio stations within iMessage

Pandora is coming to iMessage, securing the spot as one of the first music streaming apps to debut on Apple's messaging platform. Pandora arrives a month after the iOS update, allowing users to send tracks to their friends without leaving their text conversation.
The recipient will get a 30-second preview and has the option to start a Pandora radio station based on that track. This being a messaging app, Pandora has also created a pack of 12 custom stickers that let you react to the tunes you're sharing. The announcement follows the launch of Shazam's new iMessage app, which also lets you send previews of the song tracks you've discovered to the person you're texting. Other notable (non-music) apps that have embraced iMessage integration include Tinder; its "Tinder Stacks" feature lets you choose a bundle of pictures to distribute to people in your iMessage conversation. Those people get to swipe left and right, a sort of group poll that helps you decide which potential flame to pursue. Pandora's integration with iMessage was unveiled not long after rebranding of its logo, and the recent revamp of its $5/month streaming service Pandora Plus.
The reveal follows a major announcement in the music streaming world, the launch of Amazon Music Unlimited. Pandora is also expected to launch its own full on-demand streaming service sometime this year, although the company hasn't given anyone specific hints on when that will be (apart from that it will launch soon).