Introducing the new Google Play Music

Whether reminding you to leave to catch your flight, helping you find pictures of your daughter’s recital, or suggesting the right Smart Reply, Google builds tools that help you make the world of information more accessible and useful. And at Google Play Music, we strive for the same.

Building on our commitment to help you find the right music for any moment, today we’re introducing the new Google Play Music — a fresh take on our music streaming service that is smarter, easier to use, and much more assistive.

To deliver that, Google Play Music uses machine learning to figure out what music you like and then mixes in signals like location, activity, and the weather along with hand-picked playlists to personalize music for wherever you are and whenever you want tunes. Starting this week on Android, iOS and the web, the new experience will roll out globally (62 countries, to be precise).

DON’T THINK TWICE, IT’S ALL RIGHT

To provide even richer music recommendations based on Google’s understanding of your world, we’ve plugged into the contextual tools that power Google products. When you opt in, we’ll deliver personalized music based on where you are and why you are listening — relaxing at home, powering through at work, commuting, flying, exploring new cities, heading out on the town, and everything in between. Your workout music is front and center as you walk into the gym, a sunset soundtrack appears just as the sky goes pink, and tunes for focusing turn up at the library.

WHAT YOU WANT? BABY I GOT IT

The new Google Play Music has a brand new home screen built just for you. Think of it as the ultimate personal DJ—one who listens not only to what you like, but also when you like it, so the music that you care about now is always at the top of your screen. Maybe that's your favorite new release on Friday, the dance party playlist you listen to after work, or more music from a new artist you've just fallen in love with. Regardless, it will be there waiting for you to press play. Powered by Google's machine learning systems and honed by our team of expert music curators, your experience will keep evolving (and improving) as we get to know you better.

PLEASE DON’T STOP THE MUSIC

No connection? Lost in the desert? No problem. Well...except for the lost part (try Google Maps for that). When you subscribe, you’ll always be prepped with an offline playlist based on what you’ve listened to recently. As long as you remember to charge your phone, you’ll have your favorite tunes, even if you forgot to download them ahead of time.

From parks to airports to bars, whether you're walking, biking, or driving, the right music makes any moment better. With the new Google Play Music, we’re here to help with the perfect soundtrack for the things you do every day. After all, the only thing better than finding the perfect music is the perfect music finding you.

Testing your app for Android for Work

Posted by, Rich Hyndman, Developer Advocate

Testing is important whether you’re building a dedicated app for the workplace, rolling out new features, or making it easy for IT departments to deploy.

Test DPC is now available for you and is a fully featured, open-source, sample Device Policy Controller (DPC) which allows you to test your apps with any Android for Work feature. A DPC manages the security policies and work apps on devices using Android for Work.
You can configure Test DPC to be either a device or profile owner to test all the Android for Work scenarios:

• 
  Profile Owner: Employees using their personal phones for work and allowing their company to own the work applications and data (i.e. bring your own device or BYOD)
  


• Device Owner: Enterprises providing devices to employees and managing the entire device


• Device Owner: Enterprises deploying devices for a narrow use case, such as a mall directory or restaurant menu (i.e. corporate owned, single use devices)
  

Test DPC simplifies testing and development because you can use it to set the kinds of policies an IT administrator might enforce. You can establish app and intent restrictions, set up managed work profiles, enforce policies, and can even set up fully managed Android devices — something you might find as an info board or kiosk in a public place.

The Test DPC app can be found on Google Play with the source on GitHub. Set up Test DPC as a device/profile owner on your device by checking out this user guide.

If you want to learn more about Android for Work and its capabilities, check out Android for Work Application Developer Guide for full guidance on optimizing your app for Android for Work.

Note: Your test Android device needs to run Android 5.0 or later and be able to support Android for Work natively.