For 10 years, iTunes has brought listening pleasure to people’s computers. Originally
introduced in January 2001, the first version of iTunes worked only with Mac
OS 9 operating systems, but later that year, Apple added support for OS X and for
iPods—and that’s when iTunes really took off. Subsequent versions of the software
included the addition of the iTunes Store, support for Microsoft Windows, and cool
features like Cover Flow view, which lets you browse your album covers as though
you were flipping through a rack of CDs, and Genius playlists, which analyze your
preferences to create great-sounding music mixes.
With iTunes 10, Apple has done it again. For one thing, Apple has declared the victory
of digital music over physical CDs by removing the background CD from the
iTunes logo. But that’s just window-dressing. There are also TV show rentals; Air
Play, which lets you stream music wirelessly to external speakers; improved syncing;
and a new version of Apple TV. But the real innovation in iTunes 10 is Ping,
which brings music-oriented social networking into iTunes. Ping lets you connect
with friends and your favorite artists—sharing recommendations and reviews, following
news, finding local events, and more. It’s a great way to connect with others
through your common interest: music.
Whether you’re new to iTunes or have been using it for years, this book gets you up
to speed—fast—with getting the most out of iTunes.