Have you been aware of this fading application from Apple? Indeed, it's on the decline.
Apple's relentless product evolution often leaves us playing catch-up, yet Apple's steadfastness in sticking with its choices is a rarity in the tech world. This week, however, marked a shift for one of its lesser-known apps – Music Memos. Launched in 2016 with the intention of providing a music-centric note-taking app for artists, Music Memos featured special features such as chord identification, rhythm track addition, and integration with GarageBand. But it seems Apple's garden has bloomed elsewhere, as they announced this week that Music Memos would be discontinued, with no updates beyond version 1.0.7.
Apple's statement suggested that the app would no longer be available for download as of March 1, 2021, and advised users to export their Music Memos files to Voice Memos before support for the app ended completely in 2022. With its prevalent app ecosystem, and Music Memos' comparatively low usage since release, this decision doesn't come as a surprise.
The Music Memos app, while well-intentioned, failed to gain traction among Apple's userbase. Musicians were found to favor the simplicity of the built-in Voice Memos app for recording their audio, eliminating the need for additional virtual instruments. Apple's decision to discontinue the Music Memos app likely revolves around improving its resources to focus on more popular and frequently used apps, ensuring its users have an optimal experience.
Experienced Music Memos users can easily export their files by syncing their Voice Memos to iCloud and using a script-based workaround (though Apple encourages users to export through the Music Memos app itself). For those who have recorded their musical ideas into Music Memos, it's crucial to preserve these recordings before they disappear from the app archive.
So, if you've been humming the next "Thong Song" into your iPhone, it's time to ensure your creations make it to the safety of Voice Memos.
The discontinuation of Music Memos highlights Apple's commitment to focusing on popular and frequently used apps within its tech ecosystem. Despite its integration with GarageBand, Music Memos failed to gain significant usage among Apple's users, with many opting for the simplicity of built-in Voice Memos for recording audio. Apple's decision to discontinue the app also means that users will need to export their Music Memos files to Voice Memos before March 1, 2021, to avoid losing them permanently. This shift in focus towards more popular apps demonstrates Apple's commitment to ensuring an optimal user experience on its iOS platform.
