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iTunes 10 introduces Ping social network for music (and a new logo!)
Apple has finally unveiled iTunes 10, and it comes with Ping, a built-in social network for music. Based on Steve Jobs' demo, Ping looks just like a Facebook/Twitter hybrid. The social graph connects the same way Twitter's does -- with a "follow" system, and a single on-or-off privacy setting -- but the activity stream is very reminiscent of Facebook. Posting photos and comments and "liking" things are all part of the package. The music side reminds me of a third social network: last.fm. It uses iTunes data to create custom charts based on the people you follow. Bands can have their own Ping accounts, too, where they can be followed and interact with fans. If you follow a band, you'll get alerts when they're playing shows near you, and you can click a button to indicate that you're going. Of course, it's all pulled off with Apple's typical visual slickness.
The new iTunes 10 logo might be the bigger topic of controversy amongst design nerds. We all knew it was time for the CD to go (iTunes downloads now outsell CDs, anyway), but what do we think of the new glowing blue circle?
Comments
22
Subscribe to commentsMxxConSep 1st 2010 2:56PM
Now everything i hate about itunes comes with even more stuff that i hate, social networking :/
LastFM's social part is perfectly sufficient for my needs
Kyle McCallSep 1st 2010 3:06PM
Then why comment?
mvpSep 1st 2010 3:24PM
logo looks dated...
Sam JSep 1st 2010 3:27PM
iTunes is my least favorite piece of software on Windows. Yes, you heard that right Steve Jobs. (Obviously I'm assuming he reads every comment here.)
This "update" changes nothing.
ishidaSep 1st 2010 3:28PM
It should be noted the the installer for iTunes 10 isn't ready for download, when you try to do it, it only gives you to iTunes 9.2.1.
jValdronSep 2nd 2010 5:03AM
"Unveiled" is the word here ;)
AnthonySep 1st 2010 3:31PM
I like the new logo, i want to press it. I also think Ping sounds intriguing. For me, iTunes is the best. I've tried foobar, media monkey, songbird, wmp, amarok, and banshee, but iTunes seems to work best for me. For some reason, i really like the sort by Album Year option.
MxxConSep 1st 2010 4:08PM
foobar can do it all.
it's just you need a PhD and about 3 years worth of time to figure it all out how to setup foobar the way you like :)
Johnny latelySep 5th 2010 9:33PM
leave it to steve jobs to figure out how to add more bloat to itunes .... i dont want a social network in my music syncing software ... im already pissed that i cant even sync my ipod with out it calling home to tell steve what im doing ... not to mention the fact that itunes constantly has a process running in the background that cant be set to not run at startup .... i want steve out of my computer .... i can understand that when i want to shop the itunes store i need to be connected but why cant i even sync with out steve geting the memo about what im doing and knowing exactly what i have on my ipod , it's annoying
mark my words ... social networking in itunes is going to lead to accounts being hacked , viruses and peoples credit card info being stolen ...
social networking in a music program is as smart as when google integrated their buzz social network into g-mail and compromised millions of peoples security by making their e-mail addresses public by default
mer2329Sep 1st 2010 5:17PM
I think the logo looks like it was designed by someone who thinks they have style but in reality doesn't
I personally don't own an iPod or apple product
I was thinking about getting an 160 GB iPod Classic (I guess there called classic now) since I don't think Microsoft has any plans on releasing a Zune with more than 120 GB of space (im running out of space)
and just a FYI the Zune does have a social network, it's not big, it's called the Zune Social
wintermute1Sep 1st 2010 7:28PM
so, basically you don't use apple products, you do use a Zune, and you were "thinking" of using a product that isn't here yet.
great.
mer2329Sep 2nd 2010 11:20AM
I should have said I used to own an iPod (iPod video 80 GB)
but I lost it so a while later I bought a 30 when that got full I got a Zune 120 and gave the Zune 30 to my mom than new years eve rolled around and ALL Zune 30s froze (they un-froze a few days later)
I am still considering getting an iPod 180 sence (I think) Microsoft has no plans on releasing a larger capacity Zune (without HD capabilities as I don't need them)
and the fact there are alternate utilities to use for managing your collection
SpankySep 1st 2010 8:11PM
The reason iTunes 10 hasn't hit Apple.com yet is because the file is a bit too massive to go from the dev server to the public server. The 45GB file is highly compressed but permissions and tracking are needed for the Gold Master to move to the DMZ based server. Unfortunately, this is just for the 32bit version. The 64bit version is a full 85GB and is clogging the OS-12 pipe they set up two weeks ago to begin the transfer.
This will likely require an Intel i7 chipset running at minimum 64Gigs of RAM.
TreSep 1st 2010 8:57PM
@Spanky: Lmao...
mer2329Sep 2nd 2010 11:21AM
that gave me a good laugh
ishidaSep 1st 2010 10:56PM
The Apple site has allowed for downloads to begin for those who want iTunes 10.
ishidaSep 1st 2010 11:05PM
The Apple website is now allowing the downloading and installing of iTunes 10 for those who want it.
kendallSep 2nd 2010 2:53AM
itunes is trash and so is that new logo
blasztaSep 2nd 2010 6:27AM
The only reason I have iTunes in my computer is to jailbreak/upgrade my iPhone. Other than that, too many better alternatives than iTunes...
EatmoldSep 2nd 2010 8:29AM
Don' think I'll bother downloading this, it annoyed me that I had to have it to use my ex-iPhone. Have to agree with the Johnny lately - I wouldn't want social networking inside a jukebox. Spotify has integrated with Facebook and even that doesn't cut it really.