Apple Launches iTunes Match with Release of iTunes 10.5.1

**DAB** · #1 11-14-2011, 04:19 PM

Coming several weeks late, Apple has just now officially launched iTunes Match to customers in the United States. The iTunes Match launch is facilitated by the release of iTunes 10.5.1, which now allows users to subscribe to the $25/year service offering cloud-based matching and upload of users' complete iTunes libraries. iTunes 10.5.1 is available via the iTunes download page and should be rolling out to Software Update shortly.

Apple had apparently initially intended iTunes Match to launch by mid-October as part of iTunes 10.5 as seen in a number of developer betas, but the company removed the feature from iTunes 10.5 for the public release, giving it a few more weeks to complete work on the service. Even so, Apple missed its stated launch target of "end of October" and did not provide an updated timeframe for the iTunes Match debut once the target was missed, although the company continued testing with a new developer beta of iTunes 10.5.1 just this past weekend.

It has been said that demand is so great that from time to time, subscribers will get a message that says that subscriptions are currently not available, to try again later.

The biggest reason I like iTunes Match is because now I have full access to my library rather home on a 2nd computer or at work. I can basically stream or download on the computer. Now on iOS apps you basically can do the same though it does download the track while its playing, but once you close the app any downloads go away, unless you actually download it to save to the device.

I also found that my library was matched as of Yesterday at about 95%, so it has improved which each beta run. We got the last beta just a couple of days ago.

**DAB** · #2 11-14-2011, 04:27 PM

Here is a good article for those of you with more than 25,000 tracks in your library.

Dealing with iTunes Match's 25,000 Track Limit | Macworld

KTMCDO · #3 11-15-2011, 05:17 AM

I attempted to sign up for the service but kept getting iTunes match isn't accepting new users at this time please try again later

**DAB** · #4 11-15-2011, 08:39 AM

Yeah they are getting slammed! I did not see this service being that popular, but clearly many want to at least try it. I think Apple has done a terrible job explaining exactly what iTunes Match really is. I think ultimately many will be disappointed and cancel. Then again folks don't really do their home work either they will get this assuming it is a streaming service when it is not.

DAB
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

**DAB** · #5 11-15-2011, 11:00 PM

KTMCDO did you finally get signed up?

Today my project was to delete all my iTunes Library on my Mac Server that was less than 256kb and then download all that from the cloud so that my whole library will all be at least 256kb. Took a few hours, but mission accomplished. This in an of itself was worth the $24.95 I paid. So, even if I later decide to cancel it. I will be able to keep all this music at the higher bitrate.

KTMCDO · #6 11-16-2011, 03:01 AM

Yes I got signed up got my 2000 songs converted
Some stuff I will prob delete

**DAB** · #7 11-16-2011, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KTMCDO

Yes I got signed up got my 2000 songs converted
Some stuff I will prob delete

Great, glad to hear it. It took few hours for me to re-download my library to insure that all of it is at the higher 256kb bitrate. I think I ended up downloading over 7 thousand songs. LOL

So, are you using iTunes Match on your iDevice? It works well, I just wish they would have allowed streaming, but download works good too.

The servers are really fast.

KTMCDO · #8 11-16-2011, 10:45 AM

Yes on my iPad I'm looking at purchasing the 8 gig iPod touch

**DAB** · #9 11-16-2011, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KTMCDO

Yes on my iPad I'm looking at purchasing the 8 gig iPod touch

The iPod is what I use 90% of the time for my music. They are great!

**Aaron** · #10 11-16-2011, 10:56 AM

I'd rather ask DAB than research this...

I've got 7000+ songs in my iTunes library... both purchased and CD's transferred over to my PC.

With iTunes Match purchase, I could listen to any/all of these songs (that match) at any time? Whether on 3G or wi-fi?

Do you have to wait for songs to buffer, or is listening real easy?