Apple's iTunes Match finally available to public

At long last, Apple’s long-awaited cloud-based music-matching service - iTunes Match – is here. But users will have to download the latest version of the iTunes software – version 10.5.1 – before they can avail of it, tech site Mashable reported. However, Mashable also reported an “overwhelming demand" for the service in its first few hours, with Apple advising users to try again in an hour. “Right now, Apple’s servers are reporting overwhelming demand for the service and the company advises users try again in an hour," it said. It said users can access iTunes Match by clicking on the new “iTunes Match" icon in the “Store" sidebar. The iTunes Match service, announced as early as last June, allows users to upload up to 25,000 non-iTunes songs to Apple’s servers for easy access from up to 10 computers and iOS devices. Users will have to shell out $24.99 a year for the service. Last-minute tests After wiping developers’ iTunes Match libraries over the weekend, Apple Inc. stepped up its testing for the new service by seeding a new beta of the iTunes software Monday (Manila time). Beta 3 of iTunes 10.5.1 had included some key stability and performance improvements for iTunes Match, according to enthusiast site Macrumors.com. Citing a note from Apple, Macrumors.com said iTunes 10.5.1 beta 3 “includes a number of important stability and performance improvements for iTunes Match, and is a required update for all subscribers to iTunes Match beta." It added Apple may “periodically delete all iCloud libraries during the beta period" and may require developers to scan, match, and upload songs again. Last weekend, Apple advised developers it is wiping their libraries “as we prepare for the launch of iTunes Match" – a message many took to mean the iTunes Match service’s launch is imminent. Apple's iTunes Match is the $24.99-a-year service that scans a user's library to find music not purchased from Apple. It cross-references these songs with those in Apple's own library. The feature is integrated with Apple's iCloud platform. When the service finds a match, it provides users with a license of the track at the same quality they'd find if they bought it off iTunes. The iTunes Match service had been scheduled for release in late October, but has been pushed back without any clear launch date available, Macrumors.com noted. — TJD, GMA News