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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 commentsGeorge BuckleySep 2nd 2010 10:38AM
What's up with "iTunes of the Living Dead"? Why the flat, greyed out, life-less look? Who were the idiots they tried the beta of this out on? And "Ping" facebook link gone, email and invite your friends... NOT. This is a fail for now. Wait for the next fix!!!
AemonySep 2nd 2010 10:55AM
The already bloated piece of software I'm forced to use because I happen to own an iPhone just got even more bloated? Seriously? iTunes performs badly enough already on my quad-core computer, I don't want even more slowdowns.
Won't install until they force the shit down my throat just because they happen to release a patch for iPhone 3G which fixes the notorious slowdowns in iOS 4.