Okay, here we go: I, being a cheap guy, am using Aldi Life Music (yeah, that Aldi), because it used to be very, very cheap. It used to be 2GB of data instead of 3GB and you got basically Napster for free on top. Through the last years the data limit for it did not change though so that I am now paying 15€ for 5GB of data and Aldi Life Music. Those 5GB are never enough, so I end up paying for more data… Also, the Napster/Aldi Apps are bad and it‘s missing a lot of music, especially German indie bands like Blackmail, Pendikel etc. that I want to listen to. So it is out of the question to just downgrade to a normal tariff only and just pay for Napster.
I‘d like to change to Apple Music and book their family package so that my daughters can stream music as well. They are now at an age where they‘d like to listen to more of Babymetal‘s music than only on my PC on YouTube. Okay, that was the long recipe introduction, now the actual problem.
I‘d like to build a streaming box for Apple Music. The problem is: Apple only licensed their services to Sonos, there is no other native solution for Apple Music anywhere available, not even on those fancy streaming devices, because Apple wants to sell their Airplay 2 stuff.
An option around this would be an Android based system with a touchscreen that just runs the App in the background. Question is: How do I build an Android based system without using an old phone (touchscreen, Ethernet connector, processor). Are there boards like the Pi for Android?
Or: Use a Raspberry Pi (with the option to upgrade to the HiFi-option). But how can I enable Apple Music on the Pi? If that was possible somehow it might be the easiest solution because the Pi has got native touchscreens etc.
That was a lot of rambling, maybe someone has a great idea or some great resources. Everything that I did find did not really help me (okay, taking that back, just found Ciderv2, that might be something). (/edit: Cider is out, the head developer is a racist, transphobic, anti-abortion etc. piece of shit… too bad…)
Nevertheless, any input is appreciated.
/edit2: Maybe a snap would do? Install Apple Music on Debian using the Snap Store | Snapcraft
/edit3: Wine may also work: How to Install and Run Wine on a Raspberry Pi - Pi My Life Up
Napster is still a thing?!?!?
I thought it died in like 2002…
It’s a streaming service nowadays…
Don’t a lot of those mini computers run android?
Grayjay app on a windows device/android 4tw.
Thanks, will check.
Edit: did check, not what I need. I’d just like to stream Apple Music.
They might, it’s never been important and I could not come up with anything on the fly.
Could you not use an old iPhone or iPad connected to just a “dumb” speaker.
Looks like there are old Celeron PC minis available that are pretty cheap. I wonder if setting Apple Music up on one of those is a cost-effective option. The DRM that Apple uses is problematic for many other DIY solutions.
Both valid options, I looked into those Mini-PCs, but an old iPad with a 3in1 connector would work pretty well so that you don‘t need to recharge it. Would have to figure out how to connect a speaker though via USB or any other means.
Can you do what you are thinking for less than100€? I ask, because Apple have done the maths and know they have you by the tentacles!
Much as I hate to admit this, we bought a home pod for the boat (105€) and it’s really really good
Does the home pod have Ethernet? We don‘t have WiFi in the home, Andrea does not like it. I will check it out though.
I just ordered an adapter for Ethernet, 3.5mm audio and charger for my old Android phone and am going to buy an App that locks the device just to one app (Apple Music). I‘ll see how that is going. I still have a speaker that I can connect to it if it all works and build a fancy box.
No, wifi does up the degree of difficulty!
The Mini doesn’t, and you can’t stream via its USB connection either. It’s one Apple product I have that I really didn’t want to buy, but reluctantly admit it’s perfect for our use in this case - streaming music from our phones. It’s really embedded in the Apple eco system though, which is OK for us in this instance and the sound avoids that “tons of base” thing that other lower priced speakers use to hide their lack of underlying goodness!
Back ot the problem then…
I‘ll tell you whether my Android solution works… All the others ideas I had that do not use Cider are just „use the webplayer on Linux“. That might be good enough but I‘d still need a Pi, a Touchscreen and some speakers. Meh.
We use youtube premium and it come with YouTube music for the family. We use google home devices and the kids are very good at requesting music.
Part of my rationale for paying for YouTube Premium is so we can have our own streaming services! It’s barely 50% more than an Apple music family subscription, and now we have YouTube for Him and Apple Music for Her, and His playlists are no longer littered with Gene Pitney, Joan Baez and a host of terrible schmultz that Her parents liked!