Playlist, more artists may help increase interest

iTunes has quietly added playlist creation to its Ping social service, allowing users to import an existing playlist from the iTunes or create a new one on the spot, and share it with friends and strangers. Playlist creators can opt to allow friends to add songs to the playlist, and the list remains open for the originator to edit, add to or re-order. Any song available on the iTunes store can be used as part of a playlist.

Following its inability to work out a deal with Facebook, Apple has opted for a path of low-key, subtle additions to Ping over time, recently adding Twitter integration, and a short-lived Ping sidebar that was quickly revamped to be less intrusive to those signed up to the service, and removable for those who opted out.

Most recently, the company has taken to e-mailing iTunes users and offering early access to a previously-unheard Michael Jackson song to try and drive more utilization of Ping. While Ping has at least one million subscribers, the activity and popularity of the service has remained uncertain.

by MacNN Staff