Apple’s main music software is called iTunes. iTunes is a media player, media library, online radio broadcaster, and mobile device management application developed by Apple. It was first released in January 2001.
A Brief History of iTunes
iTunes was created to manage music on Apple’s popular iPod music player. The first version of iTunes was released on January 9, 2001 for Mac OS. It allowed Mac users to import CDs, manage their music library, and sync music to the iPod. An updated version of iTunes for Windows was released later that same year in October.
Over the years, iTunes expanded beyond just music management. In 2003, the iTunes Store was introduced, allowing customers to purchase music and videos online. Podcast support was added in 2005. In 2008, the App Store was launched on iTunes, letting users download apps for iPhone and iPod Touch. The iTunes Store surpassed Walmart as the number one music retailer in the US in April 2008.
iTunes has gone through many iterations, adding new features and removing others. However, its core functionality has remained music and content management. It allows users to import media, organize it into playlists and libraries, edit metadata, rip and burn CDs, purchase and download content from the iTunes Store, and sync music, videos, and other data to iOS devices.
iTunes Key Features
Here are some of the key features of iTunes:
- Music library management – Add, organize, and edit music metadata and playlists
- Import CDs – Rip tracks from CDs to add to library
- iTunes Store – Purchase and download music, movies, TV shows, audiobooks, and more
- Podcasts – Discover, subscribe, manage, and sync podcasts
- iOS device sync – Sync music, videos, and other data to iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches
- Smart playlists – Create dynamic auto-updating smart playlists based on set criteria
- Radio tuning – Stream live radio stations from around the world
- Audio conversion – Convert audio files to different formats
- Disc burning – Burn music libraries and playlists to CDs and DVDs
iTunes aims to be a one-stop media manager for Apple users. It handles everything from purchasing and downloading content to organizing and transferring it to iOS devices. iTunes Match also lets users store their entire music library in iCloud, even songs that weren’t purchased through iTunes.
The iTunes Store
A major component of iTunes is the iTunes Store. Introduced in 2003, it allowed users to search, browse, sample, purchase, rent, and download music, videos, audiobooks, and more. iTunes became the top music vendor in the US in 2008 and remained the leading music retailer until it was surpassed by streaming services like Spotify.
Some key things that can be purchased or rented from the iTunes Store include:
- Music – Individual tracks or full albums
- Movies – HD and SD movies to download or rent
- TV shows – Individual episodes or full seasons
- Audiobooks – Audiobooks from top publishers
- Apps – iOS apps for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch
- eBooks – Bestselling books and textbooks
- Podcasts – Paid podcast subscriptions and episodes
- iTunes U – Educational content from schools and universities
The iTunes Store is available in over 100 countries. Users can browse by genre, popularity, release date, and more. With Family Sharing, up to six family members can share iTunes Store purchases.
The App Store
In 2008, Apple introduced the App Store on iTunes. This allowed iOS users to discover, purchase, and download apps for their iPhone and iPod Touch, with iPad apps added later in 2010. Currently, there are over 2 million iOS apps available.
Some highlights of the App Store include:
- Over 20 app categories like Games, Business, Health & Fitness, and more
- Top Charts show most downloaded and highest grossing apps
- App product pages show ratings, screenshots, description, and reviews
- Developers submit and host their apps on the App Store
- Apple reviews all apps to ensure they are reliable, perform as expected, and are free of explicit content
The App Store has generated over $120 billion for developers since 2008. It revolutionized how people get new apps and contributed enormously to the growth and popularity of the iPhone.
iOS Syncing
One of iTunes’ core functions is syncing content and data between a computer and iOS devices like iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touches. This includes:
- Music – Sync songs, albums, playlists
- Photos – Transfer camera roll photos and videos
- Videos – Sync movies, TV shows, music videos, podcasts and more
- Audiobooks – Send audiobooks purchased on iTunes
- Apps – Install and update iOS apps
- Contacts, calendars, bookmarks – Sync personal data
- Documents – Transfer documents and files
Syncing an iPhone with iTunes establishes a link between the device and computer. It matches data between them to make sure everything is current. When syncing, users can choose to let iTunes manage content on the device or manually manage items.
The Legacy of iTunes
At its peak around 2012, iTunes had over 400 million active users and accounted for nearly three quarters of Apple’s annual revenue. However, with the rise of streaming music services like Spotify and Apple Music, iTunes’ importance began declining. In 2019, Apple officially ended iTunes, splitting it into three separate apps for Mac: Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Podcasts.
Though iTunes as a singular app is gone, its legacy remains. It revolutionized digital music distribution and consumer audio technology over the past 20 years. For many years, iTunes was the place to get digital music and other media. It propelled the iPod to iconic status and paved the way for the iPhone and App Store. The seamless union of hardware, software, and digital commerce exemplified by iTunes set Apple apart from its competitors.
Going forward, Apple Music and the rebranded Apple TV and Apple Podcasts apps will carry the torch for iTunes. But for a whole generation that came of age at the dawn of the digital music era, iTunes and the iPod hold a nostalgic, cultural significance. iTunes forever changed how we get and listen to music.