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iTunes

*Est. 69 cents to $1.29 per track
Reviewed
November 2010
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iTunes

Best music downloads for iPods

Pros
  • Excellent music selection
  • Full-featured
  • Fast, intuitive interface
Cons
  • Hardware compatibility limitations
  • No subscription option
  • Software uses a large amount of system resources
 
 
Where to Buy
  • Apple iTunes
 
 
 
 

iTunes, a music download service from Apple, is recommended primarily for iPod users, although songs can also be played on any computer equipped with the software. What frustrates some users is the proprietary AAC format used by Apple, which means tracks downloaded from iTunes cannot be easily synced with non-iPod devices, despite loosened digital rights management (DRM) restrictions. A new social networking feature called Ping, designed to connect iTunes users to their friend's music selections and to their favorite artists, gets mixed reviews. Reviewers are skeptical that this feature will attract many users and some say Ping is little more than a marketing tool for the iTunes store since nearly every post has a "buy" button attached to it. If you own any digital music player other than an iPod, Napster (*Est. $5 per month and up), which has a comprehensive library of DRM-free songs, has more hardware compatibility. AmazonMP3 (*Est. 69 cents to $1.29 per track) also offers DRM-free tracks that can be easily loaded into iTunes. In addition to some minor tweaks and updates to the interface and the overall look of the iTunes site, other new features in version 10 are an option to rent TV shows (*Est. 99 cents each) and AirPlay, which allows users to wirelessly stream their iTunes library to any room in their home, using compatible speakers.

Macworld.com, the online companion to Macworld magazine, and PCMag.com have the most in-depth review of iTunes 10. CNET also offers detailed write-ups, critical analysis and credible ratings. There are a number of user reviews on Arstechnica.com and CNET.com.

Where To Buy
 
 
Apple iTunes
 
 
 

Our Sources

1. Macworld

David Chartier sees this update to iTunes 10 as "less about major features" and more a look into "significant new avenues for the iTunes Store." He gives a good overview of the major changes in version 10. Overall, he says that "iTunes 10 is a solid update that will need to age like a fine wine to be truly appreciated." Chartier expects that Ping will need to go through a few updates to gain wider acceptance and other new features like AirPlay and TV show rentals may do better when new hardware and accessories come on the scene.

Review: iTunes 10, David Chartier, Sept. 7, 2010

2. PCMag.com

iTunes 10 receives an Editors' Choice designation for music software for 2010. Michael Muchmore gives a thorough write-up of the pros and cons of the latest version of iTunes calling it a "polished, powerful app." He says Ping limits the types of things users can post (no photos, links or videos), and he is unsure if it will attract significant numbers of users.

Review: Apple iTunes 10, Michael Muchmore, Sept. 9, 2010

3. CNET

CNET editors review Apple iTunes 10, detailing new features and those carried over from earlier versions. They say that while Apple "hasn't done much to lighten the load of the iTunes installation package," it offers an "impressive range of features" and is worth downloading "if for no other reason than to manage your devices and the content to go with it." Several dozen users post reviews, and many cite problems downloading the software, especially interference with Outlook.

Review: Apple iTunes 10, Editors of CNET, Sept. 2, 2010

4. Arstechnica.com

Reviewer Jacqui Cheng gives a good feature-by-feature explanation of the new Ping feature on iTunes 10. Cheng says functionality is somewhat limited and mentions that the point of Ping, "to aid music discovery among circles of friends," is something that services like Last.fm, which she prefers, have been offering for a while. There are several dozen user reviews discussing issues with Ping, some of which have already been fixed with software updates.

Review: Hands-on with iTunes Ping, sans Facebook Connect, Jacqui Cheng, Sept. 2010

5. Techie-buzz.com

Keith Dsouza tries out all of the new features introduced in iTunes 10, including Ping. He says the quality of video on the new TV rental feature is good but shows take a long time to download. As for the Ping social network, he finds it "quite buggy" and he had trouble finding people to follow. Dsouza says syncing on iTunes 10 is definitely faster than on earlier versions of the software but he initially had trouble with the program recognizing some of his devices.

Review: First Look at iTunes 10, Keith Dsouza, Sept. 1, 2010

Music Downloads Runners Up:

Rhapsody *Est. $10 to $15 per month

4 picks including: About.com…

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