Article 2 - Apple launches iTunes Match, can't handle demand

Article accessed @ http://www.digitaltrends.com/apple/apple-launches-itunes-match-cant-handle-demand/

This article is about Apples’ new cloud music access service called iTunes Match. It describes what the service is & how Apple is struggling with demand for its new service.

Only available in America for the time being, the basics of iTunes Match are simple. Your complete iTunes song library (well, up to 25,000 songs) will be scanned by this new service & copied onto Apples’ servers. This allows users to access their complete library on-line anywhere and at any time for an annual subscription fee of $25. All of the songs scanned are converted into Apple iTunes quality (256Kbps AAC DRM-free) regardless of whether or not the songs were purchased from iTunes, ripped from a CD or downloaded through another means like BitTorrent.

The unique selling point of iCloud is that you do not have to upload any of the songs yourself, instead Apple scans your machine for you & uploads your song library before converting to iTunes quality, but only if your songs are already available through the iTunes Store. If not then any obscure songs you have that are not available via iTunes music store will have to be synced the normal way between devices (such as connecting your iPod to your computer via USB or Firewire for example).

Originally set for an October launch, the service launch was delayed by a month & now new users may have to wait before they can sign up due to the phenomenal demand. The service is still in ‘Beta’ mode which may mean there are still a few bugs to be ironed out, but current users get an extra 3 months free. Additionally the service is currently only available in the USA due to an agreement with the Music Industry.

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Apple’s new iCloud service sounds like it could be the next step in changing how we listen to music. Apple already revolutionised the MP3 sector with the iPod, and this in my opinion sounds like the natural next step. If iCloud is as user friendly and accessible as previous Apple products, then this will surely be a massive success too.

Music is my first love & my first iPod I purchased was the first iPod Mini. The battery life was exceptionally poor, but it introduced me to the first version of iTunes and also to the possibilities of digital music. Being able to sort, copy & create playlists of all your music collection with ease on iTunes was revolutionary. Then a simple plug & play to sync everything on your computer to your iPod was brilliant. But to have the ability to access all of your music anywhere at any time has the potential to be even more incredible. I’ve always had a relatively small memory on my iPod (my current iPod Nano is 2GB), so I’ve never been able to carry my entire library of songs. So if I’m at a party and I happen to have my iPod on me, I would still only have a couple of thousand songs from my collection. I would also need a dock/speaker to mount the iPod on to play the songs. This new service cuts out the need for a speaker dock but more impressively gives you access to your whole collection while on the go (in high quality too)… as long as you have an internet connection. As the service works by streaming songs, ideally a high bandwidth connection with low contention would be ideal but despite Ireland being comparatively behind in the Broadband stakes we are finally starting to see high quality internet being rolled out countrywide. If iTunes Match ever comes to Ireland, I would most certainly subscribe to the service. The premise of having your entire music collection only a click away is very endearing to me and I’m sure would be another huge success for Apple.