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