Apple first launched their iTunes Store on April 28, 2003 with the simple concept of providing digital music for people to buy online and download. It was a risk that was to pay off big time and is now a very successful part of Apple's business. To access the Apple iTunes Store, all you need is the iTunes 7.5 software which is available as a free download from the iTunes web site.
So, how does Apple's iTunes Store measure up to the competition? Read the Apple iTunes Store review to discover if it's right for you.
iTunes Store - Content Features
Pros:
Vast choice of music titles and genres.
The iTunes 7.5 software has matured into a feature rich 'total solution' with a user-friendly interface.
Song prices are reasonable.
Cons:
DRM-protected music can only be played on an iPod.
iTunes 7.5 for Microsoft Windows only supports the iPod.
Music Store content:
The Apple iTunes Store provides a staggering 6 million plus songs, ensuring that every conceivable genre is catered for. You have the option to preview any music track before you buy via a 30 second music clip. The iTunes music store is always being updated with new releases, keeping the selection fresh and up to date.
Music videos:
If you are in need of something a bit more visual but staying in the theme of music then the iTunes Store provides over 9,000 videos to choose from.
Audiobooks:
Audiobooks have gained in popularity since the rapid growth of the portable digital audio player. They are great to use if you just want to sit back and be read to; Apple's iTunes Store has over 27,000 titles for you to choose from.
Podcasts:
One of the attractions to the iTunes Music Store is the vast availability of free audio and video podcasts. There are in excess of 100,000 to choose from, all covering a plethora of subjects.
iTunesU:
Another freebie service for all you ‘intellectuals’ out there. Here you will be able to find lectures, speeches and video clips.
iPod Games:
To cater for games players, the iTunes Store hosts a small selection of games to buy and download. The only proviso is that you will need a fifth generation iPod to play them.
iTunes Store - Digital Music Formats and Players
File formats:
Most digital music that is purchased from the Apple iTunes Store is encoded as an encrypted 128kbpsAAC file. These 'encrypted' files are DRM protected using Apple's proprietary 'fairplay' algorithm and have a '.m4p' extension. The good news about this format is that it protects the copyright holder from people stealing their music. The bad news is that if you don’t own an iPod, then be prepared to hear nothing but silence. Incidentally, if you use the iTunes Plus Store then you can purchase and download high quality music tracks encoded at 256kbps AAC but without the DRM encryption (.M4a file extension). The downside to the iTunes Plus Store is that the choice is poor at the moment compared to the DRM encryption route - there's also a hike in the price for the privilege.
Compatible Portable Players:
The Windows version of iTunes only supports the iPod and so trying to synchronize music files with other digital music players will fail. This is a real bone of contention if you already own a digital audio player that isn't an iPod. However, Mac users running OS X will be pleased to know that they aren't hit with the same restrictions as PC users; there is a small selection of iPod alternatives that can be used to play unencrypted AAC files.
iTunes 7.5 Software - Features
The iTunes software:
Once you have downloaded and installed the free iTunes 7.5 software for your Mac or PC, you are ready to connect to Apple's iTunes Store. After starting the iTunes 7.5 software, you will be greeted by a neat, user-friendly interface with a wealth of options. Apple has done a sterling job on making their iTunes 7.5 software a 'total solution'. At its core is an integrated full-featured music player that can play, rip and burn. Organizing your digital music is also a breeze with the generation of playlists.
Cover flow:
Spicing up your digital music library with album art is a welcome addition to anyones digital music collection. Cover flow enables you to visually flick though your entire music collection as if you would in the real world. If you decide to import your CD collection into iTunes 7.5, you can also use cover flow to add the correct album art to that too. How cool is that?
Connecting your iPod:
The iPod integrates seamlessly as you would expect into the iTunes 7.5 environment. Plugging it in will automatically synchronize it with your digital music library.
Importing Music CDs:
Even if you aren’t going to buy and download digital music from the Internet, using the iTunes 7.5 software to import your CD collection is reason enough to consider this application as your main digital music player. Importing a CD is done automatically and the files are stored by default as unprotected 128kbps AAC files. You can change the encoding method via the preferences and choose from AIFF, Apple lossless, MP3 and WAV if so desired.
Apple iTunes Store Review – Conclusion
Is it right for you?
The Apple iTunes Store is indeed a very good option that will satisfy even the most ravenous of digital music needs. However, due to the lack of support for other digital audio playing devices it will only appeal to owners of the Apple iPod or people thinking of buying one. Looking at the iTunes software, what is most appealing is the that it is a full-fledged media player in its own right and will still appeal to people who want to use the software for organizing and playing their CD music collection.
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