(Credit: Spotify)
Spotify's tablet app is getting a new look designed to make it easier to choose what to play next while staying in control over what you’re currently listening to.
The new design, rolling out today for iPads and Android tablets, adds a sidebar to control what you’re currently playing while browsing the rest of the app. The sidebar takes up about two-fifths of the screen on the right when in landscape mode. It looks similar to the desktop version of Spotify, with the album artwork for the current song, the track and artist names, playback controls, and further details such as facts about the performer.
On the remainder of the screen, you can navigate the app as usual and search for tracks to add to a queue or playlist. Switching to portrait orientation reconfigures the design, which Spotify claims is more adaptive than its previous user interface.
(Credit: Spotify)Video is now a much bigger focus of the app with a clearer “Switch to Video” button. Press it and the video boots up in a larger view, but not quite full screen, still showing playback controls and the brand's multimedia Explore elements.
You can then minimize the video and bring it back into the sidebar to continue playing as you explore other tracks, albums, and playlists. If you don't like video integration on Spotify, it has a new toggle to turn it off altogether.
This redesign is particularly helpful for controlling music for a crowd, such as when hosting a party and building a playlist on the fly. It gives you insight into how long a track will last, lets you control playback, and allows you to browse upcoming songs all at once.
Spotify has had a busy week, introducing physical book sales for the first time in its Android app. It means you can now quickly purchase a paperback or hardback copy of the audiobooks you’re listening to. The feature is set to land on iOS starting next week.