Apple describes how the authorization works 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."
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