With the release of the iTunes 10.5.1, comes the debut of iTunes Match. It is the newest feature of iTunes that is a cloud-based music matching service that makes your music available on all your authorized devices with the use of an active Internet connection.

A subscription fee of $24.99 a year is required to use the iTunes Match. Once subscribed and done with the matching and uploading of music, users will be able to access music in iCloud directly from the iTunes Library or the music application of your device.

What is iTunes Match?

The iTunes Match is best described by three words: Match, Upload and Play. Match meaning it allows you to match all the music contained in your iTunes library to the version available in the iCloud. If a match has identified, Apple will automatically stream the music to your authorized device. If a match has not found, iTunes Match will upload your music to iCloud. The iTunes Match will enable you play matched or uploaded music to your authorized devices such as a Windows PC, Macs and iOS devices such as iPhones, Ipads and iPod Touch.

What is iCloud?

iCloud is simply a virtual storage service that lets you store your multimedia files for ease of access using your Apple device such as the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Mac or PC. To be able to use the iCloud for you music, the iTunes Match is a requirement as well as the iTunes 10.5.1

What is iTunes?

iTunes is a media player introduced by Apple in 2001, that is used for playing, downloading and organizing multimedia files on your desktop computer and is also able to manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and Ipad. To answer the issues of iTunes not being able to transfer music from one device to another, it launched the iTunes Match - an iTunes in the Cloud that allows access to the entire music library from any device or PC. iTunes Match came alongside the newest update for the iTunes media player the iTunes 10.5.1.

How much does it cost and the system requirements?

iTunes Match costs $24.99 per year. iTunes 10.5.1 is required to enable iTunes Match. To be able to run on iTunes Match, an iOS 5 device is necessary along with an OS X Mac 10.7 or later or a Windows Vista PC or later, with iTunes 10.5.1. If you have an Apple TV, you must have the latest firmware.

Using the iPod Touch, Wi-Fi connection is needed to download music, while 3G network is used with iPhones and iPads.

How to subscribe?

To subscribe with iTunes Match, you need to launch iTunes 10.5.1 on your computer and not from the iOS device. On the iTunes, choose Store and Turn On iTunes Match. From the main screen, click Subscribe for $24.99. If you already have an existing Apple ID for your iTunes purchases, use it and click Subscribe. You will be asked to validate your billing information. If a valid payment method was added, click Subscribe. Once you agree to the iTunes Match Terms and Conditions, it will automatically scan your iTunes library for matches. A status indicator will show progress. Once iTunes has completed scanning, matching and uploading, click Done. A download button will then be displayed next to the items that are available from iCloud that are downloadable. If download button is not visible, it indicates that items already exist in your iTunes library.

What is the maximum number of songs and what is the quality of music uploaded?

iTunes Match is limited to 25,000 songs. Music that will be matched with iTunes Match will be at 256kbps AAC DRM-Free quality regardless if the match or upload is of higher or lower quality. However, song files over 200 MB, as well as songs encoded as AAC or MP3 with bitrates lower than 96 kbps, will not be uploaded to the iCloud. Songs encoded in ALAX, WAV, or AIFF will be transcoded to a separate temporary AAC 256 kbps file locally, prior to uploading to iCloud. Original files will be retained. Also, songs containing DRM (Digital Rights Management) will not be matched or uploaded to iCloud unless the computer is authorized for playback of the content. Songs purchased outside the United States iTunes Store containing DRM, will not be matched or uploaded in the iCloud as well.

How much disk space is needed?

Music on iTunes match will not take up your iOS device storage space unless you play and download the songs to your device. Some items that are in the iCloud will also be visible to the device, but doesn't take space because it not downloaded to your device.

How long is the matching and uploading time?

The duration of matching and uploading music on iTunes Match depends on the amount of music your library has. Matching usually doesn't take long as compared to the uploading which usually takes a while depending on the upload speed of your network. To determine which songs have been matched or uploaded, find the sort bar on your iTunes. Right click the sort bar and select iCloud status and iCloud Download.

How to I delete music on my IOS device?

To delete music on your iOS device, just swipe from right to left the album or the individual song and it will be deleted from your device. But it will still appear on your iTunes Match as it displays all the songs in your iCloud library. If you wish to show only the content stored in your device click Setting App > Music > and disable Show All Music.

How do I add devices?

Computer - there are a few steps in adding devices to the iTunes Match. Open the iTunes on the computer or device you want to add. If the device doesn't have the latest iTunes (10.5.1), download first to be able to add a device. After opening iTunes, sign in with your Apple ID that you used with iTunes Match. Choose Store and Turn On iTunes Match. On the left side of iTunes, click iTunes Match then click the Add This Computer button. You will then be prompted to enter your Apple ID password. iTunes will automatically begin scanning the computer's library for matches. A status indicator will show progress. Once iTunes has completed matching and uploading your iTunes library, your music in iCloud will be integrated into your local music. A download button will then be displayed next to the items that are available from iCloud that are downloadable

iOS Device - Make sure that your device has the latest iOS update, before proceeding to Settings then Music. Tap the iTunes Match switch to On. To be able to access music in iCloud, open the Music player app on your device and your music in iCloud will be integrated into your local music. A download button will then be displayed next to the items that are available from iCloud that are downloadable

It is important to note that enabling iTunes Match in your iOS device will delete the music library in your iOS device and will be replaced with the iCloud music library. Also, enabling iTunes Match in your iOS device will disable the Syncing operation with iTunes.

Is iTunes Match available worldwide?

Initially, iTunes Match is only available in the U.S. But Apple is said to be working its way to expand the availability in other countries. Although Apple Australia already released iCloud last Oct., it said that "iTunes Match and TV shows are U.S.-only". This is an indication that it will not be available soon outside U.S. territories.

How do I unsubscribe to iTunes Match?

Please be reminded that iTunes Match will automatically renew your subscription. If you wish unsubscribe in the future or continue the use just until the one year subscription ends, you have the option to do so. On your iTunes choose the Store, then Sign In. Enter the Apple ID and Password to log in. Choose the Store and click View My Account. You will be prompted to re-enter your Apple ID and password. Go to iTunes in the Cloud section then click Turn Off Auto-Renew to the right of iTunes Match.

What happens after an outage?

If in the process of matching and uploading, you experience an intermittent connection or a power outage, iTunes will automatically resume where it last left off the next time iTunes is opened. iTunes Match is still in its beta stage. Apple may in any time update the service and might periodically delete iTunes Match libraries. It is advised that you keep a backup of the current iTunes library before subscription.