iTunes Review
Best music downloads for iPods
- Excellent music selection
- Full-featured
- Fast, intuitive interface
- Hardware compatibility limitations
- Software uses a large amount of system resources
With over 20 million tracks, a thoughtful selection of music and great depth across a broad range of genres, reviewers say iTunes (*Est. $0.69 to $1.29 per track) offers one of the most comprehensive catalogs of any music site. Its catalog includes mainstream music from the big four record labels as well as comedy, spoken word and playlists from celebrities. Most reviewers agree that if you have an iPod (or an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch), then iTunes is most likely your best choice. In addition, because of its size and clout, iTunes often has album launches and special editions before its competitors.
While all tracks are now DRM-free, Apple's proprietary AAC music format can make downloads to non-iPod devices cumbersome, requiring additional software to convert tracks to MP3 format. However, some non-iPod MP3 players do support the AAC format natively. You can also listen to iTunes tracks on your computer by downloading the iTunes software.
In addition to minor tweaks and updates to the interface and the overall look of the iTunes site, version 10 includes some new features. You can now rent TV shows (*Est. 99 cents each) and, using AirPlay, can wirelessly stream your iTunes library to any room in your home using AirPlay-compatible speakers. Also new is the availability of 1080p video in the iTunes store, which looks great on Apple's latest hardware -- the new iPad with its high-resolution retina display and the 1080p-capable Apple TV set top box.
Keeping pace with competing music download services that allow music lovers to store their tunes on the web, such as AmazonMP3 (*Est. $0.69 to $1.29 per track), Apple has introduced iTunes iMatch. This service allows users to store their music libraries in the iTunes iCloud, providing automatic backup and a higher download speed. For an annual fee (*Est. $25), you can store 25,000 songs, including purchases from the iTunes store and music that you upload (as long as your tracks are available in iTunes). From the iCloud, you can download music to any and all of your compatible devices -- iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, PC or Apple TV -- all without having to sync anything. ITunes supports a 256 kbps bitrate -- about average for music download services.
ITunes integrates social media into its music purchasing and listening experiences with the use of Ping, its social network. However, some reviewers find this experience to be limited, with users only able to share 30 seconds of each music track with Ping friends.
ITunes continues to receive awards from professional reviewers, being called an "indispensable part of our digital life" by CNET editors. It wins an Editors' Choice award at PCMag.com, the Gold medal in the 2012 review of music download services at TopTenReviews.com and high ratings at Download.com (a CNET site). Reviews at AllThingsD.com and Mashable.com focus on the iTunes Match feature.
Our Sources
1. PCMag.com
ITunes 10 receives an Editors' Choice designation for music software for 2012. 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's enthusiastic about being able to buy and download 1080p movies and TV shows, especially now that iTunes has support for the retina-display iPad and for Apple TV.
Review: Apple iTunes 10.6, Michael Muchmore, March 13, 2012
2. Download.com
Calling iTunes an "indispensable part of our digital life," CNET editors weighing in at Download.com (CNET owns the site) award it an "outstanding" rating of 4.5 stars out of 5. Although iTunes version 10 has just a few upgrades over previous versions, the 1080p video capability and Ping social media draw an enthusiastic response from reviewers.
Review: Apple iTunes, Editors of CNET, April 2, 2012
3. AllThingsD.com
In this column, Walt Mossberg discusses the trend of music lockers that enable you to access your music from any device. He gives Apple's iTunes Match feature a try, which automatically copies your music collection into the cloud (with some limitations.) Some of his tracks generate confusing error messages, but he's otherwise happy with the feature.
Review: Digital Music Meets Its Match in Apple iCloud, Walt Mossberg, Nov. 30, 2011
4. Mashable.com
Christina Warren at Mashable.com is also happy with the iTunes Match service, especially since it also syncs playlists. Warren also likes that low-quality tracks are replaced by higher-bitrate versions (256 kbps).
Review: iTunes Match Has Us on Cloud Nine, Christina Warren, Nov. 14, 2011
5. Macworld
In this article, which specifically reviews iTunes 10.5, Christopher Breen highlights that it's now possible to wirelessly sync your iPhone, iPad and iPod devices with iTunes on your computer.
Review: iTunes 10.5 Helps You Use iTunes Less Often, Christopher Breen, Oct. 17, 2011
6. The Telegraph (U.K.)
Receiving almost full marks and an enthusiastic review from this British newspaper, iTunes' Match service allows users to store their music in the iTunes cloud. Redmond cites the automatic backup of music and the higher download speed from the cloud as key advantages to using this service.
Review: iTunes Match Review, Shane Richmond, Jan. 30, 2012
Get info about new reports and updates
