Pandora Launches a Native Desktop App

Pandora has finally released a native desktop app. Pandora for Mac is available right now, with Pandora for Windows coming soon. While the Pandora desktop app isn’t yet as fully featured as the mobile app, it beats using Pandora through a web browser.

What to Expect From the Pandora Desktop App

This is the first time Pandora has offered a native desktop app, with third-party apps previously filling the void. As detailed on the Pandora Blog, the Pandora desktop gives you (almost) everything you’re used to from the mobile app, as well as a few new features:

• Keyboard controls to play, pause, replay, skip, shuffle, and thumbs-up and thumbs-down songs.
• On-screen notifications that detail the music (including the artist, album, and song) that’s currently playing.
• App-based controls for the new Pandora Modes feature. Pandora Modes lets you customize the music you hear using selectable “modes”.

Starting today, Mac users can enjoy their personalized Pandora experience through our new desktop app—with features like on-screen song notifications and app-based controls for our new Pandora Modes feature. Learn more: https://t.co/5aDMXSMnpE

— Pandora (@pandoramusic) May 20, 2019

Pandora for Mac is available across all tiers. The only prerequisite is macOS 10.10 and above. Pandora for Windows is still being worked on, with Pandora asking everyone to “stay tuned for the launch of our new Pandora desktop app for Windows!”

Download: The Pandora Desktop App

The one thing currently missing from the Pandora desktop app is podcasts. Which is strange given how popular podcasts are becoming across streaming services. Pandora itself lets you stream SiriusXM shows as podcasts, but not on desktop, apparently.

The Pandora Desktop App Is Clean and Uncluttered

The Pandora desktop app is a simple, straightforward way to listen to music. It isn’t as packed with features as either the Pandora mobile app or the likes of Spotify or Apple Music. But if you prefer a clean, uncluttered style it should suit you well.

Pandora may not be as popular or as exciting as Spotify or Apple Music, but the company has rolled out a number of new features in recent years. The biggest being Pandora Premium, which even boasts Spotify-like curated playlists.

Image Credit: Rawpixel/Flickr

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