iTunes WiFi Music Store first hands-on

As you already saw a bit of in our iPod touch hands-on, we got to spend a bit of time with the iTunes WiFi Music Store today. As far as these things go it's appropriately straightforward -- find tracks, buy them, play them on your device without using your PC. Of course, the whole concept kind of flies in the face of Apple's long standing philosophy of keeping your computer (read: your Mac) at the "center of your digital life" now that you can acquire content without using iTunes proper. But does this mean we can look forward to the Apple TV being able to download content directly from the store? Speaking of downloading video -- it's probably worth mentioning you can't download video over WiFi to the touch (and presumably also the iPhone). Hit the gallery for the full rundown on screens.

Gallery: iTunes WiFi Music Store first hands-on

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

[Matt P @ Sep 5th 2007 3:44PM]

Can you update podcasts over wifi?

[Michael @ Sep 5th 2007 3:49PM]

My question exactly! And does that include vidcasts (one would assume, but...). And if you have Safari access, could I save files (video, whatever) and swap out via Wifi whenever I need to?

[Justin @ Sep 5th 2007 4:27PM]

i'm crossing my fingers for audio podcasts. since you can't update video from the store, i'm guessing video podcasts would be out as well. but i think audio podcasts should be made available.

[kjk4734 @ Sep 5th 2007 4:55PM]

So when do you all think the Iphone update will be to add this Wi-Fi store..I know they said a couple weeks but I am as impatient as a 4 yar old with a bladder control problem on christmas eve.

[Paolo @ Sep 7th 2007 6:53AM]

h

[jc @ Sep 5th 2007 3:46PM]

that's a nice looking machine for-sure!

Too bad I live in the middle of nowhere, not wi-fi out here :P

[Chris @ Sep 5th 2007 4:18PM]

You can just buy a wireless router.

[dj-kenpo @ Sep 7th 2007 6:50PM]

and you apparently HAVE internet if you're on this site...

[David @ Sep 5th 2007 3:51PM]

I was hoping for Audio and Video Podcasts through iTunes WiFi. That would make it a must buy, instead of a maybe.

[Jon @ Sep 5th 2007 4:03PM]

I can't believe that black panel on the back for the antenna. Doesn't seem very "apple like" as far as appearence goes. Same for the even bigger black panel on the iPhone.
I have an iPhone, so relax I love the thing.

[Bob @ Sep 5th 2007 4:58PM]

Who the hell cares what the back of the ipod/iphone looks like. It is just going to sit flat on the table or be in your pocket. So get over yourself.

[Drew Westrick @ Sep 14th 2007 12:11PM]

As for the "black panel on the back for the antenna," its because you can broadcast RF through metal very easily. Try putting a cell phone in a metal box sometime...

[Phillip Black @ Sep 5th 2007 3:51PM]

Please tell us more about the Wi-Fi features!

[Todd @ Sep 5th 2007 3:53PM]

I don't see C+C Music Factory on any of the play lists in the gallery! "Everybody Dance Now!" FTW!

[tim @ Sep 5th 2007 3:54PM]

if you purchase a song over wifi, can you get it off the ipod to your computer's itunes library to sync with other ipods?

[TMLC @ Sep 5th 2007 3:58PM]

Aye, it auto syncs.

[artman1033 @ Sep 5th 2007 3:56PM]

can you listen to WLS and 1000s of other internet radio stations?

[TMLC @ Sep 5th 2007 4:00PM]

If it had radio, I would have ordered it by now.

[amb @ Sep 5th 2007 7:35PM]

come on...that's not the only reason

[AlexNC @ Sep 5th 2007 4:09PM]

No video downloads ... Why not?
Hopefully Podcasts will be available.

Also, is Apple going to allow third part developers create programs that can be run on the iTouch? ... like with the iPhone.

[thedef @ Sep 5th 2007 4:01PM]

Well, I'm definitely not getting a new iPod so I can buy music with it.

[Dave @ Sep 5th 2007 4:03PM]

Apple take note ... Today's releases were worthy of an event. That crap you pulled a year or two agoo with the stupid leather case and the HiFi speaker brick was not.

[Jon @ Sep 5th 2007 4:06PM]

With mobile Safari now being on iPods AND iPhones, hopefully we'll start seeing more sites trying to be compatible. Specifically, MLB.com and their gameday audio! I can't wait to have that (hopefully) on my iPhone!!
I can live without an FM radio if they'd just get the internet streaming working properly.

[Carsten @ Sep 5th 2007 4:10PM]

What should I do with 16 GB? If I have such a big screen, I would need more size for the movies. So unless we do have 60 or 80GB of space this whole thing is inacceptable.

[Bob @ Sep 5th 2007 4:59PM]

"Unacceptable" you moron

[Phillip Donley @ Sep 7th 2007 3:27PM]

Movies only take up about 600MB, even at a fairly high quality.

How many movies are you going to watch in one sitting?

I used to carry around my 60GB video iPOD all the time, but I can't think of a time, even on a flight where I watch much more than two at a time. On top of that I would usually bring my computer along anyway if it required that much travel.

If you are travelling that far away where you need more than 4 or 5 movies, you might consider setting up Telekinesis and streaming it to your iPOD touch when you are in a wi-fi area - aka stranded at the airport or stuck in a hotel.

It would be great to see an iPhone or iPOD touch with more capacity, but I've had my iPhone since the first week (I'm a sucker), and I think it's fine the way it is. It will get more capacity when the parts get smaller.

[Benny @ Sep 5th 2007 4:09PM]

Is it possible to add new contacts or new tasks in the calendar ?

[Reded20 @ Sep 6th 2007 10:48PM]

(Sarcastically) Noooooo...., it just gives you an address book and a calender that you cant use... (Ends sarcasm...)

I'm just messin wit ya. But seriously, why would it not let u put stuff in the address book or calender.

[chip chanko @ Sep 5th 2007 4:13PM]

QUESTIONS: Can it connect to airtunes directly? Sync with computer via WiFi?? Those are musts.

[andy @ Sep 5th 2007 4:13PM]

Why did they not include wireless N? That really makes my Airport Extreme usefull.

[Za @ Sep 5th 2007 9:05PM]

Battery life as well as the fact that most people don't have supporting networks.

[Josh @ Sep 5th 2007 4:17PM]

Browsing through the apple store ipod touch page and it asks for itunes 7.4, new version of itunes must be coming, shame its not itunes 8

[angelsvairwaves1 @ Sep 5th 2007 4:18PM]

touch me.

[Kyle @ Sep 5th 2007 4:25PM]

Any legal people know if this affects the music business? Wouldn't this pass under the Audio Home Recording Act? It's the RIO case that the music industry LOST because the rio uses a computer. This is a device that doesn't need a computer. Does that mean this will generate a royalty?

[TMLC @ Sep 5th 2007 4:31PM]

This device is a computer, and you pay for downloads. I don't see any problems. This kind of service is already available from mobile service providers in Denmark. Nothing has happened yet.

[Kyle @ Sep 5th 2007 4:35PM]

the audio home recording act outlines a computer as a physical personal computer, not a device that acts like a personal computer. ahra royalties dont apply to cell phones.

[chris @ Sep 5th 2007 4:34PM]

Please tell me the iTunes music store is coming to the iPhone as well!

[kurt.riddell @ Sep 5th 2007 4:42PM]

Yes it will be made available though a free update. I wonder if you can use this over the EDGE network or is it just while connected with WiFi?

[chris @ Sep 5th 2007 4:44PM]

Good news, thanks man :) I'd assume it will work over EDGE as well but it's gonna be a real PITA. AT&T needs to get with it and upgrade their service.

[Torrent @ Sep 5th 2007 4:39PM]

The only thing that would be fairly interesting about this release, would be if someone(clever) made a bitorrent for the Touch, i mean, just think about that...aaaahh.....

[Brian @ Sep 5th 2007 4:46PM]

"Of course, the whole concept kind of flies in the face of Apple's long standing philosophy of keeping your computer (read: your Mac) at the "center of your digital life" now that you can acquire content without using iTunes proper."

It all makes sense, disk drives are giving way to SSD and flash memory, and once storage has become miniscule enough, as the desktop has given way to the laptop, so too will the laptop give way to the handheld. I'd give it until 2015 for laptops to start becoming passe, as opposed to a handheld with video-out.

[Bandit @ Sep 5th 2007 4:47PM]

It's annoying that they have spent their time on this and the Starbucks BS rather than "fixing" some of the glaring shortcomings in the iPhone.

[Cyclotron @ Sep 5th 2007 4:46PM]

Do people really expect to carry their entire video library? A DVD quality vid is only 2 GB. An iPod quality should be 500MB... Anyway, the black plastic is so the signal can get through... what I want to kjnow is when can we put 3rd party apps on. I WANT SKYPE :D

[JuggleNuts @ Sep 5th 2007 4:48PM]

I have the buying urge, but for something that is ideal for movies ... 16GB? It's like putting a 3 gallon gas tank in hummer.

[Asher69 @ Sep 6th 2007 8:24AM]

True... but Hummers get such atrocious gas mileage, even with the 20-something-gallon tank they have it only feels like a 3 gallon tank anyway. But MAN they are fun to drive! :)

For those complaining of only 16 gigs - some perspective: if having a crappy 3rd gen 30 gig iPod has taught me anything, it is that I don't want my entire collection with me at any point in time. When I want tunes in a hurry, I'd prefer quicker access than scrolling through all the crap I don't want to listen to but put on there "in case", you dig? I'm cool with a smaller drive, even for video. I don't know about your life, but I rarely have more than about 10 to 20 minutes wait time in any given day. Max. I don't really foresee the need to carry more than a couple TV shows and maybe -A- movie. I've had two movies sitting on my iPaq for about six months, and have yet to ever break it out and watch either of them. So, again, 16 gigs is cool with me.

[tom @ Sep 5th 2007 4:51PM]

I wish they applied the starbucks integration concept to internet radio.. Streaming from your favorite station station, having the song title tag fed into a seach of itunes, and then a 1 click purchase (perhaps with a few pennies kicked back to the internet radio station as the source)... now that would be cool, for all parties involved

[JuggleNuts @ Sep 5th 2007 4:53PM]

Agreed!

[Scott G @ Sep 5th 2007 8:05PM]

Will Safari allow me to just surf to a site like Pandora and listen to whatever I want? If so, I'll be buying one immediately.

[Sean @ Sep 7th 2007 4:29PM]

God i hope so!

[FireFox @ Sep 5th 2007 5:21PM]

Nice nice, ok what is up next : 14 days from today apple will announce a 16 Gb version of it's Iphone + a extra option to make your ipod touch a phone to !!!