The standard version of Google Play Music is essentially a music locker where you can upload audio files to. In fact, it's similar to other services you may of heard of such as iTunes Match or Amazon Cloud Player.
Remember, don't confuse the standard Google Play Music service with the company's streaming subscription tier -- this is an extra paid-for option which also includes YouTube Music Key.
Is The Service Free?
Yes it is. You don't have to pay a subscription for the standard option.
Can I Upload my iTunes Library?
Yes. You can upload your iTunes music library by either using the Google Music Manager utility or the Chrome browser extension. If you've got a lot of songs to upload then the Google Music Manager is probably your best option. This is currently compatible with Windows (XP or higher), Macintosh (Mac OS X 10.5 and higher), and Linux (Fedora, Debian, openSUSE, or Ubuntu).
What Audio Formats Are Supported?
Currently the following formats are supported by Google Play Music:
MP3, AAC, ALAC, DRM protected AAC (not all files can be uploaded), FLAC, OGG, WMA.
How Many Songs Can be Uploaded?
The limit used to be 20,000, but this has now been increased to 50,000. Incidentally, if you buy songs from Google Play then this won't affect your quota -- only uploads count towards this limit.
How can I listen to Songs Stored on Google Play Music
Once you have uploaded all your songs to Google Play Music you can stream to a computer, mobile device (smartphone or tablet), and Sonos systems.
Using a Computer -- You'll need a browser that's compatible with Google's Web player. Browsers that work with Google Play Music include: Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Apple Safari, and Microsoft Internet Explorer 7+.
Mobile Device -- There are free apps available for Google Play Music which can be downloaded for Android and iOS. You can also register up to ten devices in order stream from your account. Incidentally, using computers also counts towards this quota.
Can I Listen to my Songs Offline?
Yes. Google Play Music has an offline mode so you can download songs to your mobile device and listen to them even when there's no Internet connection. It's also a handy option to use when trying to conserve your portable's battery life -- playing stored files uses a lot less power than streaming.
Do I Have to Upload Every Single Song?
No you don't. Google Play Music works in a similar way to iTunes Match. It will check to see if any songs in your collection are also in Google's music library. If it detects a match then these are automatically added to your music locker without you having upload every single file.
Source: http://mp3.about.com/od/Services/fl/Google-Play-Music-Frequently-Asked-Questions.htm?utm_campaign=list_mp3&utm_content=20150227&utm_medium=email&utm_source=exp_nl
Introduction:
Google Music is a cloud based music store that also provides a wealth of other features too. As well as being able to directly purchase music, Google's service also provides options such as: a personal music locker; social networking; and a mobile music service for Android, iOS smartphones and other devices. In order for you to quickly see the key facts, this preview has been written to provide the relevant information at a glance. By reading this article you will also be able to find out about the essential 'nuts and bolts' that hold this digital music service together.
Main Features:
The main features of the Google Music service are:
Online music store (Android Market) that features over 13 million songs
Cloud storage space for up to 20,000 songs and is compatible with your iTunes library and playlists
Your playlists can be automatically kept in sync
Artists Hub which is a social networking environment is useful if you are an unsigned artist. This part of Google's service can be used to showcase your musical creations, build a fan base, and get that much needed exposure to attract a possible recording contract.
System Requirements:
Before you consider using the Google Music service, it is recommend that you take a quick look at this section that lists the system requirements for operating systems (both computer and mobile devices), and Web browsers that are supported.
Supported Web Browsers: In order to use Google's integrated Web based Music Player via a computer, you'll need one of the the following Internet browsers installed on your computer:
Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 or higher
Mozilla Firefox
Google Chrome
Apple Safari
Also make sure that you have the latest version of the Adobe Flash Player and that JavaScript is enabled in your browser or you won't be able to see much of this service!
Google's Music Manager Software: To use the downloadable Music Manager for uploading songs to your cloud storage space, etc., the operating system requirements are as follows:
Windows (XP or higher)
Macintosh (Mac OS X 10.5 and higher)
Linux (Fedora, Debian, openSUSE, or Ubuntu)
Google Music Mobile Apps: If you want to use Google Music on the go via your mobile device, then you can download apps for the following operating systems:
Android version 2.1 (need Adobe Flash Player installed). The URL to access Google Music is via http://music.google.com
Android version 2.2 or higher (running OpenGL2.0)
Apple devices running iOS version 4.0 and higher (http://music.google.com via the Web browser)
Cloud Storage Features:
Capacity: The Google Music service provides a free music locker to store your songs in the cloud. This makes it possible to access your music from any Internet connected computer or device. You can store up to 20,000 tracks in your personal cloud space. The great thing about purchasing music via the Android Market is that it doesn't count towards this 20,000 song limit -- similar in fact to Apple's iCloud and Amazon Cloud Drive. As well as songs that you may have downloaded from various sources, Google Music also supports the upload of your iTunes Library and playlists too.
Offline Mode: There's also a handy offline facility so that you can listen to the music that you've stored in your music locker without having to be connected to the Internet. You can choose songs, playlists, or complete albums to sync to your iPhone or Android device before you go offline.
Create Remote Playlists: One of the smart features of Google's music locker is that you can create playlists remotely, rather than having to upload a new one every time you want to make a change. You can either elect to make a custom playlist using the songs in your online library, or select the 'Instant Mix' option for an automatically created playlist.
Source: http://mp3.about.com/od/musicservicereviews/p/Google-Music-Preview-Information-And-Specifications.htm
