What you need to know
- Google has removed the ability to gift Play Music subscriptions with the latest version of the app for Android.
- You can still gift a Google Play Music subscription using the web version or an older version of the Android app.
- Google has already confirmed that it plans to eventually replace Play Music with YouTube Music.
Earlier this year, Google issued a notice saying that it eventually plans to replace Google Play Music with YouTube Music. Shortly after the notice was issued, Google announced the shutdown of Play Music's Artist Hub. The folks over at 9To5Google have now discovered that Google has quietly removed the ability to gift a Play Music subscription from the latest version of the App for Android devices.
Previous versions of Google Play Music included a "Send Gift" option under General in Music Settings, allowing users to gift one-, three-, or six-month subscriptions to friends or family. The latest Play Music version 8.21 for Android, which was released earlier this week, removes this option completely.
You can still gift a Play Music subscription if you have an older version of the app installed on your device. The gifting option is also available on the Play Music web app.
However, Google's support page on sending Play gifts by email states Play Music subscriptions can no longer be purchased as gifts. The message on the Google support page seems to suggest the ability may not be available for much longer.
Since Play Music is expected to be replaced with YouTube Music in the near future, it is likely that Google may add the ability to gift a subscription in the near future to its newer music streaming service.
YouTube Music
YouTube Music, which is currently available in 62 countries around the world, is a video-centric music streaming service. While you can use it for free, a Premium subscription lets you download your favorite music for listening offline and have your music play in the background even when you turn off the screen or use other apps.
Lack of app functionality drops the Galaxy Watch 4's game from Eagle to par
The Galaxy Watch 4 continues to prove to be the smoothest and most capable Android smartwatch to date, but the app experience is still lagging. My father golfed with my Galaxy Watch 4, and it only highlighted the divide.
Here are some things you can buy instead of the iPhone 13 or Galaxy Fold 3
These new phones aren't cheap. The new iPhone 13 Pro Max with 1TB of storage is priced at $1,599. That's nearly the same price as the Samsung Z Fold 3 with 256GB of storage, priced at $1,799. So instead of buying those things, here's a list of all the things you could buy.
Google please bring back small phones — the Pixel 4a was lovely
Whether in the shape of a smaller footprint or a foldable form factor, two of the smartphone industry's giants see value in smaller phones. I think it's time for Google to give us a more petite Pixel again, perhaps with the 6a series?
Put your wallet away and pay with your Wear OS watch instead
Ready to start paying for your coffee with only your smartwatch? Here are all the Wear OS watches that support Google Pay.