iTunes Preview gains sound samples
updated 10:15 am EST, Thu January 7, 2010
Apple on path to web-based streaming?
Apple has made its first significant upgrade to iTunes Preview, adding sound samples. As at the iTunes Store itself, visitors to Preview pages can now mouse over a track and hit a Play button to start a 30-second sample. People must still launch iTunes to play all samples sequentially, or actually buy an album or track.
Apple is generally believed to be on a path towards a full-scale web streaming service. The company acquired music streaming outfit Lala in early December, potentially allowing it to build an offering in which a person's iTunes purchases could be streamed anywhere. The service might also potentially have a subscription component, as with Microsoft's Zune Pass, which also lets users download an unlimited number of tracks so long as their membership is still active.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
Huh?
Well, it was more like "iTunes Preview now includes preview capability". This might be why Apple didn't announce the thing in the first place.
And, no, Apple will not be setting up a subscription component for some silly web streaming service. As we all know, because we've heard it for like 10 years, people want to own their own music.