iTunes
Developer(s) | Apple Inc. |
---|---|
Initial release | January 9, 2001 |
Stable release | 12.13.1.3
/ December 15, 2023 |
Operating system |
|
Platform | |
Successor | For media: Music Podcasts For device management: Finder (macOS) Apple Devices (Windows) |
Size | 400 MB |
Type | |
License | Freeware |
Website | itunes |
Part of a series on |
macOS |
---|
iTunes (. Options for sound optimizations exist, as well as ways to wirelessly share the iTunes library.
iTunes was originally announced by Apple CEO
Though well received in its early years, iTunes received increasing criticism for a
In February of 2024, most features of iTunes for Windows has been split into Apple TV, Music and Apple Devices. When the apps are installed, iTunes is still used for podcasts and audiobooks. [6]
History
Platform availability
Apple released iTunes for Windows on October 16, 2003.[11]
On April 26, 2018, iTunes was released on
Music library
iTunes features a music library. Each track has attributes, called
File metadata is displayed in users' libraries in columns, including album, artist, genre, composer, and more.[22] Users can enable or disable different columns, as well as change view settings.[23]
Special playlists
Introduced in 2004,[24] "Party Shuffle" selected tracks to play randomly from the library, though users could press a button to skip a song and go to the next in the list.[25] The feature was later renamed "iTunes DJ",[26] before being discontinued altogether, replaced by a simpler "Up Next" feature that notably lost some of "iTunes DJ"'s functionality.[27]
Introduced in iTunes 8 in 2008, "Genius" can automatically generate a playlist of songs from the user's library that "go great together".[28] "Genius" transmits information about the user's library to Apple anonymously, and evolves over time to enhance its recommendation system. It can also suggest purchases to fill out "holes" in the library.[29] The feature was updated with iTunes 9 in 2009 to offer "Genius Mixes", which generated playlists based on specific music genres.[30][31]
"Smart playlists" are a set of playlists that can be set to automatically filter the library based on a customized list of selection criteria, much like a database query. Multiple criteria can be entered to manage the smart playlist.[32] Selection criteria examples include a genre like Christmas music, songs that haven't been played recently, or songs the user has listened to the most in a time period.[33]
Library sharing
Through a "Home Sharing" feature, users can share their iTunes library wirelessly.[34] Computer firewalls must allow network traffic, and users must specifically enable sharing in the iTunes preferences menu. iOS applications also exist that can transfer content without Internet.[35] Additionally, users can set up a network-attached storage system, and connect to that storage system through an app.[36]
Sound processing
iTunes includes sound processing features, such as
Online music functionality
iTunes Store
Introduced on April 28, 2003, The iTunes Music Store allows users to buy and download songs, with 200,000 tracks available at launch. In its first week, customers bought more than one million songs.
iTunes in the Cloud and iTunes Match
In June 2011, Apple announced "iTunes in the Cloud", in which music purchases were stored on Apple's servers and made available for automatic downloading on new devices. For music the user owns, such as content ripped from CDs, the company introduced "iTunes Match", a feature that can upload content to Apple's servers, match it to its catalog, change the quality to 256kbit/s AAC format, and make it available to other devices.[46][47]
Internet radio, iTunes Radio and Apple Music
When iTunes was first released, it came with support for the Kerbango Internet radio tuner service.[48] In June 2013, the company announced iTunes Radio, a free music streaming service.[49] In June 2015, Apple announced Apple Music, a subscription-based music streaming service, and subsequently integrated iTunes Radio functionality. Music tracks provided by Apple Music via iTunes are available at up to 256 kbit/s AAC fidelity. The Apple Music app also integrates Apple Music 1, a live music radio station.[50]
Other features
Video
In May 2005, video support was introduced to iTunes with the release of iTunes 4.8,[51][52] though it was limited to bonus features part of album purchases.[53] The following October, Apple introduced iTunes 6, enabling support for purchasing and viewing video content purchased from the iTunes Store.[54] At launch, the store offered popular shows from the ABC network, including Desperate Housewives and Lost, along with Disney Channel series That's So Raven and The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. CEO Steve Jobs told the press that "We're doing for video what we've done for music — we're making it easy and affordable to purchase and download, play on your computer, and take with you on your iPod."[54]
In 2008, Apple and select film studios introduced "iTunes Digital Copy", a feature on select DVDs and Blu-ray discs allowing a digital copy in iTunes and associated media players.[55][56][57]
Podcasts
In June 2005, Apple updated iTunes with support for podcasts.[58][59] Users can subscribe to podcasts, change update frequency, define how many episodes to download and how many to delete.[59]
Similar to songs, "Smart playlists" can be used to control podcasts in a playlist, setting criteria such as date and number of times listened to.[60]
Apple is credited for being the major catalyst behind the early growth of podcasting.[61]
Apps
On July 10, 2008, Apple introduced native mobile apps for its iOS operating system. On iOS, a dedicated App Store application served as the storefront for browsing, downloading, updating, and otherwise managing applications, whereas iTunes on computers had a dedicated section for apps rather than a separate app.[62] In September 2017, Apple updated iTunes to version 12.7, removing the App Store section in the process.[63][64] iTunes 12.6.3 was released the following month, retaining App Store functionality, with 9to5Mac noting that the secondary release was positioned by Apple as "necessary for some businesses performing internal app deployments".[65][66]
iTunes U
In May 2007, Apple announced the launch of "iTunes U" via the iTunes Store, which delivers university lectures from top U.S. colleges.[67][68] With iTunes version 12.7 in August 2017, iTunes U collections became a part of the Podcasts app.[69] On June 10, 2020, Apple formally announced that iTunes U would be discontinued at the end of 2021.[70]
Apple mobile device connectivity
iTunes was required to activate early iPhone and iPad devices. Beginning with the iPhone 3G in June 2008, activation did not require iTunes, making use of activation at point of sale.[71] Later iPhone models are able to be activated and set-up on their own, without requiring the use of iTunes.
iTunes also allows users to backup and restore the content of their Apple mobile devices, such as music, photos, videos, ringtones and device settings,[72] and restore the firmware of their devices. However, as of iTunes 12.7, apps can no longer be purchased and installed using iTunes.[64]
Ping
With the release of iTunes 10 in September 2010, Apple announced iTunes Ping, which CEO Steve Jobs described as "social music discovery". It had features reminiscent of Facebook, including profiles and the ability to follow other users.[73] Ping was discontinued in September 2012.[74]
Criticism
Security
Software bloat
iTunes has been repeatedly accused of being bloated as part of Apple's efforts to turn it from a music player to an all-encompassing multimedia platform.[63][76][77][78][79] Former PC World editor Ed Bott accused the company of hypocrisy in its advertising attacks on Windows for similar practices.[80]
The role of iTunes has been replaced with independent apps, Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, and Apple TV; with iPhone, iPod, and iPad management integrated into the Finder starting with macOS 10.15 Catalina, and appearing as Apple Devices starting with Windows 11.[citation needed]
See also
- Apple Music
- Apple Music Festival
- AirPlay
- Digital distribution
- List of audio conversion software
- Comparison of audio player software
- Music visualization
References
- ISBN 978-1-4058-8118-0
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External links
- iTunes – official site