Xpotify review: Quite possibly the best Spotify experience on Windows 10

Progressive web apps (PWAs) are becoming more than popular amidst developers and companies, but some of the all-time PWAs aren't available through the Microsoft Store. Spotify has a PWA that looks great, performs well, and sounds skilful, but the only way to "install information technology" is through a browser, such as Chrome or the new Edge. At present, a developer has wrapped that Spotify PWA experience within Xpotify, a UWP app that enhances the Spotify experience by merging the PWA with Windows 10 features.

Xpotify is free and works with your Spotify business relationship. You can log in equally normal and accept admission to either Spotify'south free version or Spotify Premium, depending on whether you're a subscriber.

Related: PWAs - What they are, and what they mean for Microsoft

I've been in bear upon with the developer of Xpotify during the app's evolution and got to apply it leading up to its release. The application was submitted to go visible in the Microsoft Store in conjunction with this commodity, so you can search the shop to discover it. If you lot're unable to find it in the Microsoft Store by searching, you tin download it using the links in this article.

Stream, heed, savor

Xpotify

An attractive and functional style to enjoy Spotify

Xpotify allows yous to stream all of your Spotify music and is packed with features including Compact Overlay, Media Bar support, and pinning playlists to the Start Menu.

Streaming music

Xpotify at its core is a wrapped version of Spotify'due south PWA. It has several Windows 10-specific features added to it, but the first matter to practice is compare the portion of the app that is made from Spotify's PWA to Spotify'southward Desktop app. The PWA doesn't replace the desktop version of Spotify, just in many ways, is better. Information technology feels faster, arguably looks amend, and is very responsive when navigating. Yous can listen to your playlists, music, albums, and artists, and search Spotify's catalogue for more content.

Visually, Xpotify looks more modern than Spotify's desktop app, and Xpotify is also easier to use with bear on thanks to its larger icons and spread out interface. Xpotify is more visually reactive than Spotify's desktop app. When you open upwards an album, the background color changes, for example. When you navigate the application, in that location are animations that make it experience both smoothen and snappy.

The biggest fault of Xpotify is that information technology doesn't have offline music support. For me, that doesn't matter, because I always stream my music, merely I recognize that for some users, such every bit frequent air travelers, the lack of offline support is a deal breaker. I too noticed that on Xpotify I can play Spotify radio stations merely can't browse the stations I've made in the past. Both of these issues stem from Spotify not supporting the features through their PWA, not the developer of Xpotify, but they're still problems that yous'll take to deal with in the app.

A 'PWA+' for Spotify

Windows 10 already works well with PWAs. You can install them through Chrome and the latest insider versions of Microsoft Edge. When I reviewed Pinterest's PWA in the Microsoft Store, I pointed out that information technology was essentially the same every bit Pinterest installed through the browser. Thankfully, that's not the case with Xpotify. Xpotify adds many Windows x-specific features that get in a meliorate experience than just using the PWA, and in my opinion, a better experience than using Spotify'due south desktop app.

Xpotify supports media keys, media bar integration, and taskbar integration. These, and other features make information technology easy to control your music. You can also control your music using a mini player in Compact Overlay mode or by hovering over the taskbar and controlling media.

Xpotify also adds the power to pivot specific pages to the Start Card. You tin can pin artists, albums, playlists and more. Each of these tiles on the Start Carte features anthology or artist artwork rather than just the app's logo.

All of the features of Xpotify add up to create an excellent Spotify feel on Windows 10. I promise Spotify and other companies have note of how you can create what I call a "PWA+" on Windows 10, significant a PWA that is wrapped into a UWP application and and then enhanced with Windows 10 features.

An splendid enhancement to Spotify app

Xpotify provides a good experience for anyone who wants to stream music on their PC. While information technology doesn't support offline playback, it does back up a number of features like a handy mini player. It besides wraps a responsive and attractive Spotify experience that in my opinion looks better than Spotify's desktop application.

If you stream music, Xpotify arguably provides the best Spotify experience on Windows ten. It makes it easy to control your music with its mini player, media key support, and other features that integrate the app well with Windows 10. It'due south a expert app and an first-class example of how developers can improve PWAs specifically for Windows 10 users.

Pros

• Gratis and piece of cake to install
• Scales well
• Supports media keys
• Supports Compact Overlay
• Adds features that aren't bachelor on Spotify's desktop app

Cons

• Doesn't support offline play

Stream, listen, enjoy

Xpotify

An attractive and functional mode to enjoy Spotify

Xpotify allows you to stream all of your Spotify music and is packed with features including Compact Overlay, Media Bar support, and pinning playlists to the First Menu.

Audio accessories

If you're going to stream music to your PC, yous're going to want to hear it well. Here are some cracking options for enhancing your audio.

Bose Companion ii Serial III ($99 at Amazon)

This is a solid set up of speakers that can however fill the room with sound even though they are in a relatively pocket-sized package.

TaoTronics Bluetooth 4.2 Reckoner SoundBar ($l at Amazon)

This soundbar tin fit under your PC monitor. It connects via Bluetooth so it can work with your PC, phone, or tablet.

Zrtke Bluetooth headphones ($23 at Amazon)

These lightweight headphones are waterproof, sweatproof, relatively inexpensive, and connect with Bluetooth.

We may earn a committee for purchases using our links. Larn more.

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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/xpotify-review-beautifully-merging-spotifys-pwa-windows-10

Posted by: campbelltorcer.blogspot.com

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