14 DAY TRIAL // Music by Google Beta may not have impressed too many people at launch and, while it doesn't have that many advantages over competitors, it's a solid service and definitely worth your attention. Even more so now that an iOS app is available.
Unfortunately, and this may have something to do with Apple's policy on subscription services in the App Store, it is only a web app, but that's also a good thing.
For one, updates will be instant and you don't have to worry about Apple pulling it.
The app is rather slick too, it looks good and works pretty well, apparently. The app enables you to browse your library and, obviously, listen to your music.
The tunes are streamed from the Google cloud and you can use it in the background, i.e. the music doesn't stop playing if you're doing something else on your phone, even if you close Safari.
But you do need a data connection active at all times. This may prove a nuisance in areas with spotty coverage, but HTML5 is always evolving and some caching option could be made available.
Still, it does show that Google is pushing ahead with its music service. It hasn't said much since it launched it, but Google has worked too much on it to let it just wither away.
Music by Google does have a few advantages over competitors, for example, it offers more free storage than Amazon Cloud Player, you can store up to 20,000 tracks for free.
Amazon moved to offer some free music storage, but the offer is limited to paying users. iTunes Match also stores 20,000 tracks, but it costs $25 per year. Music by Google is free, but it's in private beta mode. Once it goes public, it may require a subscription.