In just a few months Apple is expected to make major software related announcements. Its annual Worldwide Developers Conference is where new versions of iOS and OS X are unveiled. This year its iOS 8’s turn. Rumors about what its going to bring are already floating. Several sources “briefed on the plans” claim that iTunes Radio is going to come as a separate application on iOS 8. Currently it exists as an option in the native Music app on iOS.
This would help Apple market iTunes Radio in a much better way. Even though it has only been around for a few months, it already accounts for eight percent of the U.S. music streaming market. Just a month after its launch, iTunes Radio gained more than 20 million users. That makes it the third most popular streaming service in the country.
Sources claim that iTunes Radio on iOS 8 will have a similar user interface and experience as the native Music app. It would allow users to create their own stations, buy music from iTunes and listen to Featured Stations as well. Rumor has it that Apple wanted to release iTunes Radio as a standalone app for iOS 6. Complications with record labels apparently got in its way so the launch had to wait until iOS 7.
Apart from branching out on its own, no major new features are expected for iTunes Radio, at least for now. Apple hasn’t commented on rumors so we must take them with a grain of salt. Though there really doesn’t seem to be any harm in launching iTunes Radio as a separate app.
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