Digital jukebox 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 digital jukeboxes, 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, digital jukebox 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 digital jukeboxes, 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, digital jukebox 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) 1981-2008 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- Flash coming for WiMo, Android, ... iPhone?
- Apple isn't exactly known for bowing to pressure, but Mr. Jobs had to be sweating just a little under his turtleneck Monday when Adobe demonstrated Flash Player 10 running on Nokia's Symbian operating system, Microsoft's Windows Mobile, and Google's Android. Real Flash, not Flash Lite. That leaves the Blackberry and...
- Blog posts 2008-11-18
- Google voice search now available
- According to TechCrunch's Michael Arrington, Google's voice search iPhone application was delayed from Friday and should arrive in the App Store today Monday. Google's voice recognition search application for the iPhone, originally set for launch on Friday, will likely go live sometime Monday, we've heard from a source with...
- Blog posts 2008-11-17
- Evernote adds offline notes
- One of the biggest drawbacks to the Evernote iPhone client iTunes link was that it lacked offline notes and required an Internet connection to edit notes. Well no more. Evernote solved this problem with Favorites – offline notes for iPhone and iPod Touch. It works like this:...
- Blog posts 2008-11-14
- Businesses warming up to Apple iPhone
- Consumers just love the sleek face and curvy lines of Apple's iPhone 3G, but what about the business community? According to CNET's Tom Krazit, RIM's BlackBerry is under assault from Apple's "Jesus phone" -- and better keep an eye behind it: The iPhone is making a...
- Blog posts 2008-11-14
- The UrbanSpoon effect
- The ultimate promotion that an iPhone app can receive is to be featured in an Apple TV commercial. Witness the new iPhone commercial featuring UrbanSpoon iTunes, a free application that allows uses GPS and the iPhone accelerometer to find a place to eat. It's a combination of Magic 8 Ball...
- Blog posts 2008-11-14
- Beatmaker for iPhone
- Intua's BeatMaker (US$20, iTunes) bills itself as a "mobile music creation studio" for the iPhone and iPod touch. It's a revolutionary application that allows you to easily create and edit beats and loops in the palm of your hand. After using it a little it becomes so...
- Blog posts 2008-11-13
- Rumor: AT&T to charge $30 per month for tethering
- MacBlogs is reporting that according to a source AT&T will charge US$30 per month for iPhone tethering and cap downloads at 5GB per month like they do for Blackberry users. AT&T will reportedly disable tethering if the 5GB bandwidth cap is exceeded. AT&T currently offers Blackberry tethering for an additional...
- Blog posts 2008-11-12
- Encyclopedia: Offline Wikipedia viewer for iPhone
- If you're a fan of Wikipedia and own an iPhone or iPod touch check out Patrick Collison's Encyclopedia (US$7.99, iTunes Link). After launching the app you can download a complete copy of Wikipedia to your iPhone for offline viewing. It's great for people that fly a lot or otherwise would...
- Blog posts 2008-11-12
- Pantech Slate (AT&T)
- Pantech Slate (AT&T)Babyphone for iPhoneThe main screen of Babyphone shows the current status, the microphone sensitivity and the threshold for triggering the alarm.If the Microphone's display reaches or exceeds the set threshold, the previously defined phone number will be called. After completion of the call and the expiration of the...
- Discussion threads 2008-11-09
- Audio Converter Workstation (exe)
- Audio Converter from 28 audio and video file formats to any of 19 audio formats. Convert MP4 audio and video to MP3 / MP3 to MP4 audio. Automatically transfers Track, Album, Artist, Genre etc. to converted fileGet files from PLS or M3U play lists. Quickly grab audio from CD to...
- Software downloads 2008-11-07
- On the Mac mini's passing: not so fast
- On the Mac mini's passing: not so fastThe Mac Mini is the only Apple device I would consider buyingThe 2 people I know who bought a Mac Mini are very happy with it although they very quickly replaced OS X with Windows so they could use the far superior MCE....
- Discussion threads 2008-11-06
- OTA podcasts enabled in iPhone 2.2 firmware
- OTA podcasts enabled in iPhone 2.2 firmwareBullet Points...1. Apple isn't an underdog anymore.2. Betas work on certain things. I'll try out beta software all the time. The problem is that I doubt that it will work well on a phone - if my phone is running beta firmware, and I...
- Discussion threads 2008-11-06
- OTA podcasts enabled in iPhone 2.2 firmware
- In September Apple denied Podcaster access to the App Store because it was in the process of adding Over The Air OTA podcast downloads to the bundled iPod application. Earlier in the week Apple exposed the user interface for OTA podcasts in iPhone 2.2 beta 2 – but the feature...
- Blog posts 2008-11-06
- (How to: merging iTunes libraries between users)
- (How to: merging iTunes libraries between users)Missing StepsIn the fourth frame, it says to be sure to use the location from Step 5. There is no step five. I think you might be missing a few steps.
- Discussion threads 2008-11-06
- YouTube: It's time to start cutting deals
- YouTube may be about to enter a key dealmaking phase kicked off by plans to run full-length ad supported movies on its site. However, the big missing element may be a better cut for the entertainment industry. Let's connect a few dots on YouTube: ...
- Blog posts 2008-11-06
- News to know: Cisco's outlook; Web 2.0 Summit; WinHEC; Google-Yahoo
- Here are today's notable headlines. You can get News To Know via email alert and RSS daily: Larry Dignan: Cisco's Chambers breaks out economic downturn playbook; Eyes cost cuts as demand dries up Sam Diaz: Web 2.0 Summit: Focus on solving problems, not overnight...
- Blog posts 2008-11-06
- MAC M4P Converter for iTunes (zip)
- MAC M4P Converter convert any iTunes music to mp3 or AAC on Mac OS X. It easily converts DRM protected iTunes m4p to mp3, m4a to mp3, m4b to mp3, m4p to AAC, and various audio files to unprotected MP3 file format at high speed, with CD quality. MAC M4P...
- Software downloads 2008-11-06
- Super PlaylistMaker for iTunes (exe)
- Super play lists include By Artist, By Album, By Genre, By Kind, By Play Count, By Rating, By Size and By Year. Want to find everything by AC/DC, a specific album by Eminem, all of your Audio books, Classic Rock tracks, tracks played more than once or more than 100...
- Software downloads 2008-11-06
- Altec Lansing iMT702 inMotion Max
- As the heir to Altec Lansing's venerable iM600 portable iPod speaker system, the iMT702 ($199) has some big shoes to fill. We're not thrilled with all of the changes Altec Lansing has made, but the net result is a great-sounding portable system with a compact design and balanced, detailed sound.DesignThe...
- Product reviews 2008-11-05
- JBL On Time 400iHD Speaker Dock for iPod
- iPod speakers are a dime-a-dozen. There are big ones and small ones; black ones and red ones; some with alarm clocks, and many with built-in docks. As one might expect, you don't have to look hard to find models with integrated FM--and even AM--radios, but if you must have cutting-edge...
- Product reviews 2008-11-05
Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors
- Video: Intel Manufacturing Methods: Unit Level Traceability Auto Strap
-
This video provides an overview of Intel's Unit Level Traceability (ULT) system, a technology developed to address the complexities that exist with the introduction of new manufacturing technologies in Assembly/Test in Intel. Video playing time is 4 minutes.
- Observe this system in action on the Intel assembly line >>
All-in-One Printers
- 10 things to look for in an all-in-one printer A multifunction printer may offer the convenient, consolidated functionality your organization needs, but there are a lot of choices out there. Before making a selection, be sure to consider these key factors.
- From our sponsors
- HP Small Business LaserJet Printers
-
HP Laser Jet M3035 MFP series Starting at $1,599. SHOP NOW
- New HP Color LaserJet CP3525n Printer Starting at $699. SHOP NOW
-
