Mood Dial replaces the question of which album to play with a rotating ring of feelings. This music app for iPhone and iPad offers 22 built-in moods as Apple Music stations, with the interface changing color as you turn the dial.
Choose a station such as Focus or Unwind, then press play. The library lets you add stations to the ring, remove ones you skip, or build a separate dial for another part of the day. A custom station can have its own name, icon, energy, and colors. Taste settings let you select favored artists and exclude others, while a guest station gives you a way to explore without rearranging the dial.
I like how much of the idea is visible before a song starts. The dial gives each listening context a place you can return to, and the full player remains a separate screen for playback. I see a use for this when someone knows the kind of afternoon they want but has no particular record in mind.
Apple Music access is a requirement for playback. Justas Markus's newsletter singled out that dependency after trying the app, and the developer confirms it. The recent US App Store feed has only a brief positive comment, so it tells me little about how consistently the station choices match a listener's taste.
Mood Dial makes the most sense for existing Apple Music listeners who want a small set of personal radio stations close at hand.
