iTunes
iTunes is a digital media software developed by Apple Inc., first launched in January 2001. It enables users to add, organize, and play various types of digital media files, including music, videos, audiobooks, and podcasts, on computers and portable devices like the iPod and iPhone. Initially available only to Macintosh users, iTunes quickly expanded its reach by introducing a Windows version. The iTunes Store, launched in 2003, marked a significant milestone, allowing users to purchase and download songs; within its first week, it sold over a million songs. Over the years, iTunes underwent various updates, introducing features such as podcast access, video streaming, and integration with iCloud through services like iTunes Match. Subsequent versions improved user experience and added functionalities such as iTunes Radio and the Apple Music streaming service. Despite its evolution and popularity, some features, like the social network Ping, did not achieve lasting success. By continually updating the software, Apple aimed to enhance the usability and integration of its services within the digital media landscape.
On this Page
Subject Terms
iTunes
iTunes is a type of digital media software developed by Apple Inc. It allows users to add, organize, and play digital, or online, media files such as songs, videos, television shows, movies, audiobooks, or podcasts. These can be accessed on a computer or portable device such as the iPod portable media player or iPhone. Apple launched iTunes in 2001 with just a few hundred thousand songs, and since then, it has added millions of media files as well as the streaming service Apple Music and the storage service iCloud.
Overview
To commercialize on the digital music industry, computer technology company Apple Inc. debuted iTunes in January of 2001. iTunes was software that allowed Macintosh users to add, organize, and play digital media files on their computers. Less than a year later, the company introduced the iPod, a portable digital media player that worked exclusively with iTunes to permit customers to download and play media files. Apple also released the second version of iTunes to coincide with the introduction of the iPod.
The third upgrade came soon after and included audiobooks. In 2003, Apple debuted its iTunes Store, allowing customers to access to two hundred thousand different types of digital files. In just one week, the iTunes Store sold more than one million songs. A few months later, more than one million people were seen sporting the iconic white iPod earbuds, a testament to how popular the iPod had become in such a short period. At this time, however, only Mac users could utilize iTunes. To widen its market, Apple released a Windows version of iTunes.
The iTunes 4 update came in 2004 and included a shuffle feature as well as support for digital photos and videos. The following year, Apple released an upgrade that permitted consumers to access podcasts. iTunes 6, which debuted in 2006, added minor enhancements, fixed bugs, and introduced users to video streaming. iTunes 7 launched in September of 2006 and featured iPod games and gapless (or uninterrupted) playback of music files.
In 2007, the company released its first iPhone smartphone, which linked to iTunes and the iTunes Store—and later to the App Store. Upgrades iTunes 8 and iTunes 9 followed, both of which helped to streamline all of Apple's services. People were able to rent and purchase television shows and movies, download courses from iTunes U, and buy digital books.
iTunes 10 came in 2010 and included a new social media network called Ping; however, Ping failed to attract followers and was quickly discarded. In 2011, Apple debuted iTunes Match, which worked with iCloud and iTunes in the Cloud to help match songs with subscribers. The iTunes 11 upgrade launched in 2012 with the addition of iTunes Radio and minor enhancements and fixes to the software. In 2014, Apple debuted iTunes 12, which changed the interface to make the software easier to navigate.
The following year, Apple released an updated version of iTunes 12 to embrace digital music streaming with the debut of Apple Music. Throughout 2016, the company continued to release other versions of iTunes 12 in an effort to fix several weaknesses in the system. It also worked on streamlining its iTunes and other services to make them more user friendly.
Bibliography
"iTunes." Apple Inc., www.apple.com/itunes. Accessed 11 Oct. 2016.
Jarnow, Jesse. "Apple's iTunes Is Alienating Its Most Music-Obsessed Users." Wired, 17 Nov. 2015, https://www.wired.com/2015/11/itunes-alternatives. Accessed 11 Oct. 2016.
Layton, Julia, and Jonathan Strickland. "How iTunes Works." HowStuffWorks.com, 20 Mar. 2006, electronics.howstuffworks.com/itunes.htm. Accessed 11 Oct. 2016.
McElhearn, Kirk. "15 Years of iTunes: A Look at Apple's Media App and Its Influence on an Industry." Macworld, 9 Jan. 2016, www.macworld.com/article/3019878/software/15-years-of-itunes-a-look-at-apples-media-app-and-its-influence-on-an-industry.html. Accessed 11 Oct. 2016.
McGarry, Caitlin. "How Apple Plans to Make iCloud, Siri, and iTunes Better." Macworld, 6 Oct. 2016, www.macworld.com/article/3128754/software/how-apple-plans-to-make-icloud-siri-and-itunes-better.html. Accessed 11 Oct. 2016.
Pepitone, Julianne, and David Goldman. "The Evolution of iTunes." CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2013, money.cnn.com/gallery/technology/2013/04/25/itunes-history. Accessed 11 Oct. 2016.
Perez, Sarah. "Redesigned Version of iTunes Launches with iCloud Music Glitches." Tech Crunch, 13 Sept. 2016, techcrunch.com/2016/09/13/redesigned-version-of-itunes-launches-with-icloud-music-glitches. Accessed 11 Oct. 2016.
Thompson, Derek. "The Death of Music Sales." Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2015, www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/01/buying-music-is-so-over/384790. Accessed 11 Oct. 2016.