What is iTunes? | Definition, Features, and Uses

It has changed our music on computers in a huge way. Today, iTunes is the first and leading power that still shows the path for music apps.

Apple’s iTunes program changes how we enjoy music. It also gives a full store to buy things, including songs, shows, and other stuff.

iTunes has kept changing since it first began. Besides helping with many user wants, it also has tools to make song lists. It also makes finding new songs easy and sharing them on many devices.

In this text, I will tell what iTunes is, how it grew, and what it does. Let us see this special music program that makes our music life better!

What Exactly Is iTunes for Apple iPhone?

iTunes is a computer program made by Apple. It handles music for iPods, iPhones, and iPads. It also sorts and copies music. Also, it lets you buy music too.

Apple iTunes is also the name of the Music Store. This store sells music, videos, movies, and TV shows. Games, audiobooks, and apps are also sold there.

Because of this, Apple’s program became the iTunes Store from version 7.0 on.

It works on both macOS and Windows computers. But older versions also work on older macOS 9.

By the numbers, it is the most used program for iPod users. To sum up, iTunes is based on Casady & Greene’s SoundJam MP.

Apple bought the rights to this software. It then put out its first version, which looked a lot like SoundJam MP.

What are the Features of the iTunes Music App?

iTunes users can sort their songs into playlists. They can also change song details and make CDs.

They can also change files to other types, and buy music online from the iTunes Store.

Plus, they can also use a visual show that turns music into pictures.

Also, smart playlists are a key new feature. These lists find songs by themselves using rules the user picks.

1. Playlists

iTunes works with both fixed and smart playlists. Smart playlists change by themselves using set rules. You can manage many parts of the list using these rules.

You can play playlists mixed up or one after another. Also, you can mix up songs from one album using a mix-up rule.

The Apple iTunes DJ tool is made to act like a simple DJ. You can set it up by picking your best songs. This tool picks songs by chance from other playlists.

People can remove songs or look for different ones. They can put their own songs in by dragging them.

They put the Genius tool into version 8.0. This tool lets you study your music collection. It also suggests music you may want.

But this tool needs to be online. It sends what it finds to Apple. Apple showed this innovative tool in June 2008.

2. Music Library

iTunes stores song recordings in a virtual library. This library stores metadata in two files. First, it allows users to access song properties.

The first file is binary and is called the Apple iTunes Library. This file stores information such as the artist’s name and genre. It also stores data such as play count and rating.

This is one of two files that Apple iTunes reads. The second file is Library.xml. This file uses XML format. It automatically updates whenever the information changes.

This ultimately allows developers to program their applications. For example, iDVD, iMovie, and iPhoto access this file. iTunes writes ID3v2.2 tags for MP3 files.

However, conversion from ID3v2.3 to ID3v2.4 is possible. If both tag types are present, iTunes ignores ID3v1.

3. Screenings

iTunes addresses the lack of physical CDs. First, it can print custom CD covers. It can also print song and album lists. After burning a CD, the user can select a playlist.

Then there is a window with printing options. With this, you can also prepare automatic templates in iTunes. The CD cover is on one side of this template. The track list is on the other side.

4. iMix

iMix is a user-generated playlist published on the iTunes Store. They added this feature in iTunes 4.5. Anyone can create a free iMix. However, the list is limited to 100 songs.

It also supports music from both the Internet and CDs. iMixes are open to everyone. As a result, every iTunes user can use them. You can rate your content using a star system. In other words, iMixes will remain active for one year after they are published.

5. Gracenote

iTunes uses the Gracenote service. This service finds song names for music CDs. First, you must put a CD into your computer, and you must also be online.

Besides turning on by itself, it will not work without the Internet. So, you must do a step-by-step. Because of this, the user must pick the CD themselves.

6. Internet Radio

iTunes 1.0 had Kerbango web radio. This lets people make playlists from top radio stations. But they stopped the Kerbango in 2001.

Because of this, Apple made its own web radio service. We began using this service with Apple iTunes 2.0 and newer.

By February 2006, the iTunes radio service had more than 300 stations. Most stations used MP3 streaming.

It also worked with .pls and .m3u stream files. This lets people reach any stream. To finish, Apple does not support web radio now.

7. File Formats

iTunes works with MP3, AIFF, WAV, MPEG-4, AAC, and Apple Lossless. It can use, make, and change these file types. You can make a job change from the Settings menu.

There is an Advanced/Import choice to pick a new import type. After selecting the kind you want, you can change the file.

It can also play safe AAC files from iTunes. It works with spoken books from Audible.com. So, it can play any type that QuickTime plays.

But, extra parts are needed for types like Ogg or Speex. You must add the QuickTime part named Xiph. It cannot play HE-AAC/aacPlus streams correctly. Instead, it plays them as 22kHz AAC.

Apple has been blamed for its MP3 sound quality. It uses changing bit rate coding. In January 2004, they did an open test, and Roberto Amorin ran the test.

The test showed iTunes’ weak points. It can change WMA files by itself, but it cannot play or make WMA files straight.

Last, it does not work with PDF files directly. But they show up in the collection, and people can open them with a reader.

8. Music Sharing

You can share songs in your library with the DAAP tool. This tool works over a closed network. DAAP needs the Bonjour network finding service.

Bonjour is Apple’s own simple networking way. Apple did not share the DAAP plan. But the tool can be used by figuring it out.

DAAP finds playlists by itself on the same network. When a song is shared, the app can play it live. But it stops copying by not keeping it on the computer.

You can also use safe songs in AAC type. But you must sign in, and only five users can join each day.

At first, you could reach it from far using an IP address. But Apple took this out for breaking the rules. They did this in version 4.0.1.

9. Video Support

On May 9, 2005, version 4.8 introduced video support. Users can add video files to the library. They can use these files for cataloging and organization.

You can view the video files you add in a small box. It is also possible to view them in a separate window or in full screen.

Prior to version 7, videos were distinguished by a small TV icon. This icon was grouped with music in the library. The software is tied to Apple’s QuickTime.

Therefore, it included incompatible formats such as WMV. On October 12, 2005, Apple released version 6.0. This version added a video purchase function.

The program also allows viewing an extensive movie collection. As of September 12, 2006, they added over 200 TV channels. These include Discovery Channel, Comedy Central, MTV, and FOX.

Additionally, they added a catalog of 75 Disney movies. However, until October 2006, movies were only available in the US. Some Pixar content could be downloaded outside the US.

Videos in the store are encoded at 540 kbit/s H.264. The audio track is in 128 kbit/s AAC format. Many videos require QuickTime 7. However, they are not compatible with older macOS versions.

On September 12, 2006, they increased the video resolution. The resolution went from 320×240 to 640×480. The latter was encoded at 1.5 Mbit/s H.264. Plus, the audio track is approximately 128 kbit/s AAC.

10. Plugins

Apple iTunes works with picture and device add-ons. Picture add-ons make shows from music. The primary picture tool is G-Force.

SoundSpectrum owns this add-on. Also, the Picture Add-On Making Kit is free. You can get it from Apple, and device add-ons also help other music players.

11. Podcast

On June 28, 2005, they made version 4.9. This version had its own help for Podcasts. People can use the Music Store or a web looker. First, they sign up for a Podcast. Then, they can get the stuff by themselves.

Besides doing it by hand, you can do them each week, day, or hour. You can pick podcasts from the List. But this list can be seen by anyone.

You can sort files into different groups. In all, you can see all the podcasts and group them by type.

12. Video Podcast

Version 6 now helps with video podcasts. RSS and video help were first added in version 4.9. People can sign up using the store or RSS.

People who sign up can get video podcasts. They can also get video files. Also, they can send out videos using IPTV.

They can move the files they got to a video iPod. In the end, they can watch these files in FrontRow. Also, Apple’s Media Center app makes this work too.

Synchronization Feature with iPod

When you link to iTunes, your iPod copies itself. The macOS type supports many music players.

But the Windows type only works with the iPod. New songs are copied to the iPod by itself. Songs you remove from your library go from the iPod.

Your song scores on the iPod can match the LibrLibrary also keeps the play spot for spoken books. You can turn off the self-copy setting. This lets you turn on hand-copying.

Apple iTunes can only put music on the iPod. But you need other apps to take music off.

You can open or copy computer commands or unseen files. If the room is low, the app makes a song list. You can change this list to use the stuff on your iPod.

The app also works with other small players. Many add-ons let copying with outside gadgets. This is the only real way to cope with an iPod.

But other apps can also do this job. Until version 7, you could copy the music you bought.

You can approve your computers with your iTunes name. Each name lets up to five computers. But, this does not mean the added music will be moved.

AppStore

Apple started the Music Store. People can buy songs for many iPods with a few computers. This program is built right into Apple iTunes.

The FairPlay system locks the songs you buy. By February 22, 2006, over one billion songs had been purchased.

The service started on April 28, 2003, but only macOS & Windows can play the music.

For instance, there is no iTunes for Linux. So, they made a group of other players. This lets people use their own programs.

On January 15, 2008, they brought out version 7.6. This version had a movie renting part. There were a sharp-quality rent choices from many makers.