iTunes Match vs iTunes in the Cloud: How Apple Music Works? [Apple Sets Up Dedicated Website for iTunes Match, Its Yearly Subscription- & Cloud-Based Music Management Service]

Posted on TFTS by Chris Smith on Monday, 26. December 2011 under: Computers & Computing, Mobile/Cell Phones, PCs, Notebooks, Netbooks & Tablets

Either because users don’t understand the differences between iTunes Match and iTunes in the Cloud – both iCloud features – or because Apple’s own cloud-based music features have direct competition from Google and Amazon, the Cupertino-based decided to better explain iTunes Match by setting up a webpage on its website dedicated to this feature.

So let’s look at what iTunes Match and iTunes in the Cloud are and how you can use them to match your iTunes and non-iTunes music collection.

iTunes in the Cloud is a free feature of iCloud – a service announced by Apple at WWDC 2011 and launched with iOS 5. The feature is of particular use to iOS device owners. With iTunes in the Cloud it users can access all the tracks purchased via iTunes from any supported device instantly, which makes listening to music on the go a lot easier – if you have a decent data plan or access to Wi-Fi connectivity – not to mention that it can completely eliminate syncing the iOS device with other computers.

iTunes Match is also an iCloud feature, but this one costs you a yearly $24.99 fee. For that amount of cash Apple will let you use iTunes to scan your music library and match your existing tracks with better-quality iTunes copies that will be saved in your iCloud account. The services lets you store in iCloud up to 25,000 tracks, and that number does not include any tracks you have already purchased from iTunes, with users only having to upload a small number of songs, the ones that are not found in the collection of over 20 million tracks currently sold by Apple.

Another interesting feature of iTunes Match is that it upgrades to better quality any music you may have on top of your iTunes purchases. Whether it’s ripped from CDs, obtained from other stores or downloaded from not-so-legal locations – we’re not saying that you’re doing it, or that you should do it and legalize your pirated copies with iTunes Match – Apple’s subscription- and cloud-based service will recognize the tracks and save a copy of 256kbit AAC quality in the cloud.

All the tracks saved in iCloud under your Apple ID, whether purchased via iTunes or matched with iTunes Match, will be one-click away. Computers and Apple TVs will stream music instantly without storing it while iOS devices will store the tracks you play from the cloud so you can play them again at a later date without waiting for them to be downloaded. In total you can use up to 10 devices with iTunes Match.

Essentially iTunes Match is a division of iTunes in the Cloud if you will, one that’s able to help you manage all music that wasn’t purchased from iTunes on top of what you already get from Apple’s music store. At the same time, the service upgrades it to better quality without you actually doing that much uploading since most of your tracks are already available in iTunes. In case you buy all your music from iTunes then subscribing to iTunes Match is definitely not required.

Here are some interesting FAQs posted by Apple on the iTunes Match page which you should be aware before getting yourself an iTunes Match account:

Who can use iTunes Match?
Anyone with an Apple ID in the U.S and select other countries can use iTunes Match. You also need iTunes 10.5.1 or later on your Mac or PC and iOS 5.0.1 or later on your iPhone 3GS or later, iPod touch (3rd and 4th generation), or iPad.
Will my playlists sync across devices?
Yes. When you create, edit, or delete a playlist on your Mac, PC, iPhone, or iPad, those changes will sync across any iTunes Match-enabled device you own. However, playlists with videos, voice memos, or PDF files will not sync.
Will iTunes Match songs download over 3G on my iOS device?
Yes. Go to Settings > Store on your device. Turn on Use Cellular Data. If you’d rather download over Wi-Fi, turn it off.
What if I add new music to my library? Do I need to tell iTunes Match to scan it?
No. iTunes Match will automatically rescan for content, so you don’t have to. Although you can force a refresh by choosing Store > Update iTunes Match in iTunes.
What happens if I don’t resubscribe after the first year? Will I lose any upgraded songs?
No. Any songs you’ve upgraded or downloaded again are completely safe. The only thing you lose is the central storage — iCloud will no longer stream or download matched or uploaded songs to your devices.
Does the Apple ID I use for iTunes Match have to be an iCloud account?
No. If you’ve been using a separate Apple ID for purchases, that Apple ID will also work for iTunes Match. You should use the Apple ID that is associated with the majority of your music purchases.