Apple Music web player allows for song streaming outside of iTunes

This story is part of WWDC 2022, CNET's complete coverage from and about Apple's annual developers conference.

Apple Music subscribers can now listen to songs from a computer using a web browser without having to fire up iTunes -- but it's not a full-blown iTunes replacement.

Apple has updated its MusicKit developer software for this week's WWDC conference, announcing Monday that developers can now let listeners play songs, albums and playlists using an embeddable music player.

While that player on its own does not offer full access to the Apple Music catalog, it is the first time that subscribers can listen to their music from a computer without needing to install iTunes.

The embeddable player was first spotted by Reddit user fani123q and Mac Observer ahead of WWDC. Previously this function has been limited to 30-second previews.

Here is an example of the widget below, which includes a Sign In link.

Spotify, Google Play Music, Tidal and most other competing music services have given their subscribers this option for years, allowing subscribers to access playlists and their favorite albums from a web browser instead of having to install software.

Originally published June 4 at 9:34 a.m. PT.
Update, 3 p.m. PT: Apple confirmed the feature, which earlier in the day was merely a rumor, at WWDC.