Are there any radio apps that work directly on the Apple Watch?

By steven carey, 8 March, 2019

Forum
watchOS and Apple Watch Apps

Hi All,

I am a new Apple Watch owner (I have the iWatch 4) so need some guidence here. I want a radio app that will play directly on my watch and not one that just controlls apps on the iPhone. However, as I don't have an Apple music account (in the UK and there is no Apple music player on the Amazon echo yet) I want to avoid Apple Music at the moment, so, don't want to pay for an Apple Music account until it will work with the Amazon echo.

Therefore, does anyone know of a radio app that will play directly on the Apple Watch rather than just switching apps on the iPhone? I want to listen directly from my watch.

Steve.

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Comments

By Roxann Pollard on Tuesday, March 5, 2019 - 04:24

Here in the U.S. the Apple Music Skill is now available for the Echo boxes, according to some friends of mine. Perhaps the UK now has access to Apple Music via the Echo?

By steven carey on Tuesday, March 5, 2019 - 04:24

Hi Roxamme,

I thought that was the case too. However, I tried to add Apple Music and my echo told me that the Apple Music skill was not available in the UK.

Therefore, I undertook some research to find that it was not available yet. However, there was some conjecture about when it would be added. Some internet websites said spring, others said summer 2019. As I am eager to have some kind of radio app on my Apple watch before the wide prediction of either spring or summer when I could indeed drop Amazon Music in favour of the Apple streaming version (I cannot afford both) I'd like something free that I could use whilst waiting. Is there something I could use or does the Apple watch only act as a switching mechanism for apps on the iPhone.

If this is the case, then, some of these app designers are missing a deal. However, is adding this type of app more difficult than it sounds? I've tried a few that porport to be radio apps such as radio player and tune in radio only to find they appear to control the radio apps on my iPhone. So, is there anything I can try?

On another point, I know the Apple Watche's screen is small but for us blind folk, it would be an advantage to use just sound on tv apps like Netflicks and those that only appear in the UK such as BBC Iplayer and Skygo. Again, am I asking too much from my watch here?

Steve.