Yesterday morning, we heard that some iTunes users were able to purchase Apple’s iTunes Match outside of the US. We were able to purchase it in the UK, although we were initially unable to use it.
Now, it looks like iTunes Match has rolled out internationally, as we are now able to use the service this morning. Users from other countries around the world are also reporting that iTunes Match has gone live.
What is iTunes Match?
iTunes Match is available for £21.99 a year, and the service will basically match the music you have in your iTunes library with music from Apple’s iTunes in the cloud. Once matched, you can then stream this music to your iOS devices from the cloud. This service is particularly useful for those who have a large collection of music that they want to access across multiple devices without having to manually transfer files.
The service works by scanning your iTunes library and matching your songs with tracks available in the iTunes Store. If a match is found, the song is automatically added to your iCloud Music Library, allowing you to stream or download it on any of your Apple devices. If a song cannot be matched, you can upload it to iCloud, making it accessible in the same way.
Benefits of iTunes Match
One of the key benefits of iTunes Match is the ability to access your entire music library from anywhere, as long as you have an internet connection. This means you no longer need to worry about storage space on your devices, as your music is stored in the cloud. Additionally, iTunes Match provides high-quality 256 kbps AAC files for matched songs, which can be a significant upgrade if your original files were of lower quality.
Another advantage is the convenience of having a unified music library. Whether you are using an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or even a Windows PC with iTunes, your music collection is always in sync. This eliminates the need for manual syncing and ensures that any changes you make to your library, such as adding new songs or creating playlists, are reflected across all your devices.
Furthermore, iTunes Match can serve as a backup for your music collection. In the event that you lose your original files due to a hard drive failure or other issues, you can easily re-download your music from iCloud.
International Availability and User Experience
The international rollout of iTunes Match has been met with enthusiasm from users around the globe. Reports from countries such as Canada, Australia, and various European nations indicate that the service is functioning smoothly. Users have praised the ease of setup and the seamless integration with their existing iTunes libraries.
However, some users have reported initial hiccups, such as slow upload times for unmatched songs and occasional issues with song metadata. Apple is likely to address these concerns in future updates to ensure a more polished user experience.
In summary, the international availability of iTunes Match marks a significant step forward for Apple’s cloud-based music services. For £21.99 a year, users can enjoy the convenience of accessing their entire music library from any Apple device, high-quality audio files, and the peace of mind that comes with having a cloud-based backup. As the service continues to evolve, it is expected to become an indispensable tool for music lovers worldwide.
Source Engadget
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