Apart from unveiling new Surface products during last night’s event, Microsoft also revealed that desktop apps for Apple TV and Apple Music will be made available on Windows by next year. These will be downloadable via the Microsoft Store, with early beta previews slated to launch soon.
The arrival of Apple’s entertainment services on Microsoft’s operating system is a long time coming. Prior to this, Apple TV subscribers could only access the service via web by logging on to tv.apple.com, whereas Apple Music customers are subjected to iTunes app for Windows. If the upcoming native versions of either apps are equivalent to their mobile or Mac counterparts, then they should provide a more improved and pleasant navigation experience to users. However, Microsoft did not provide an estimate on when they will arrive on the WIndows operating system.
On a related note, the company added that Xbox users can finally download and use the Apple Music app on their consoles. Apple TV, on the other hand, has been available on Microsoft’s video game consoles since late 2020, so it’s a wonder why it took so long for the music service to arrive. Much like the native versions on mobile and Mac platforms, the Apple Music app on Xbox provides subscribers with features such as full-screen time-synced lyrics and background playback while gaming.
Additionally, Microsoft also announced that its Windows 11 Photos app will soon include Apple iCloud integration. With this, users can seamlessly browse their iCloud Photo Library through the app without having to rely on the iCloud for Windows app, which requires them to download a copy of their media files to Windows.
A beta of this integration is now available for Windows Insider members, with a public launch expected in the next few months. Once available, you can access your iCloud Photos directly from the Windows Photos app from the side navigation pane.
(Source: Microsoft [official blog])
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