MX iTunes, App Store, iBookstore, and Mac App Store

How Can Apple Improve ITunes?

By Lilian Bach

Apple's iTunes is perhaps the most important Internet entertainment merchant across the world. It's come quite some distance after its humble origins. Selling well via iTunes usually implies an excellent Billboard chart place for groups. The Apple company has continued adding even more features and technology to the software package. Nonetheless, iTunes has come under a considerable level of condemnation lately.

For starters, the program is frequently criticized for the large design and lag on non-Apple PCs. Naturally, iTunes is created for the Mac operating system yet anyone would be forgiven to think that Apple would understand that the majority of people own a personal computer that uses Microsoft Windows compared to using a MacBook or an Apple computer. Regrettably this certainly isn't the case and entertainment software can often be pretty resource heavy. It is certainly not an easy, efficient design but it is actually very image and video intense. When browsing the iTunes Store people may well endure quite a bit of lag. Several people carry on using alternate music software because they are a whole lot less draining. Owning a RAM greedy program is ordinarily okay for the high spec Apple systems but many computers often suffer whilst running several programs at once. This can be especially notable if you have an iPhone and compare it to a PC. Normally the iPhone performs quickly however using iTunes with a computer is typically time consuming! It could be nice if Apple unveiled a more streamlined version.

Secondly, the way in which Apple has continued to include many more functions to iTunes is an advantage and a curse. It's fantastic due to the fact that there is a lot more functionality to it. It's no more just a way to listen to music, anyone can now watch movies, download games, make playlists and manage your iPhone and iPod. The iTunes Store features millions of tunes to download and people can even download movies and television programs. With the App Store you may also download countless numbers of applications for your iPod Touch and iPhone. There are games, resources, maps, eBooks and a lot more. Several of them are free to download whilst others you have to buy.

Having said that, a lot of people assert that there are too many features in iTunes and that it has become too cumbersome and bloated. Yet, what should the answer be? Perhaps Apple could deliver various services for the various functions (e.g. a standalone music player and music store). Alternatively it could offer one piece of software but allow users to turn off features that they don't use. As an example, if someone owns an iPod Touch yet still buys all of their new music on CDs then they won't use it to buy new music. Similarly, the iTunes Store now has a whole lot of content that is only offered through particular products. If a person does not use such products then it is worthless for them to look at content. Additionally, plenty of users do not like that they need to use it to organize their iPod. This closed approach to functionality has seen many consumers and users becoming annoyed. It would seem to be that while Apple would like people to become a member of their club yet if you can not join entirely then you will have to cope with the troubles.

Rather than offer a stripped down version of it, it should instead include even more features and functions. Apple undoubtedly has the resources and the development team to build a product that features a lot more, but it should also be mindful to keep it streamlined and well designed. It has already initiated this approach with the introduction of Ping, a social network, available by it, which is focused around music. Why not incorporate an online bookmark manager and custom homepage profiles? It might be an excellent way to include a social component to iTunes. As we have seen with the massive popularity of social networks, socializing and communicating online can certainly contribute to big money. Not that Apple needs to worry over its bank balance.

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