Official iTunes Match beta thread

[StormJH1]

Uploading wasn't the big issue for me, getting a nice 256k copy without having to rip all of my CDs again was worth the $25. I'm glad to hear that Google Music is a solid streaming only option for iOS though, it's always nice to have options on any device.

True. It's funny how many people harp on THAT aspect of Match, however. They view it more like an "upgrade" service for music they either downloaded a long time ago or ripped at 128k or 160k and now can't find or don't feel like re-ripping. I don't think Apple really intended that to be a selling point of it, I think they were just trying to match the quality of MP3's available on iTunes, Amazon, and now Google.

I'm kind of a partial audiophile. I own probably 15 different sets of earbuds or headphones because I'm always looking for something better. On the other hand, I rip my music at 192k, and I probably couldn't tell you the difference between 192k and 320k.

It's kind of like 1999 all over again right now, because back in the Napster days, people were so happy to get access to music that they didn't care (or notice) that the 96k or 128k files swapped on that service sounded like crap. Now, you have the complete audio snobs who claim they'll tolerate nothing less than .wav of 320k, and then a huge mass of people who are doing without music ownership altogether in favor of things like Pandora or Sirius Radio, which have relatively crappy sound quality.

But yes, if you plan on "upgrading" your entire collection, then $25 is a small price to pay!

 

[jlb21]

I'm kinda not understanding the benefit here? If I have already have all my music on my devices via sync then what does this do for me? Can I delete the music on the device to free up space?

I have been thinking heavily about Match since I have just the 8gb iPhone 4 (it was cheap). I have 30-40gb of music. I am forced to cycle in playlists or artists here in there as I want.

But with match, I would have quicker access to everything.

One of the barriers to entry for me was (notice the past tense) that Genius PLs were not supported via match. With the new iOS5.1 they are. So I may give this a go soon.

I just wish there was a "trial"-ish way you could have match scan your library to give you and idea of how much would get matched before you commit the money to it.....

 

[NoleScream]

I have been thinking heavily about Match since I have just the 8gb iPhone 4 (it was cheap). I have 30-40gb of music. I am forced to cycle in playlists or artists here in there as I want.

But with match, I would have quicker access to everything.

One of the barriers to entry for me was (notice the past tense) that Genius PLs were not supported via match. With the new iOS5.1 they are. So I may give this a go soon.

I just wish there was a "trial"-ish way you could have match scan your library to give you and idea of how much would get matched before you commit the money to it.....

Even if it doesn't match it, it'll upload your copies to iCloud and make it available to you for the quicker access you desire.

 

[jlb21]

Oh I know. I just would like to know if I am going to need several hours or several days before I jump in.....

 

[NoleScream]

Oh I know. I just would like to know if I am going to need several hours or several days before I jump in.....

Ah good point. I don't have a huge collection (4000 ish maybe) and I think I had about 600 to upload but it wasn't anything outrages over a cable connection. It should be especially good now since not everyone is hitting the service at the exact same time.

 

[jlb21]

Yeah but I am on DSL still and my upload speed maxes around 1mb I think. I get 3 down. So my uploads will take a loooooooooong time.