Apple Launches New iTunes Version Complete With A Social Network

It looks like some of the rumors regarding iTunes that came out close to the event on Wednesday were true.  Apple has turned it’s attention to social networking, and has built it right into iTunes, making it almost impossible for many to avoid.

The new social network is called Ping, and it seeks to draw you together with your friends, favorite musicians and strangers through music.  To do this, Apple added Ping as a tab in the iTunes app for desktops as well as iOS devices.  The design of the service takes a few cues from Facebook, but also works in the realm of iTunes.  You can comment on any items in your news feed, as well as “Like” anything on the feed and albums on iTunes.  On your profile you can choose three genres that you enjoy (though unfortunately it follows the iTunes store model, so there’s no choices for techno, metal or indie, just to name a few), and it can show a collection of eight tops songs.  Those top songs don’t have to be there, Ping can choose them for you, or you can choose them.  If Ping chooses the songs for you, it only selects them based on songs you bought from iTunes. {Apple}

Therein lies the biggest fault of Ping: it doesn’t really take into account people who buy music from other services.  You might want to share your music with friends, but if you buy music off Amazon MP3, BeatPort, or even (gasp!) physical media, you need to go through extra steps to share it on Ping.

Ping does seem to address a problem that exists: sharing music with your friends.  It doesn’t always work through other social networks like Facebook or Twitter, nor in person.  Ping helps bring your music social network right next to where (Apple hopes) you buy your music.  At least it brings it to where you probably store your music, even if you pirate all of it.