Web/Mobile App Critique

 Hello everyone, for this week's discussion, I will be reviewing the Spotify app. I use both the mobile and desktop app, depending on whether I'm on the road or at my home pc doing homework. I'll highlight the distinct differences between them and outline the pros and cons of both. Unfortunately, I will only be able to provide screenshots for the desktop app for this discussion, as I am unable to take screenshots from my phone. To start off the review, I want to begin by saying how much I use this app. I am an avid music listener, and I also enjoy listening to podcasts and audiobooks. I spend a lot of time driving and working on my feet, so I always have something playing in my ear. Spotify makes it so easy for me to find the music or audiobooks I have been listening to recently by displaying them on my home page. Not only do I have all my recent listens on the home page, but Spotify also actively recommends other artists or audiobooks that I may like based on my past listening habits. I enjoy this feature so much because I'm always on the hunt for new artists and similar books that I can look forward to after finishing the book I'm listening to. Speaking of the home page, I will review the similarities between the home pages on both mobile and desktop. Both follow the same formula; at the top, you have your most recently played media. Following that, you'll find artist recommendations and playlists tailored just for you, based on your listening habits. Both the mobile and desktop versions start at the top of the screen and end at the bottom, typically beginning with the most recent content and concluding with different recommendations. The main difference is that the desktop app displays significantly more information on screen than the mobile app, due to the greater amount of space available at any given time. Personally, I prefer the simplicity of the mobile app because it only displays the UI I need at the moment on the screen. 

The UI is customizable on the desktop version's home screen, which is a welcome addition. It will take some getting used to, as there are many options and different parts of the UI that are interactable. That being said, the UI is very clean and offers numerous options to tailor your Spotify experience to your preferences. Another feature of the app that many listeners may appreciate is the smart shuffle option when listening to music. 

This is a feature that I use frequently to help me discover new music that is similar to the genres I favor. Overall, Spotify offers a detailed app that caters to your preferences, providing a customizable experience on the desktop version and the more streamlined mobile app version. 

Recommendations: 

1. The desktop version should offer a help button to help users maneuver the app

2. There could be more options to customize the home screen to fit your needs

3. Allow more ways to fine tune your preferences for music and audio books