Spotify is looking to bring a simpler and more accessible experience to its desktop and web platforms soon, which should be great news for orphaned Groove users on Windows 10.
According to a new post on Spotify’s For the Record blog, the company has begun “rolling out a new improved look and feel for the Spotify app for desktop and web-aligning the experience and making both easier to use than ever before.” Over the past couple of years, Spotify has been subtly tweaking the design of its mobile app as it adds features and now it appears that the company is ready to bring those design efforts to its desktop and web experiences.
Specifically, both the desktop app and web versions will host the Search functionality on the left side of the navigation page bundling it in with the rest of the functionality options for the platform. Prior to today’s update, the search hovered at the top near the function panel and required 2-inched of border padding to the visual. In addition, the Search page is also populated with suggestions that include “Top Genres” and “Browse All”, versus the blank page that shows up on the old design.
Another tweak rolling out is refreshed listeners’ profile pages which will now include top artists and tracks. The view is cleaner than the arguably cluttered current view that includes tab sections such as Overview, Recently Played Artists, Public Playlists, and More. The functionality remains in the new version but requires a bit more scrolling. Perhaps, the most appreciated move by Spotify is enabling easier access to a radio session from almost anywhere by placing the “…” menu options in more places as well as including simpler playlist creation controls.
We’re also introducing more ways for listeners to easily tailor their playlists, including the ability to write descriptions, upload images, drag and drop tracks into existing playlists, and even use a new embedded search bar to find and add new songs and podcast episodes to new and existing playlists. Listeners will also be able to edit Queue and view Recently played via the desktop app, and apply new sorting options to “Your Library” via a new dropdown menu in the top-right corner, giving them more control for their next listening sessions.
Premium subscribers will also be able to make use of Offline Mode from the web as well.
Spotify even considered navigation differently on the desktop by adding support for Control +? and Command +? within the desktop app to see the full list of keyboard commands available.
Since Microsoft made the confidence-breaking decision to abandon its music streaming efforts and shuttle its former Groove subscribers over to Spotify, it’s been an awkward transition for many. Fortunately, Spotify is moving quickly and adding a lot of functionality across platforms to help it become the default music app for Windows 10 users in absence of a first-party solution for the operating system.
