iTunes Match - I don't get it!

[imacken]

OK, I know it's a stupid question, and I must be the only person in the world who doesn't 'get' it, but what benefit does Match actually give?
I mean, you've got your Mac, iPad and iPhones all set up with the music you want on them. Where does Match provide a benefit - apart from the increased bit rate?
Why would you want to stream or download music from iCloud that you didn't sync to the device in the first place?

 

[miles01110]

https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=13855732

 

[firestarter]

At the moment it seems to be useful as a backup, and also to those who have a bigger library than their iPhone/iPad can handle, and want access to their tracks when they're away from home.

In the future I can see it expanding to maybe replace your local iTunes library. If your Apple TV could play all your music/movies/TV by streaming directly from the 'net - without having to have another computer switched one, that might be quite cool.

But yes - if you're happy with the quality of all your tracks, you have a good backup and you're happy with your current sync arrangements, then there's no appeal.

----------

https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=13855732

Doesn't answer the OP's question.

 

[Zcott]

For that one moment when you really want to listen to something but don't have it synced to your iPhone.

 

[imacken]

At the moment it seems to be useful as a backup, and also to those who have a bigger library than their iPhone/iPad can handle, and want access to their tracks when they're away from home.

In the future I can see it expanding to maybe replace your local iTunes library. If your Apple TV could play all your music/movies/TV by streaming directly from the 'net - without having to have another computer switched one, that might be quite cool.

But surely there must be more to it than it just being a good backup tool, and being useful for those few tracks you just have to listen to when away from home? I mean surely most people perform backups to (cheap) external drives now, especially if they have expensive music collections.
I can see the usefulness of Apple TV not needing a computer to be switched on as that is very annoying.

 

[glen e]

The only thing I can see is I listen to my tracks now @ 256 kps when I stream from the cloud - is that correct?

 

[saving107]

I'll tell you were I see the benefit of iCloud + iTunes Match (for me).

I live in Modesto, Ca, but work in San Jose, Ca (90 mile commute one way) and so its fare to say that I travel a lot for work and sometimes don't have the luxury of coming home every night.

The Old Problem:

Several years ago (2008/2009) when I had my iPhone 3G (but before I purchased my MacBook Pro) I remembered having issues with my phone and had to make an appointment for the Genius bar. The only time I had available was early in the morning before work. After determining that my phone was faulty, the Genius went ahead an gave me a replacement unit, but unfortunately that meant that I would be losing everything on my phone (until I got back home to sync later that night).

I did have MobileMe, so I was able to Sync my contacts back to my phone, but unfortunately I had no Music, and I plug my phone into my car stereo to listen to Music on my commute back home. So this made for a very boring 1.5 hr drive home.

The Benefit:

With iOS 5 now being PC Free, I can go to the Genius bar and get my phone replaced, then go to work and set up my phone, log into my company wifi and before my day is over, all of my Contacts, Bookmarks, Reminders, Calendar Events, Notes, Photos, Apps and now Music will all be re-synced back to my device (all without ever plugging it into my Mac).

I do travel a lot and lately I've only been traveling with my iPhone and iPad (the MacBook has been staying home), so for those days that I know I will be away from home for a few days, I no longer have to worry about syncing certain song before I leave, I can now just leave and download those tracks later on.

Everyone will have different reasons for wanting to use iTunes Match, but for me these are my benefits.

 

[imacken]

Can anyone tell the difference between 128, 192 and 256 on mobile devices anyway?

 

[saving107]

Can anyone tell the difference between 128, 192 and 256 on mobile devices anyway?

With the right pair of headphones, Yes. If you just use the standard white Apple headphones, then No.

I plug my iPhone (use an auxiliary cable) into my car stereo, and yes I can tell the difference there to.

 

[imacken]

Well, that's a 'no' then for 95% of users!
(Not me, I might add!)

 

[curtisinoc]

OK, I know it's a stupid question, and I must be the only person in the world who doesn't 'get' it, but what benefit does Match actually give?
I mean, you've got your Mac, iPad and iPhones all set up with the music you want on them. Where does Match provide a benefit - apart from the increased bit rate?
Why would you want to stream or download music from iCloud that you didn't sync to the device in the first place?

Not a "stupid question" . . and I agree with you.

But yes - if you're happy with the quality of all your tracks, you have a good backup and you're happy with your current sync arrangements, then there's no appeal.

^^ Agree, and well said

 

[Julien]

Well, that's a 'no' then for 95% of users!
(Not me, I might add!)

Then that's 10,000,000 that do.

 

[spiderman0616]

I love it so far. I only have a 16 GB iPhone and a 16 GB iPad. I can't put my whole library on either of those devices, but I can put it all in iCloud and stream it whenever I want.

If you have a large library, I think iTunes Match is a no brainer.

 

[GraphicsGeek]

My music library is almost 300GB. My iPhone is 64GB. Ive downloaded alot of music feom Amazon as well ad iTunes. Ive ripped CDs from my massive CD collection. I was also in college when Napster came out and there was the grey of what illegal downloading was. Ive since gone back and almost replaced all of my illegal downloads with legal ones over the years. For $25/year I don't have to do that anymore. If I want to listen to something thats not on my iPhone or wasn't downloaded via iTunes, I go to the cloud and download it. That's how iTunes Match works for me. And yes, I can definitely tell the difference between 128, 192 and 256. Especially 128.

I think I am the type of person iTunes Match was made for. If you've always downloaded via iTunes, then it's probably not for you.

 

[iBrody]

Can the AAC files be downloaded on to your HDD permanently to replace the existing music files, or do you HAVE to stream the content? If the latter, then it's not too good if you have a limited data allowance on your phone.

Or am I missing the point of what Match actually does?

I was thinking of backing up my mp3 files (320kbps CBR Lame) to an external HDD, then replacing the mp3 files on my mac with the AAC 256kbps files from Match.

This will ensure that any transcoded files that I have previously unknowingly obtained will be of better quality, and will also save space on my HDD without me having to be iTunes/Match subscription dependent in the future.

Will the above be possible?

 

[NachoGrande]

I don't get it either. Already use Carbonite and time capsule for my back up so there is no benefit for me and since movies are not included you'll still have to have a backup method.

My library is only 7GB so it easily fits on all of my devices. 99% of my music was upgraded to iTunes plus so they are already at 256kbps.

I guess I can see it being useful for large libraries though.

 

[ZipZap]

My music library is almost 300GB. My iPhone is 64GB. Ive downloaded alot of music feom Amazon as well ad iTunes. Ive ripped CDs from my massive CD collection. I was also in college when Napster came out and there was the grey of what illegal downloading was. Ive since gone back and almost replaced all of my illegal downloads with legal ones over the years. For $25/year I don't have to do that anymore. If I want to listen to something thats not on my iPhone or wasn't downloaded via iTunes, I go to the cloud and download it. That's how iTunes Match works for me. And yes, I can definitely tell the difference between 128, 192 and 256. Especially 128.

I think I am the type of person iTunes Match was made for. If you've always downloaded via iTunes, then it's probably not for you.

You massive library may not fit the "Match" restrictions on size.

----------

Is this one of those Apple items that's just not "Magical"?

Apple will have to sell the service so how are the planning to market its value?

 

[GraphicsGeek]

I love it so far. I only have a 16 GB iPhone and a 16 GB iPad. I can't put my whole library on either of those devices, but I can put it all in iCloud and stream it whenever I want.

If you have a large library, I think iTunes Match is a no brainer.

It streams while downloading but it still saves the track on your device. So it's not a real streaming option.

 

[OneMike]

Here is why I like match.

PC & HD free.

My music library is large. Approaching the 25K mark. I listen to many genres and my taste is spur of the moment. So many times I want to hear a song I own but didn't sync so I end up going to youtube and playing the video. No more.

I have a MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. Music library is on an external drive, too big for internal. Yet when I travel I'd normally create a separate library on my laptop with a select few songs. No more.

I have a AppleTV, with through the toslink cable is hooked up to my home system. I'd normally stream music directly from my computer to the AppleTV. I will still do this to save bandwidth, but the AppleTV no longer depends on my computer being on or there.

Remote computers.

Long story short I no longer have to be with my music, my music is with me. Very worth it.

If match worked for movies, now that would be awesome on a whole different level. Imagine Netflix like streaming with your own movies.

 

[pbrooks]

I'd like to ask a seemingly stupid question – one that I think I know the answer to – but I want to be sure...

If I configure my iPad2 to use iTunes Match, then am I required to have a data connection to listen to music?

I ask because I'm leaving for Europe later this week, and I refuse to buy an international data package from AT&T. Their rates are outrageous. I don't anticipate having easy and regular access to wi-fi. So no data = no music?

 

[Diode]

For people with multiple computers it's a huge benefit.

I can now access my music on my work Laptop and my personal laptop while my music stays home on my desktop....

My only gripe is I wish Apple allowed syncing AND cloud access on iOS devices. That way I could have a subset of my favorite songs and cloud access for others.

 

[xraytech]

OK, I know it's a stupid question, and I must be the only person in the world who doesn't 'get' it, but what benefit does Match actually give?
I mean, you've got your Mac, iPad and iPhones all set up with the music you want on them. Where does Match provide a benefit - apart from the increased bit rate?
Why would you want to stream or download music from iCloud that you didn't sync to the device in the first place?

But surely there must be more to it than it just being a good backup tool, and being useful for those few tracks you just have to listen to when away from home? I mean surely most people perform backups to (cheap) external drives now, especially if they have expensive music collections.
I can see the usefulness of Apple TV not needing a computer to be switched on as that is very annoying.

There is more to it, and please... don't call me Shirley... *chirp* *chirp* *chirp* *chirp*

For me who has a huge iTunes Music Directory, upwards of 15000+ files, it's nice to be able to pull a song from the air away from my MacBook Pro. As for carrying around a pocket drive, for me it's just another thing that I would rather not carry.

For those who have just barely enough to fill their iDevice to 50-75% capacity then iTunes Match may not be as useful.

Somebody mention having multiple computer using the same iTunes Account. That's a huge benefit also.

 

[WishIWasHere]

The reason I signed up for iTunes Match is that it allowed me to buy the 16GB 4S instead of the 32GB. The only reason for me to get the 32 was to fit all of my iTunes music on it, which is about 20GB. I figured that for the extra $100 to buy the 32GB iPhone, I could buy 4 years of iTunes Match. Now of course, the fact that I'm grandfathered into AT&T's unlimited data plan was a factor in my decision too, and there's no telling when they'll decide to yank that out from under us. I tried out Match this morning for about an hour and a half workout, and it worked very well for the most part. As it stands, I'm very happy with my decision.

 

[mikemj23]

The reason I signed up for iTunes Match is that it allowed me to buy the 16GB 4S instead of the 32GB. The only reason for me to get the 32 was to fit all of my iTunes music on it, which is about 20GB. I figured that for the extra $100 to buy the 32GB iPhone, I could buy 4 years of iTunes Match. Now of course, the fact that I'm grandfathered into AT&T's unlimited data plan was a factor in my decision too, and there's no telling when they'll decide to yank that out from under us. I tried out Match this morning for about an hour and a half workout, and it worked very well for the most part. As it stands, I'm very happy with my decision.

I could be wrong (because I'm trying to figure Match out myself) but as I understand it, iTunes Match doesn't stream the music, it actually downloads it to your iOS device. While it's downloading it starts to play, but once it's done, the song actually resides on your iOS device. If that is the case, you would run the risk of eventually running out of space.

 

[MBHockey]

The reason I signed up for iTunes Match is that it allowed me to buy the 16GB 4S instead of the 32GB. The only reason for me to get the 32 was to fit all of my iTunes music on it, which is about 20GB. I figured that for the extra $100 to buy the 32GB iPhone, I could buy 4 years of iTunes Match. Now of course, the fact that I'm grandfathered into AT&T's unlimited data plan was a factor in my decision too, and there's no telling when they'll decide to yank that out from under us. I tried out Match this morning for about an hour and a half workout, and it worked very well for the most part. As it stands, I'm very happy with my decision.

Yeah, i'm not quite sure you get that iTunes Match is not a music streaming service. It's not like it's Pandora for your own library. You can of course delete the songs right after you listen to them and they will disappear from your device but still reside in the cloud.