Text Size
Apple, readers offer iTunes 4 details
updated 05:05 am EDT, Tue April 29, 2003
Apple describes within iTunes 4 and
how to deauthorize a computer; the differences in the AAC and MP3 codecs that can be
used in iTunes 4; how interrupted downloads are handled by iTunes; and how to locate downloaded files purchased from the Music Store.
Meanwhile, MacNN readers Scott Rose and Joshua Rafofsky offered a few notes about sharing music using iTunes 4, including the ability to share playlists (as well as music) over the Internet (as well as Rendezvous networks) and bookmarking URLs for specific playlists.
[Joshua Rafofsky] "Perhaps one of the most unheralded features of iTunes 4 is the ability to connect and share with music outside of your own local network! In order to activate this, turn on sharing in the iTunes preferences. Also be sure to open port 3689 in your router or firewall (this is iTunes' port for sharing). Then, tell your buddy across town to open iTunes 4 and choose "Connect to shared music" from the Advanced menu. Then he types in your public IP address.
"Voila! He will have full interactive access to your music library, as well as any playlists you decide to share. (The collection shows up in the left column, the same way local machines would show up via Rendezvous.) Let me reiterate, this is *not* merely a stream of what you are playing... this is your full library, with full listening priveleges. Note that this only works with current MP3's, as any purchased (AAC) files are authorized to work on up to 3 machines with your account only.
"Once you enable sharing in your iTunes 4 preferences, create a playlist, and control-click it. Select 'Copy Sharing URL.' Paste this into an email, and change the part after 'daap://' to your actual external IP address. Now you can send this *particular* playlist with a friend. Instruct them to paste this into 'Connect to Shared Music' and they'll have full interactivity with the songs in that playlist. This works with individual songs too. Basically it's like emailing a "bookmark" to a particular playlist or song or your Mac."
[Scott Rose] "Hey! One of the most unheralded new features of iTunes 4 is the ability to share your playlists not just via Rendezvous, but also OVER THE INTERNET. If you're behind a firewall, simply make sure the port #3689 is open on your router, pointing to your machine. Then go into your preferences and allow other users to connect to your machine. Then, your friends can pull down from 'Advanced' to 'Connect to Shared Music...' One caveat, however, is that you can't listen to other people's PURCHASED MUSIC via Rendezvous (or the "connect to shared music"... feature). So in other words, this sharing feature seems like it actually SUPPORTS pirated music, because the more music we buy, the less we'll be able to share through Rendezvous and this IP sharing feature. Interesting."
what if...
04/29, 06:39am reply
what if my system blows up and i have purchased 500 bux worth of tracks from apple, then what?
MacNN.com Reader
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2001
Re: what if...
04/29, 07:12am reply
Then you're a dumb a** for not backing up your computer...
MacNN.com Reader
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2001
Re: what if
04/29, 07:15am reply
Not just that. Can you take your tracks to a Windows machine, for which AAC players and plugins also exist?
MacNN.com Reader
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2001
ok gr8
04/29, 07:28am reply
so the answer is to back up your stuff. gr8. just gr8.
MacNN.com Reader
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2001
Back up
04/29, 07:32am reply
Yes back up dumb a**.
And who cares about windows machines?
MacNN.com Reader
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2001
yeah, back up!
04/29, 07:58am reply
Anyone who does not backup is a fool. Period.
If you lose your CD, you don't get a new one from the record company.
Backup your music to CD. I am doing ti twice. Once as data files, once as audio cds. The former so I can fit more music onto CDs and no need to recompress, the latter in case the IMS goes bust.
MacNN.com Reader
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2001
re: what if
04/29, 08:46am reply
"what if my system blows up and i have purchased 500 bux worth of tracks from apple, then what?"
Yet another person who thinks Apple owes them something. Whatever.
MacNN.com Reader
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2001
Deauthorize
04/29, 09:22am reply
I know about deauthorizing my computer, but yeah, what about if i blows up? then what?
MacNN.com Reader
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2001
Re: computer blows up
04/29, 09:49am reply
I would think that you could get on a new computer, log-in with your Apple ID, and click 'Advanced->Check for Purchased Music.' As long as you didn't already have 3 computers authorized, I'm guessing it would go ahead and download your shared tunes? I only have limited experience with this feature currently, but it seems like it could work.
MacNN.com Reader
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2001
nevermind
04/29, 09:55am reply
I was mistaken. From the Apple site:
Note: Be sure to make regular backups of your music files (in your iTunes Music folder) by copying them to an external hard disk or other media. If your hard disk becomes damaged or you lose any of the music you've purchased, you'll have to reimport all your songs and buy any purchased music again to rebuild your library. You can also make an audio CD of the songs you purchase so you can listen to them in a consumer CD player.
MacNN.com Reader
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2001