Media player software for the Mac and Windows from Apple. Designed to transfer music to the iPod and iPhone and administer the copy protection on purchased music titles, iTunes is extremely popular because of its ease of use. iTunes is also used by many people to play their music collections on the computer, but who do not use a handheld player.
Introduced in 2001 for the Mac, a Windows version was added in 2003. Like other software media players, iTunes integrates Apple's music store to make it easy to purchase and download a song. In late 2005, video was added to iTunes 6 to support the new video-enabled iPods.
Designed for Sharing
A unique feature of iTunes is that users can open their playlists to any other iTunes user on the network, and titles can be streamed from one user's computer to another for playing. However, because of copyrights, the songs are played on, but not saved on the remote computer. For example, on a college campus, every iTunes user logged onto the network could share music with every other.
Gotta Love That Innovative Spirit
As would be expected, hackers have found ways to circumvent the iTunes "share-but-not-save" feature. Utilities such as myTunes and ourTunes were developed to make copies of someone else's music collection. Although new versions of iTunes void such usage, newer versions of the copy programs seem inevitable. See iPod, FairPlay, media player and playlist.
The iTunes Interface
People love the user interface on iTunes for setting up playlists, burning CDs and organizing their music collection. The equalizer dialog lets users adjust the sound to their liking.
Introduced in 2001 for the Mac, a Windows version was added in 2003. Like other software media players, iTunes integrates Apple's music store to make it easy to purchase and download a song. In late 2005, video was added to iTunes 6 to support the new video-enabled iPods.
Designed for Sharing
A unique feature of iTunes is that users can open their playlists to any other iTunes user on the network, and titles can be streamed from one user's computer to another for playing. However, because of copyrights, the songs are played on, but not saved on the remote computer. For example, on a college campus, every iTunes user logged onto the network could share music with every other.
Gotta Love That Innovative Spirit
As would be expected, hackers have found ways to circumvent the iTunes "share-but-not-save" feature. Utilities such as myTunes and ourTunes were developed to make copies of someone else's music collection. Although new versions of iTunes void such usage, newer versions of the copy programs seem inevitable. See iPod, FairPlay, media player and playlist.
The iTunes Interface
People love the user interface on iTunes for setting up playlists, burning CDs and organizing their music collection. The equalizer dialog lets users adjust the sound to their liking.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- VideoDrive 1.12 (Mac)
- VideoDrive makes it easy to add videos to iTunes without converting them or losing quality. VideoDrive supports all current formats, including mpg, mpeg, mp4, avi, wmv, swf, m4v, m2v, flv, wma, mkv, asf, divx, xvid and YouTube video formats. VideoDrive offers support for multiple disks, automatic online metatagging,...
- Software downloads 2009-11-28
- Videobox 2.8.6.3 (Mac)
- Videobox allows you to quickly and easily download Flash video from most all of the popular video sites on the internet. Videobox will convert the video into a native QuickTime format so it's ready to view on your Mac, iPod, iPhone or iTunes.
- Software downloads 2009-11-28
- Alarm Clock Pro 9.2.3 (Windows)
- Waking up to headache-inducing buzzers and static-plagued radio stations can now be confined to your past. Alarm Clock Pro enables you to design your daily routine and perform various tasks automatically, such as starting your favorite iTunes playlist. With the sheer amount of functionality Alarm Clock Pro offers, it can...
- Software downloads 2009-11-28
- backuplist+ 7.0 (Mac)
- Backuplist+ is a simple and fast backup utility for Mac OSX. It is a wrapper application for rsync 3.0.6, a powerful file transfer application that preserves all OSX metadata perfectly. It will make perfect full system clones as well. You can create lists of your important folders and files that...
- Software downloads 2009-11-28
- AVCWare iPod to iPod/PC/iTunes Transfer 2.1.39.1103 (Windows)
- AVCWare iPod to iPod/Computer/iTunes Transfer not only can transfer your iPod/iPhone music/video/playlist/photos back to PC, but also support iPod to iTunes transfer. If you own more than one iPods, it can simultaneously manage all the iPods in the same interface, you may transfer files among these iPods by drag-and-drop. All...
- Software downloads 2009-11-27
- Alarm Clock Pro 9.2.3 (Mac)
- Waking up to headache-inducing buzzers and static-plagued radio stations can now be confined to your past. Alarm Clock Pro enables you to design your daily routine and perform various tasks automatically, such as starting your favorite iTunes playlist. With the sheer amount of functionality Alarm Clock Pro offers, it can...
- Software downloads 2009-11-27
- LightSpeed 2.9 (Mac)
- LightSpeedÃ?? is a ground-breaking, next-generation Point of Sale system for Mac that offers retail stores comprehensive and easy-to-use retail tools in an iTunes-like Browser, and an innovative floating POS interface designed for high-speed, error-free checkout. A tightly-integrated Web Store module sold separately allows stores to take their product catalog online...
- Software downloads 2009-11-27
- Mailplane 2.1.1 (Mac)
- Acting as a site specific web browser for Google's Gmail, Mailplane is a full fledged Mail client for the Desktop. It fully integrates the Gmail web interface into the Mac experience, offering you the best of both worlds. And since Mailplane doesn't change the way Gmail works, its unique features...
- Software downloads 2009-11-27
- TimeLog 4.5.5 (Mac)
- TimeLog 4 is a unique iCal integrated timer solution with an interface very similar to iTunes. All recorded data is stored in iCal calendars and can be synchronized with iSync and .mac. Available in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Norwegian, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Finnish and Polish.
- Software downloads 2009-11-27
- Macsome iTunes Converter 1.3.0 (Mac)
- Macsome iTunes Converter can easily convert DRM protected music and various audio files to unprotected MP3, AAC formats playable on any iPod, iPod Touch, iPhone, Zune, PSP, Creative Zen and other MP3 players at high speed and CD quality. It is a powerful, yet simple audio conversion tool to bypass...
- Software downloads 2009-11-26
- ShareTool 1.3.4 (Mac)
- ShareTool is hands down, the fastest, easiest, and most secure way to access all of your Bonjour services from anywhere in the world. No server or technical skills required. Also works with VPN connections. For anyone that's been itching to get Bonjour working over VPN, ShareTool is for you! Why...
- Software downloads 2009-11-26
- Ecoute 1.3.4 (Mac)
- You can browse your entire library. Play your Music, Podcasts, Movies or TV Shows without having to launch iTunes. Integrated search to find any file you want to play. Search for any album artwork you want to apply. last.fm is built in Ecoute. It's designed to be minimal,...
- Software downloads 2009-11-26
- Gateway DX4300-11
- Editors' note: This review is part of our 2009 Retail Laptop and Desktop Holiday Roundup, which covers specific fixed configurations of popular systems found in retail stores.Gateway hasn't fared well with its most recent round of DX-series mainstream retail PCs. Neither the DX4300-03 nor the DX4822-01 received positive marks, and...
- Product reviews 2009-11-25
- Does Amazon know where it's going with the Kindle?
- Amazon, please ignore AdrianNormally I'm right with Adrian, but he obviously doesn't have a Kindle, which is my favorite device. To Amazon: don't add battery sucking features (like wi-fi), we don't care about multi-purpose (it's a bookreader!), i don't want cr@apps on my Kindle (it's a bookreader!) and I don't...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-25
- BluePhoneElite 2.2.5 (Mac)
- Call Features Dial and answer calls from your desktop Log calls with time, duration, caller and notes Display caller ID using your phone's phone book or Apple's Address Book Pause iTunes and DVD Player or set iChat away message when a call is in progress Customize a variety...
- Software downloads 2009-11-25
- iSubtitle 1.5.3 (Mac)
- Create soft subtitled movies for iPod (Touch, Classic, Nano), iPhone (2G, 3G, 3GS), Apple TV, iTunes or any QuickTime based player or application. The first and only application to take full advantage of Apple's soft subtitle technology. The subtitle tracks are resolution independent and rendered in real-time as you watch...
- Software downloads 2009-11-25
- CoverScout 3.2.4 (Mac)
- Cover your albums. Rediscover your music. Turn your music library into a visual joyride! CoverScout lets you locate, assign and manage authentic artwork for your digital albums. Seamless integration with iTunes, a host of new features and a simple and intuitive, yet powerful interface make CoverScout an indispensible addition to...
- Software downloads 2009-11-25
- Facebook Photo SlideShow for iPhone 1.3 (Mobile)
- Facebook Photo SlideShow for iPhone features allow 3000 photos to be added from Facebook, get photos automatically from multiple albums from you or your friends, get photos automatically by selecting multiple name tags, show caption of the photos, control your iTunes library from within the app, portrait and landscape modes,...
- Software downloads 2009-11-25
- Pure Vinyl 3.0PR4 (Mac)
- A suite of audio applications designed specifically for the high quality digital transcription and playback of vinyl LP records. Pure Vinyl is intended for professional or technically-oriented audio enthusiasts, who own high-end equipment, and who want to create, edit and play back the highest possible quality vinyl...
- Software downloads 2009-11-25
- Asus Essentio CG5270-BP004
- Editors' note: This review is part of our 2009 Retail Laptop and Desktop Holiday Roundup, which covers specific fixed configurations of popular systems found in retail stores. The Asus Essentio CG5270-BP004 bears a striking resemblance to a young teenager trying too hard. With its oversized, canted case, it's easy to...
- Product reviews 2009-11-24
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