iTunes

Everything you need to know about Apple's iTunes, including iTunes desktop software on Windows and Mac, iTunes Store on iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, and iTunes in the Cloud on iCloud

iTunes started off as Apple's desktop music player for Mac but has since become so much -- perhaps too much! -- more. iTunes on the desktop now runs on Mac and Windows, and in addition to playing your music, TV shows, Movies, podcasts, and more, also manages and syncs all of that, as well as apps and games, to your iOS devices via USB. The iTunes Store, which on the desktop includes the App Store and the iBookstore, is where you buy all your content. And if you're using iCloud, it's where you re-download iTunes in the Cloud, and manage iTunes Match.

Apple is expected to update the desktop version of iTunes to iTunes 11 sometime this month.

More coverage

iCrack: iTunes Wi-Fi Store Makes Music Purchase All Too Easy, Dangerously Addictive

By admin#IM, Wednesday, Oct 10, 2007 a 5:05 pm

With the release of firmware update 1.1.1 came something new to iPhone that I think may prove to be its most insidious feature yet; iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store. Now I know that many of you don't purchase music via iTunes, preferring instead to utilize certain ahem free source, but you may sing a different tune once you start rummaging through genres and newly released content on the screen of your iPhone. For me it's becoming an addiction. I have to force myself not to tap on the lovely purple store icon that beckons me to enter and pay pay pay. iPhone has now become a gateway drug to iTunes.

Time Warner Building iTunes Competitor

By Mike Overbo, Friday, Oct 5, 2007 a 10:26 am

Time Warner is building an iTunes competitor. You know, sometimes I get irked when I see websites use the word "competitor" so loosely. The geniuses at Time Warner Cable have had a long time to think about music and they've had a long time to watch Apple's iTunes and mirror its success. So, they've unveiled a service that is:

DVR Software for Windows iPhone Users

By Mike Overbo, Wednesday, Oct 3, 2007 a 10:46 am

figure 1: All this and more for just 70 Schrutebucks.

If you use a Windows PC as a DVR and are looking to get away from iTunes for syncing your video to your iPhone or iPod, it looks like Beyond TV might be worth a peek. The new version of Beyond TV, 4.7, not only syncs your shows to the iPhone or iPod, but also pulls out your podcasts from iTunes. Not bad!

Apple Rolls Out iTunes 7.4, Ringtone Support Included. Now With the Fresh Scent of Lemon

By admin#IM, Thursday, Sep 6, 2007 a 10:13 am

Apple quietly slipped out its promised release of iTunes 7.4, integrating support for yesterdays announced iPod line - as well ringtone support for iPhone, iTunes Wi-Fi Store, and that Starbucks whatchamacallit thing. Beyond that, there really isn't much to say. Once the update is installed a new Ringtone tab is revealed after your iPhone is docked. Guess what that does? I could give a tinker's damn for music ringtones, so I won't be joining you around the campfire singing bad karaoke tunes. Sorry.

The download weighs in roughly 40MB, depending on platform of choice.

Read

iTunes Store: 3 Billion Served

By admin#IM, Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007 a 8:48 am

Apple just sent out a press release proudly boasting that its iTunes Store has now sold over 3 Billion Songs. Congratulations Apple. Now how about giving away free iPods to loyal customers, eh? No? Well I tried.

Read

AT&T Developing iTunes Integration and Widget for OSX Users?

By admin#IM, Thursday, Jun 7, 2007 a 7:56 am

Apple and AT&T have worked closely together on iPhone throughout its development and looming rollout. That much is certain. But the two companies may be working on some rather interesting service integration with iTunes and a special dashboard widget for OSX users. According to a source I spoke with from AT&T, the two companies are working to enable iPhone users to view and administer their AT&T account from within iTunes itself.

In this arragement iTunes would allow you to view your bill, minutes used, add-on features like ringtone downloads, etc., all right within iTunes. The company may also offer a simple dashboard widget which displays minutes used as monthly bill status. Interesting.

iPhone Shackles Users to Apple's Walled Garden

By admin#IM, Sunday, Jan 14, 2007 a 10:26 am

p>As "iPhone euphoria" slowly wears off, replaced with sobering reality, some of iPhone's less shiny aspects are beginning to come into view. Wilmington North Corolina's StarNews (I didn't know they had newspapers in NC. Wonder if they have internets as well ;) ) pointed out the unfairness of Apple's FairPlay digital rights management (DRM) technology which locks users into Apple's walled garden by limiting playback of songs purchased through the iTunes Store only on Apple authorized hardware. Since Apple doesn't license FairPlay to any other vendor, that means you can only listen to these legally purchased tracks on an iPod, or iPhone in this case.

Needless to say a good many users, and competitors to Apple, are not happy with this arrangement. Some are seeking legal recourse, accusing Apple of being a monopoly.