iTunes in the Cloud for Music Rolling Out in Japan, iTunes Match Coming Soon?

It has been just over a month since Apple's last round of expansion for its iTunes Match service, but it appears that the company may be preparing to add Japan to the mix.

itunes cloud music japan
As noted by Mac Otakara, the "iTunes in the Cloud" music component has gone live in Japan, with the "Purchased" tab within the desktop iTunes Store and the iOS music application now allowing users to access their previously-purchased iTunes Store music. The iTunes in the Cloud service has until now been limited to apps and books in Japan.

ios cloud music japan
Apple's iTunes Match service that allows users to match or upload their entire libraries of music acquired from any source to Apple's iCloud is a step further than the music re-download service just now rolling out. There are, however, currently no other countries in which Apple offers iTunes in the Cloud music capabilities without also offering iTunes Match. iTunes Match is currently available in 37 countries, and if iTunes in the Cloud music downloads are now appearing in Japan it seems that iTunes Match may not be far behind there.

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Top Rated Comments

DenisAuermann Avatar
180 months ago
Great news for the Japanese!!!!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Agent OrangeZ Avatar
180 months ago
Whats the difference between iTunes Match and iTunes in the cloud?

iTunes in the Cloud let's you download all of your iTunes purchased content from any device again. FREE.

iTunes Match let's you download your music that Apple has matched in your library that was purchased elsewhere. $24.99/yr
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
pmz Avatar
180 months ago
I think iTunes match is a joke. Doesn't do album covers perfectly, currently replaces explicit tracks with clean tracks...and with data caps, even less useful.

I'm as big an Apple fan as it gets, and unfortunately I have to agree with you.

I love iTunes Match for both what it is, and what its supposed to be, but Apple has done a terrible job of implementing it.

The fact that they're continuously rolling it out to new markets without fixing the problems it has, fills me with dread for their current leadership.

I don't want to get into the "if steve were here" nonsense.....but I don't understand how Apple, a company with such high standards, can be happy with iTunes Match as it is, and continue deployment without addressing very serious problems.

1. Album Artwork.
2. Explicit/Clean confusion (which is akin to data loss)
3. Inexplicable Matching errors, where certain Matchable tracks are uploaded instead.
4. Lack of support for AudioBooks.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iEvolution Avatar
180 months ago
Sure hope iTunes Match launches better over in Japan because the iTunes Match in the US is still buggy, matching explicit with clean lyrics never mind the disaster it leaves your iTunes library looking like.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Andronicus Avatar
180 months ago
I'm as big an Apple fan as it gets, and unfortunately I have to agree with you.

I love iTunes Match for both what it is, and what its supposed to be, but Apple has done a terrible job of implementing it.

The fact that they're continuously rolling it out to new markets without fixing the problems it has, fills me with dread for their current leadership.

I don't want to get into the "if steve were here" nonsense.....but I don't understand how Apple, a company with such high standards, can be happy with iTunes Match as it is, and continue deployment without addressing very serious problems.

1. Album Artwork.
2. Explicit/Clean confusion (which is akin to data loss)
3. Inexplicable Matching errors, where certain Matchable tracks are uploaded instead.
4. Lack of support for AudioBooks.

Agree strongly with 1 & 2. I hope they have a remedy for this. All my Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg is censored now!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ghostface147 Avatar
180 months ago
I think iTunes match is a joke. Doesn't do album covers perfectly, currently replaces explicit tracks with clean tracks...and with data caps, even less useful.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)