I have some questions about iTunes Match

[Jamie0003]

iTunes Match was released in the UK this week, and before I consider signing up, I have some questions.

1. When a song is matched, does it also match the tag data? Or is it replaced with the tag data of the song stored in the iTunes store? (IE if I were to stream the music to Apple TV, or delete and redownload the song, would it be the exact same copy of the song that's in the iTunes store?

2. Songs that are matched, do they get added to your account as if you had purchased it from the store? (IE does it show up in the purchased tab?) Do they stay in your account, even after you cancel your Match subscription? What about music that is uploaded?

3. Sort of related, but I noticed that there's now a music tab on the Apple TV, does this mean you can stream Matched songs? Why can't I stream the songs I already have in my account? It would also be useful to be able to buy and add songs to my account directly from Apple TV, like you can TV shows.

Any help is greatly appreciated

 

[thatoneguy82]

iTunes Match was released in the UK this week, and before I consider signing up, I have some questions.

1. When a song is matched, does it also match the tag data? Or is it replaced with the tag data of the song stored in the iTunes store? (IE if I were to stream the music to Apple TV, or delete and redownload the song, would it be the exact same copy of the song that's in the iTunes store?

2. Songs that are matched, do they get added to your account as if you had purchased it from the store? (IE does it show up in the purchased tab?) Do they stay in your account, even after you cancel your Match subscription? What about music that is uploaded?

3. Sort of related, but I noticed that there's now a music tab on the Apple TV, does this mean you can stream Matched songs? Why can't I stream the songs I already have in my account? It would also be useful to be able to buy and add songs to my account directly from Apple TV, like you can TV shows.

Any help is greatly appreciated

First, iTunes match does not stream. It downloads and then it plays.

When it matches, it produces an exact copy of the original, except the quality of the song. Metadata stays intact. And it won't be shown as "purchased" since it was never purchased, just matched. As far as matched music and downloaded music that's been matched, you have the option to download them all. I suspect this is what you have to do if you want to cancel the service. iTunes Match removes the files and puts them all in the "cloud" so you'll have to bring them back down. I have an AppleTV and I always skipped over that option, but I suspect it's similar to purchased TV shows. You select the song, and it's probably organized in some sort of fashion, and after that it will play it.

 

[Jamie0003]

First, iTunes match does not stream. It downloads and then it plays.

When it matches, it produces an exact copy of the original, except the quality of the song. Metadata stays intact. And it won't be shown as "purchased" since it was never purchased, just matched. As far as matched music and downloaded music that's been matched, you have the option to download them all. I suspect this is what you have to do if you want to cancel the service. iTunes Match removes the files and puts them all in the "cloud" so you'll have to bring them back down. I have an AppleTV and I always skipped over that option, but I suspect it's similar to purchased TV shows. You select the song, and it's probably organized in some sort of fashion, and after that it will play it.

My bad, I know it doesn't stream, but I think you can do it with the Apple TV. So it's a totally separate thing, and the songs aren't permanently on your account, if you were to cancel the match subscription the songs would no longer be in iCloud, is that right?

 

[thatoneguy82]

My bad, I know it doesn't stream, but I think you can do it with the Apple TV. So it's a totally separate thing, and the songs aren't permanently on your account, if you were to cancel the match subscription the songs would no longer be in iCloud, is that right?

I think on AppleTV, it downloads then it plays and then it deletes. Especially since songs are much smaller than video files. I believe this is to ensure uninterrupted listening. Like I said, if you canceling match, you probably will have to bring down all your music from the cloud since there may be some that are not stored locally in your computer.

 

[Jamie0003]

I think on AppleTV, it downloads then it plays and then it deletes. Especially since songs are much smaller than video files. I believe this is to ensure uninterrupted listening. Like I said, if you canceling match, you probably will have to bring down all your music from the cloud since there may be some that are not stored locally in your computer.

I think that's what it does for anything it streams, not just songs (downloads and caches them) and that really sucks, I was hoping I could sign up to it once, get all my songs added to my account, then continue buying songs from iTunes. I really hope Apple brings Match to TV shows and movies one day.

Thanks for answering my questions

 

[bp1000]

Not sure on the apple tv question but the logic seems correct. AFAIK iTunes match does download as it plays, personally i think it is crazy not to do this.

You are getting streaming music plus the benefit of a physical file afterwards. So, if you go out of cell / wifi coverage you still have music, also saving bandwidth for you and apple.

Also afaik, once matched, you are free to download all music files. So if you have a bunch of low quality, badly encoded mp3's from 10 years ago you get an upgrade to 256kbps (iTunes plus aac) and you are free to download and keep everything, even after your match subscription expires. Of course you will no longer get access to your music in the cloud after the subscription expires.

 

[Jamie0003]

Not sure on the apple tv question but the logic seems correct. AFAIK iTunes match does download as it plays, personally i think it is crazy not to do this.

You are getting streaming music plus the benefit of a physical file afterwards. So, if you go out of cell / wifi coverage you still have music, also saving bandwidth for you and apple.

Also afaik, once matched, you are free to download all music files. So if you have a bunch of low quality, badly encoded mp3's from 10 years ago you get an upgrade to 256kbps (iTunes plus aac) and you are free to download and keep everything, even after your match subscription expires. Of course you will no longer get access to your music in the cloud after the subscription expires.

That's true, but I wouldn't want to have to pay £21 a year to be able to do this, i'm not fussed about the streaming part either; iTunes match probably isn't for me then. If there was a Match for Movies and TV shows though, i'd be all over it.

 

[bp1000]

That's true, but I wouldn't want to have to pay £21 a year to be able to do this, i'm not fussed about the streaming part either; iTunes match probably isn't for me then. If there was a Match for Movies and TV shows though, i'd be all over it.

I agree with you on that one

My next task is to handbrake all of my favourite films & tv shows from dvd to ext hdd so i can stream to my apple tv.

I wish, like you, apple had iTunes match for these movies. It seems like the next logical progression. Thats some serious bandwidth though.

 

[Jamie0003]

I agree with you on that one

My next task is to handbrake all of my favourite films & tv shows from dvd to ext hdd so i can stream to my apple tv.

I wish, like you, apple had iTunes match for these movies. It seems like the next logical progression. Thats some serious bandwidth though.

I know, Apple TV is brilliant but having to have the Mac running just to watch a movie is silly and not very user friendly. Having Match for movies would mean you could go and buy a load of cheap DVDS and rip them, not that I wouldn't buy them on iTunes but they are a ripoff in comparison...

I have all my movies ripped, but want to be able to stream them instead of having a computer running.

It only seems logical that Apple's next step is to tackle movies and TV shows, I really hope this comes with a different pricing structure on iTunes so it can compete with movies sold in stores. I wonder if Match would upgrade your movies to HD as well, I think it's really silly that HD movies cost so much more, especially now that Blu-Ray is so mainstream now, and HD TV's are everywhere.

This, coupled with better pricing on stuff in iTunes, as well as a full 1080P iTunes and Apple TV, would be amazing.

 

[3bs]

Yeah like you said, iTunes match isn't for me but id definitely subscribe if it worked for movies and tv shows too. And I also hate that your mac has to be open to stream stuff using apple tv. Probably why I dont have one

 

[bp1000]

Yes its a little bit annoying having to have your laptop/computer on for movie streaming.

However, my macbook air with attached ext hdd is quite efficient and sleeps most of the time upstairs and it can act as a media server without and drama.

Going forward, i won't be buying many dvds any more, i intend to rent most of them from iTunes if available. I just find it a complete waste of money spending £8-12 on a DVD only to watch it once, possibly twice when a rental is only £2.50.

The only issue is iTunes doesn't carry all the latest films.