iTunes Match Goes Live, Reception Lukewarm (PHOTOS)
After much hype, iTunes Match finally went live today in the United States.
Announced last month, iTunes Match allows synchronizing an entire iTunes library with iCloud, including songs and albums ripped from CDs that then can be accessible on any compatible device.
Music is matched up with tracks already available on the iTunes Store, and anything not offered is uploaded in DRM-free 256kbps AAC files.
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“And you can play them on any iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or PC — whenever you want and wherever you are, without syncing,” said Apple’s website.
However, the reception on the Internet is mixed.
“Whats the point? Most of my music is better quality and not in iTunes,” said Jurgis Salna on technology forum Engadget. “Moreover, paying for this? All this streaming nonsense is overrated, especially if you never heard anything else than charts music.”
“It will be interesting to see if this lives up to the hype. From the feature list, it seems that if someone is only interested in swapping their low-quality audio files with high-quality audio files they just need to subscribe for one year and then cancel after that, keeping their high quality files,” said one anonymous tech blogger.
“Apple just got in the music laundering business. It really is crazy how this will legitimize some people's less than legitimate music library,” said another Engadget forum user.
“iTunes Match is kinda a mess. All sorts of semi-broken states and devices stopping syncing etc. Hate to say it, but Google Music is better,” tweeted @stroughtonsmith.
The iTunes 10.5.1 software update must be downloaded and installed to use iTunes Match. The service retails at $24.99 per year.
