By This week, Apple launched iTunes Match that will give you the possibility to access the copy of your iTunes library that is stored in the cloud from several devices. You will have to pay $24,99/year to enjoy iTunes Match. So, if you want to use this service, then here’s a guide to help you do that.
1. The first thing to do is to see which version of iTunes your device is running. If you’re using a Mac, then all you have to do is to go to iTunes and then to About iTunes. Here you’ll see the iTunes version you are running. If this is not iTunes 10.5.1, then go to iTunes and then to Check for Updates. If there’s one available, then download it and install it.
2. Once you do that, you will have to click the “Subscribe for $24.99″ button. After this, iTunes match will start to scan your library and only after it does so, it will do the match. iTunes might be unable to match all your songs. This depends on how rich your library is.
3. Once you’re done with the matching process, you will be able to access these songs from any other device that has iTunes installed or that runs iOS.
4. In order to connect a device running iOS, all you have to do is to go to Settings and then to Music. You should see iTunes Match here and you will have to switch it to On. Now enter you Apple ID password and then press Enable.
You should know that your iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad music library will be replaced this way. Anyhow, you won’t find this as a being big problem if you sync your iOS device with iTunes.
5. The “Music screen: Show All Music” item will be added to Settings after iTunes Match is enabled. By using this option, you will see all the matched songs in the Music App. So, if the slider is switched to Off, then all you’ll see are the songs you donwloaded because iTunes Match will not stream music to an iOS device. The songs you play will download.
Thus, the Music App will display your iTunes library and next to each album/artist there will be a cloud icon (this means that these have been stored in the cloud). In the case of songs, you will see an icon of a cloud and an arrow. To play and download a song, you’ll just have to tap a specific song. If you want to queue up several songs to download, then you will have to tap the cloud-with-an-arrow icon.
6. You can access iTunes Match from a computer as well. But to do that, you will first have to check which iTunes version your PC is running. Make sure it is running iTunes 10.5.1.
7. The next thing to do after that is to sign in to your Apple account and then click iTunes Match. You will then be asked if you want to add this computer. Hit the Add This Computer button and then iTunes will scan, match and upload your iTunes library.
The good thing if you want to add a second computer is that after you finish the setup process on this computer, you will be able to access all the songs you matched from your first PC. In the case of computers, you will have the possibility to play a song without donwloading it.
That’s all you have to do! With iTunes Match, you can now enjoy your iTunes library from several devices.
Souce: CNet
