IMPORTANT NOTICE: after having served for 22 years, iTunes was canceled in 2023, since it was divided into other Apple products. Listening to music or audio content on our smartphones is an activity that is performed very frequently, because we can do it anywhere and at any time. One of the most used apps for this purpose is iTunes, developed by Apple, which evolved over time to become one of the best platforms for multimedia content.
iTunes: one of the best multimedia libraries
iTunes is a platform that works as a digital library that allows its users to organize, play and manage their music collections, podcasts or other types of content. Also, you can purchase and download content from the iTunes Store. On the other hand, the content you have in your library you will be able to synchronize with other Apple devices, either an iPhone or an iPad.
Background and history of iTunes
iTunes was launched in 2001, and in its beginnings the app was designed to help users organize and play their digital music collections. Then the iTunes Store was introduced in 2003, where users could purchase and download music legally. Over the years, Apple added more features, and gradually much of its content was migrated into other Apple products.
iTunes main features
iTunes not only serves as a music player, but also offers several features that make it an advantage to use this app. These are some of its characteristics:
- Organize: you will be able to organize your library as you like, creating playlists, sorting by different categories (artists, genre, album, etc.), editing the information of the tracks and much more.
- iTunes Store: The iTunes store offers millions of songs and tons of content to buy or rent. While much of the content is now accessed from other Apple products, iTunes remains one of the most complete ones. In addition, the store also offers exclusive content that you won't find on other platforms.
- Apple Music: iTunes can be integrated with a subscription to the Apple Music streaming service, where you can access millions of songs, create playlists and receive recommendations based on your tastes.
- Interface: iTunes' simple interface makes it easy to navigate and organize your media library. From the sidebar you can quickly access playlists, songs, albums, podcasts and more. Also, the search function is very useful to find any content easily.
- Compatibility: iTunes is not only available for products from the Apple ecosystem, but can also be used on Windows. Therefore, the platform is available on iOS, macOS, and Windows.
How to download and install iTunes on your devices
To download iTunes on iPhone, you can do it from the App Store. Once you have it installed, you can open the app and set up your media library, access your purchases or sync your content if you have it. To do it on your computer, you can download it from Apple's official site or from the Microsoft Store if it is for Windows. Once you download the file, you just have to follow the installation instructions and you will be able to open the platform and configure your library.
Is it worth using iTunes?
The app is indispensable for those who have several Apple devices, as it facilitates content management and synchronization between them. It won't be useful if you don't have anything from Apple, since you could only have the platform on Windows, and you wouldn't be able to access it from your smartphone. On the other hand, the integration of iTunes with Apple's ecosystem of products also makes it possible to sync content even with the TV, which facilitates flexibility and access from any device. So, downloading iTunes is going to be worth it as long as you have devices to sync the content with.
Pros:
- It is available on iOS, macOS, and Windows.
- You can easily synchronize content across available devices.
- You have access to all types of multimedia content.
Cons:
- You depend on your Apple account.
- Synchronization is limited to mobile devices running iOS only.
- The app may crash if you are going to manage a lot of content.