Apple has issued Beta 2 of iTunes 10.5.1 to developers tonight to provide further testing for the upcoming iTunes Match service:
iTunes 10.5.1 beta 2 is now available and includes a number of important stability and performance improvements. iTunes Match is also now available for testing on Apple TV.
iTunes Match stores your music library in iCloud and allows you to enjoy your collection from anywhere, any time, on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, computer and now your Apple TV.
iTunes Match is Apple's $25/year subscription service that will match your existing iTunes library with 256-Kbps versions in the iCloud. The service was expected to be launched at the "end of October", but has since missed that target.
Apple has provided no new estimate for a launch date for the iTunes Match service.
Apple today released a new Pride Edition Sport Loop for the Apple Watch. The band features a rainbow design with 11 colors of woven nylon yarns.
The new Pride Edition Sport Loop is available to order now on Apple.com and in the Apple Store app in 40mm, 42mm, and 46mm sizes, and it will be available at Apple Store locations starting later this week. In the U.S., the band costs $49.
There...
iOS 26.5 includes three new features for iPhones, according to Apple's release notes for the update, which is expected to be released next week.
As discovered during beta testing, iOS 26.5 enables end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging between iOS and Android devices. Apple says this security upgrade is limited to supported carriers around the world and will continue to roll out....
Instagram will remove end-to-end encryption for direct messages between users from May 8, 2026. When the date comes around, Meta will potentially be able to see the contents of all messages between users on the social media platform.
Encrypting messages has been an optional feature in Instagram since 2023, but in March of this year the social media platform quietly updated a help page to say ...
As a Beta user of iTunes Match since Day 1 I must say that you WANT to wait. It's been buggy as all hell. I noticed already that this release is MUCH faster so far.
Please be patient people... Apple just wants to do the right thing and release a great product. That's the difference between Apple and everyone else.
If I understand correctly, Apple wants me - the average Mac-fan - to pay $25 a year in order to:
1. Lose control and privacy over my music library.
2. Become completely dependent on a good internet connection at any time.
3. Become completely dependent on iCloud to work well and smoothly at any time.
4. Listen to all my stuff on downgraded quality.
I certainly missed something, but I'll stick to old school methods:
1. I'm the only one to rule over my music collection. I decide who to share my music with. I'm still the king in my little network :o
2. I can listen to anything I like everywhere, anytime, even if the net's not available :)
3. My music collection (with backup) is stored in my iPod and hard drives that I have physical control over. If anything fails I see it right away and can deal with it :eek:
4. All my stuff has a bit rate of at least 320 kbps and I don't want anything less ... even if my ears can't hear the difference :rolleyes:
5. I'll spend $25 a year on music instead :p
