History of ITunes in Timeline

Share: FB Share X Share Reddit Share Reddit Share
ITunes

iTunes is Apple's media player, library, and mobile device management application for macOS and Windows. Users can buy, play, download, and organize digital multimedia files, including music and videos. The software allows users to create playlists, rip songs from CDs, and optimize sound quality. It also supports wireless sharing of media libraries.

1999: SoundJam MP Release

SoundJam MP, the precursor to iTunes, was released in 1999 by Casady & Greene.

January 9, 2001: iTunes Launch

On January 9, 2001, Apple launched iTunes, initially focusing on music organization and storage for Mac users.

April 28, 2003: iTunes Music Store Launch

The iTunes Music Store launched on April 28, 2003, offering 200,000 downloadable tracks initially.

October 16, 2003: iTunes for Windows Release

On October 16, 2003, Apple released iTunes for Windows, expanding its reach to a wider user base.

2003: iTunes Store and Windows Version Launch

In 2003, Apple launched the iTunes Store for digital music purchases and downloads, alongside a Windows version of iTunes, broadening its user base and functionality.

2004: Party Shuffle Introduction

In 2004, "Party Shuffle" was introduced, allowing users to play random tracks from their library with the option to skip songs. It was later renamed "iTunes DJ" and eventually replaced by "Up Next".

May 2005: Video Support Introduction

In May 2005, iTunes 4.8 introduced limited video support for bonus features included with album purchases.

June 2005: Podcast Support Introduction

iTunes was updated with podcast support in June 2005, allowing users to subscribe, manage downloads, and control episode deletion.

2005: Expansion into Digital Video and Podcasts

In 2005, iTunes expanded beyond music by adding support for digital video and podcasts, further diversifying its content offerings.

February 2007: Steve Jobs' Open Letter on DRM

In February 2007, Steve Jobs published an open letter advocating for a DRM-free music industry.

April 2007: Introduction of DRM-Free Music

In April 2007, Apple introduced a selection of DRM-free music on the iTunes Store.

May 2007: iTunes U Launch

"iTunes U" launched in May 2007, offering university lectures from leading U.S. colleges through the iTunes Store.

June 2008: iPhone 3G Activation Change

In June 2008, the release of the iPhone 3G marked a shift in device activation. It no longer required iTunes, utilizing activation at the point of sale instead.

July 10, 2008: iOS App Store Launch

On July 10, 2008, Apple introduced native mobile apps for iOS with a dedicated App Store, while iTunes on computers had a dedicated app section.

2008: iTunes Security Vulnerability Discovered

A security vulnerability in iTunes was discovered in 2008 allowing unauthorized third-party software updates. This was not fixed until over 1200 days later, after being reported to the public.

2008: iTunes Digital Copy Introduction

In 2008, Apple and select film studios introduced "iTunes Digital Copy" for select DVDs and Blu-ray discs.

2008: Genius Feature Introduction

In 2008, iTunes 8 introduced "Genius," a feature that generates playlists of songs from the user's library that complement each other.

January 2009: Entire Music Catalog DRM-Free

By January 2009, the entire iTunes music catalog became DRM-free.

2009: Genius Mixes Introduction

In 2009, iTunes 9 updated the "Genius" feature with "Genius Mixes," generating genre-based playlists.

September 2010: iTunes Ping Launch

September 2010 saw the launch of iTunes Ping, a social music discovery platform within iTunes 10. Described by Steve Jobs as akin to for music, it included profiles and following features.

June 2011: iTunes in the Cloud and iTunes Match Launch

In June 2011, Apple launched "iTunes in the Cloud" for storing music purchases and "iTunes Match" for uploading and matching user-owned music.

November 2011: iTunes Security Vulnerability Report

In November 2011, The Telegraph reported a security vulnerability in iTunes, known to Apple since 2008, which allowed unauthorized third-party software "updates". Apple addressed the issue before the report, emphasizing user security and privacy. However, security researcher Brian Krebs questioned Apple's response time, noting a 1,200+ day delay since initial disclosure.

2011: Reduced iOS Device Dependency

With the release of iOS 5 in 2011, Apple devices became less reliant on iTunes, although it continued to serve as a backup tool.

September 2012: iTunes Ping Discontinuation

In September 2012, Apple discontinued iTunes Ping, its social music discovery service.

June 2013: iTunes Radio Launch

Apple launched iTunes Radio, a free music streaming service, in June 2013.

June 2015: Apple Music Launch

Apple Music, a subscription-based music streaming service, was launched in June 2015, integrating iTunes Radio functionality.

August 2017: iTunes U Integration with Podcasts

With iTunes 12.7 in August 2017, iTunes U collections were integrated into the Podcasts app.

September 2017: App Store Removal from iTunes

In September 2017, Apple updated iTunes to version 12.7, removing the App Store section.

April 26, 2018: iTunes on Microsoft Store

On April 26, 2018, iTunes was released on the Microsoft Store for Windows 10, simplifying installation and updates for users.

June 10, 2020: iTunes U Discontinuation Announcement

On June 10, 2020, Apple announced the discontinuation of iTunes U by the end of 2021.

2021: iTunes U Discontinuation

iTunes U was discontinued in 2021.

February 2024: iTunes Feature Split for Windows

In February 2024, most iTunes features on Windows were split into separate apps (Apple TV, Music, Podcasts, Books, and Apple Devices), though iTunes remains for podcasts and audiobooks.

2024: iTunes Phase-out

As of 2024, Apple is phasing out iTunes in favor of dedicated Music, Podcasts, and TV apps, while retaining the iTunes Store.

Mentioned in this timeline

Apple TV
Facebook
Apple
Microsoft
Music
September

Trending

Storm Prediction Center
Singapore
Car
Natalie Portman
Latto
Amber alert
Meteor shower
New moon
Mars
Cardi B

Popular

Jasmine Crockett
Sarah McBride
LeBron James
Cristiano Ronaldo
Michael Jordan
Simone Biles
Fox News
Dylan Mulvaney
Pam Bondi
Kobe Bryant
Discover More