YouTube Music adds desktop app and iOS Siri support

YouTube Music continues to establish itself as Google’s primary music streaming service, rolling out Siri support and a new, standalone desktop app.

The desktop app allows for playback without having to visit YouTube Music’s website, and brings the service into line with Google’s biggest competitors in the space like Spotify and Apple Music.

Google also announced that the desktop app is available in the form of an extension for Chrome and Microsoft Edge too.

As 9to5google notes, the new application includes access to the Home Feed, Library, Video Hotlist and Search.

“The best part of this YouTube Music desktop PWA is the ability to use your device’s media keyboard shortcuts to play, pause, and skip,” says the tech site.

Google Play Music continues to be phased out by updates to YouTube Music, and now iOS users won’t have to choose between Apple Music and Spotify to listen through the Apple assistant.

The latest iOS update makes the change possible, meaning that hands-free control of YouTube Music is possible whilst driving.

Watch a demo of YouTube Music in use through Siri

The latest moves follow Google’s September announcement that YouTube Music would now come pre-installed on all new mobile devices launching with Android 9 and Android 10 (including the flagship Pixel series).

At that time, YouTube product manager Brandon Bilinski told users of Google Play Music that it would continue to be supported into the future.

“Google Play Music listeners with new Android 10 devices can continue to enjoy Google Play Music by downloading it from the Play Store and logging into their account,” he said.

However, increased focus on YouTube Music in the time since continues to point to the fact that it has become Google’s primary focus for streaming.