The Hi-Res streaming service Qobuz has completely revamped its app for iPhone, iPad, and Android smartphones and tablets. In addition to a completely redesigned player, the most significant new features include, for the first time, synchronized lyrics, expanded credits, and new ways to discover music.
Qobuz has redesigned its mobile player from the ground up. The revamped design dynamically adapts to the current album cover and is intended to immerse users more deeply in the artists’ world. At the same time, the mini-player remains visible at all times while navigating, so you can control playback without interrupting your search for new music. On tablets, a new split-screen mode also lets you listen and browse within the app at the same time.
Lyrics Synchronized with the Music for the First Time
According to Qobuz, synchronized lyrics were among the most requested features. These are now displayed in real time, in sync with the current track. Translations are also available to help users better understand the lyrics of international songs. To complement this, Qobuz is offering new playlists featuring well-known songs that users can sing along to.
More background information right in the player
The information on albums and artists has also been significantly expanded. Users will now have faster access to album reviews, biographies, digital booklets, and technical details about each Hi-Res file. Users can subscribe to artists and labels directly from within the player.
Another new feature is the “Browse” section, which uses the currently playing track to recommend related albums, artists, playlists, radio stations, and content about labels or music genres. This is complemented by editorial articles and direct access to the Qobuz Magazine, without having to pause the current playback.
Playlist and Mini Player Redesigned
The user interface has also been simplified in many ways. You can rearrange or remove tracks with a swipe gesture. The next three songs in the queue are always displayed, making it easier to plan your playback.
The mini player can now be customized. For example, users can select the audio output or assign shortcuts to add favorites or playlists.
“Qobuz subscribers actively engage with the music they listen to. The new player is designed specifically for this active listening experience,” explains Axel Destagnol, Chief Product Officer at Qobuz.
A new CarPlay app has been available since February
Back in February, Qobuz had already given its CarPlay app a major overhaul. Since then, features such as shuffle playback, genre filters, DailyQ and WeeklyQ mixes, editorial recommendations, and Siri control for CarPlay and the mobile app have been available.
Our conclusion after an initial review
The new version of the Qobuz app is now available for iOS and Android. Other Qobuz apps are expected to receive the new features gradually. STEREO GUIDE, of course, tried them out right away. You’ll need to get used to a completely new user interface, but we really liked the new features—especially the display of song lyrics. The author of this article regularly uses the CarPlay app, which was updated in February. Here, too, the update was a step in the right direction, offering a smoother and more intuitive user experience.
