iTunes

Apple launches internal website to showcase iTunes content by employees

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 25, 2013

Since Apple's inception, Steve Jobs very intentionally positioned his baby as the underdog, one that builds the ultimate tools for the creative types. These days, Apple is powerfully corporate and anything but the underdog of the pre-2000 era. One thing hasn't changed: the tools Apple builds nowadays are still aimed at creatives, with a heavy focus on prosumers.

It takes talented engineers to come up with such sticky devices and Apple happens to hire some of the brightest minds in the industry.

And guess what?

Like us regular fans, Apple's employees rely on company products to create interesting videos, compose music, write electronic books and so forth so Apple though it'd be cool to highlight their work via a private website...

Nissan becomes exclusive iTunes Radio ad partner

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

With Apple's Pandora killer now out of the gate, Tim Cook & Co. are looking for monetization opportunities and have reportedly signed up high-profile advertisers. Several big name brands are said to have agreed to paying big bucks in exchange for rich media ad slots on iTunes Radio.

According to a report yesterday by The Wall Street Journal, Nissan has become an exclusive automotive partner on iTunes Radio through 2013. Also, Nissan's Versa Note and Leaf vehicles will gain custom iTunes Radio content, with unique content available across Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac and PC devices.

But wait, there's more...

Following mixup, Apple offers refunds to ‘Breaking Bad’ Season Pass buyers

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Apple began sending out emails yesterday to folks who purchased the final season of "Breaking Bad" on iTunes, informing them that they'd be receiving a credit for the series' final eight episodes due to all of the confusion.

In August, fans of AMC's hit drama were outraged when they discovered that the 'Season Pass' they purchased for the show's final season was only good for the first eight episodes, and they'd have to pay again for the final 8...

Apple TV 6.0 is out: iTunes Radio, AirPlay from iCloud, iTunes music purchases, more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 29, 2016

Following today's launch of the new iPhone 5s/5c and Wednesday's public release of iOS 7, Apple on Friday issued a major new software update to its "hobby project," the $99 Apple TV streaming set-top box. The company's been testing a companion Apple TV update since announcing iOS 7 at June's WWDC.

We previously caught glimpses of some of the new features such as AirPlay enhancements, automatic device configuration over Bluetooth, custom subtitles and Conference Room Mode for presenters. All of these goodies - and then some - are now readily available to Apple TV owners.

Go past the fold for the full details on iCloud Photos and Videos, iTunes Music Store purchases, Podcasts, AirPlay from iCloud and other Apple TV enhancements...

iTunes TOS amended with Touch ID, Popular Near Me clarification

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 18, 2013

In another sign of the imminent iOS 7 release, Apple has just released iTunes 11.1 for Mac and Windows with support for iOS 7 devices and installations, also bringing out new features like iTunes Radio, Podcast Stations and Genius Shuffle.

As part of the release - and consistent with Apple's history - the company has updated the iTunes Terms & Conditions. The document has been amended with additional information regarding authenticating your account for purchases and automatic delivery of app updates, in addition to the previously unknown tidbits about the App Store's Popular Near Me feature...

iTunes 11.1 is out with iTunes Radio, Podcast Stations, Genius Shuffle

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 18, 2013

In another sign that iOS 7 release is imminent, Apple has just posted the iTunes 11.1 update which brings out not only iOS 7 compatibility, but a few new features, including the long-expected, ad-supported iTunes Radio streaming, in addition to Podcast Stations, the new Genius Shuffle capability, support for iOS 7 device sync and more.

You're going to love Genius Shuffle, "a magical new way to experience your music library" that plays songs that go great together from iCloud.

And if you're into podcasts, iTunes 11.1 lets you create automagically-updated custom stations of your favorite podcasts. I've included the full changelog right after the break...

Rdio announces free, ad-supported music service ahead of iTunes Radio launch

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 16, 2013

The popular streaming-music startup Rdio, is about to launch a a free, ad-supported music service just as Apple is prepping to flip the switch on iTunes Radio alongside iOS 7 release this Wednesday. According to a report Monday by The New York Times, the Pandora rival has also secured a new, $100 million partnership with radio operator Cumulus, which will also sell advertising for a free version of the service in the United States...

The Beatles arrive on iTunes Radio

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 16, 2013

Just two days ahead of general availability of Apple's iOS 7 mobile operating system that includes the company's free, ad-supported iTunes Radio service, it would appear Apple has worked out all the kinks with Apple Corps and has finally managed to bring The Beatles music to iTunes Radio. Remember, Apple struck a landmark agreement with Apple Corps to bring The Beatles music downloads to the iTunes Store back in 2010, following a period of legal wrangling between the two companies over licensing and trademark disputes...

User files class-action lawsuit against Apple over ‘Breaking Bad’ iTunes confusion

Cody Lee ∙ September 9, 2013

Last month, Apple upset tens of thousands of Breaking Bad fans when it posted on iTunes that those who had already purchased what they thought to be the entire final season of the popular series would have to pay again for the final 8 episodes.

It was the TV network's fault— it was AMC's decision to split the fifth (final) season into two parts. But iTunes user Noam Lazebnik, of Ohio, feels that Apple deserves some of the blame too, and he's filed a class-action lawsuit against the company...

Limited time iTunes sale knocks a number of hit songs down to $0.69

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Continuing its recent trend of offering media at a discount, Apple has launched a new iTunes promotion today that knocks a number of hit songs, of various genres, down to $0.69. That's nearly 50% off their normal prices.

The promo is simply titled 'Great 69¢ Songs,' and the carefully curated list of marked-down music is divided up into 10 categories including No. 1 Songs, Pop Hits, and '90s Hits. Each category contains between 30-40 songs...

Court rules iTunes FairPlay DRM did not monopolize digital music sales

Ed Sutherland ∙ September 4, 2013

A California appeals court provided Apple some good news for a change, ruling Apple's FairPlay DRM software did not monopolize digital music sales. The decision has affirmed a lower court's dismissal.

In a Wednesday ruling, a three-judge San Francisco court found that although Apple controlled 99 percent of the digital music and digital music player market after imposing FairPlay, the company did not prevent rivals from competing.

The lawsuit had claimed Apple's DRM prevented songs purchased at iTunes from playing on anything other than its iPod...

It seems iTunes Match subscribers will get unlimited iTunes Radio skipping

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 29, 2013

The song-skipping feature that long stalled Apple's iTunes Radio talks with record labels could get a boost when iTunes Radio, which was announced at June's WWDC, launches this Fall as part of the iOS 7 refresh and iPhone 5S/5C launch.

Apple on its part hasn't definitely confirmed whether the free ad-driven service will in fact impose a ceiling on the number of song skips akin to Pandora and other digital radio services.

For what it's worth, iOS 7 Beta users currently can't bypass the song-skipping limit. In my testing, for example, iTunes Radio wouldn't allow me to skip more than six songs each hour per a specific station. But according to a new report, things could change come this Fall as Apple could enable unlimited song skipping for iTunes Match subscribers...