Legacy music player Winamp is now officially available as a mobile app that’s available for both iOS and Android devices. Unlike services such as Apple Music and Spotify, it only functions as a platform to play music that has been stored on your device, as well as those hosted on your iCloud or Google Cloud storage.
Unlike its initial relaunch in mid-2023 as a web-based experience, Winamp’s mobile app does not require you to register or sign in to its Fanzone subscription service, which functions similarly to Patreon for artistes. Bypassing this will only grant you access to its music player.
It’s worth noting that Winamp’s mobile app is not entirely new, as it was quietly launched on Android and iOS last year, likely for beta testing. The current release includes added tab customisation, a Hotmix radio tab, customizable EQ, and CarPlay support.
As mentioned earlier, one standout feature is the cloud storage support on the Winamp app, which allows users to add music from iCloud or Google Cloud. This is particularly appreciated given the restrictions on iOS that limit access to media files transferred over a wired connection. The Android version of the app, on the other hand, does not face the same restrictions as those on Apple’s platform.
With streaming platforms such as the aforementioned two being the norm, there’s little reason to pick up Winamp. Outside of offering access to its Fanzone service, the app merely functions as a generic music player that can only play songs that you already own. The only thing that it has going for is its nostalgic branding, which might not be enough to convince most.
(Source: BusinessWire)
