Apple is finally bringing the Apple Music Classical app to iPad, months after launching it on iPhone and Android devices. The standalone app, which is free to use for all Apple Music subscribers, is billed as the world’s largest classical music catalogue with both new and celebrated masterpieces available for listening, many also with spatial audio. Version 1.1 brings support for iPad with visual changes specifically curated to make good use of the tablet’s larger display.
Apple Music Classical was originally launched in March, first on iPhone. In May, Apple brought the app to Android devices. With the latest update, iPad users will be also able to access it. The more screen real-estate allows Apple to add a navigation sidebar while playback controls are placed at the bottom, for a more seamless and intuitive interface.
Apple Music Classical launched with more than 5 million tracks and works including thousands of exclusive albums. At that time, Apple had said it was working closely with “some of the most prolific classical music artists and renowned classical music institutions in the world to offer Apple Music Classical listeners new, unique and exclusive content and recordings at launch and beyond.”
An even bigger USP was the promise of “complete and accurate metadata” and “the ability to search by composer, work, conductor, or even catalogue number, and find specific recordings instantly,” which is often a challenge area for music streaming services.
The app includes “thousands of editorial notes including composer biographies, descriptions of key works”, something you don’t even find on its premier Apple Music service.
Like Apple Music, Apple Music Classical also offers lossless audio and spatial audio through Dolby Atmos. Support for Hi-Resolution lossless up to 24 bit @192 kHz is available for those who can shell out on additional hardware like a DAC.
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