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. |
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