So many problems with iTunes Match...

Sorry you are wrong.

I can use Google Music anywhere I like, my Mac's, iPad's, iPhones and I can even access Google Music from devices that I don't own.

I started to try Google Music a day after purchasing iTunes Match and even though Google had to upload my entire library (14,000+ songs) it still finished 2 days before iTunes Match.

Additionally Google Music is FREE.

Don't get me wrong I am a Mac-oholic. But iTunes Match is a total let down.

john.sawyer wrote:

Sorry you are wrong.

I can use Google Music anywhere I like, my Mac's, iPad's, iPhones and I can even access Google Music from devices that I don't own.

I started to try Google Music a day after purchasing iTunes Match and even though Google had to upload my entire library (14,000+ songs) it still finished 2 days before iTunes Match.

Additionally Google Music is FREE.

Don't get me wrong I am a Mac-oholic. But iTunes Match is a total let down.

No I am not wrong. As mentioned I can listen to my entire library on every computer and device I own (at 256kpbs) including in my car (or really anywhere) via my iPhone and on my home theater via my Apple TV2. That is not possible with Google.

You are entitled to your own opinions but not your own facts.

One of the few Apple products I don't own yet is an Apple TV. So you may be right in regards to Apple TV. However I can access Google Music in my car just as well as I can access iTunes Match.

Also I can access my Google Music library with ANY other device that can acces the internet regardless of wether I own that device or not.

Apple is definitely trying to do some things that Google doesn't, but it doesn't matter how many extra features there are if they don't work. Even if Google isn't as ambitious in some ways, their service seems to work and do everything they intend it to. And Google has some features that iTunes doesn't, like listening via web browsers and the choice between playing while downloading and actual streaming on mobile devices.

richsadams wrote:

As mentioned I can listen to my entire library on every computer and device I own (at 256kpbs) including in my car (or really anywhere) via my iPhone and on my home theater via my Apple TV2. That is not possible with Google.

Seems like the only part of that Google can't do is stream on aTV. And I'd say that's more of an aTV problem than a google problem, especially considering the other limitations of aTV.

Look, if anyone wants to advocate Google or Amazon or any other music service that's fine. Believe me I get it. I was complaining here and on other threads about implementing iTunes Match within an hour of its release and after the frustrating experience with getting it up and running, I understand the desire to look at alternatives. However making uninformed statements about what iTunes Match can and cannot do isn't helpful.

iTunes Match streams instantly. It instantly streams (only) to the Apple TV2. It streams instantly to the iPhone or iPad. It also temporarily stores a copy of the track on the iPhone or iPad so it can be played again with or without Wi-Fi/3G any time. The stored tracks are cached and removed if and when storage space is needed for newly played tracks or anything else. That is a bonus that other services do not offer.

Every time I add or subtract content in my iTunes library it's synced across all of my computers, my iPhone and my iPad automatically. I don't have to upload anything, I don't have to wait I don't have to do anything. Again, a feature that isn't matched by other services.

There are other features iTunes Match offers that can be discovered by doing a little research. iTunes Match doesn't try to do things other services don't offer, it does do things other services don't offer. I and millions of others are using iTunes Match daily. It works flawlessly for me and I'm really enjoying it. The simplicity and features are worth $1.99/mo. to me.

If one of the other services works for others that's great, but again, folks should know what they're talking about...before talking about it.

"I and millions of others are using iTunes Match daily. It works flawlessly..."

You are the first and only person I have heard make that claim. Everyone I know is just shaking their heads at this program, and disabling it. We love the idea, but our little group of tech geeks have all disabled the feature.

Oh, and lotsa luck people if you want a refund. Apple seem to be opposed to giving refunds to those of us who just flat out don't want to bother with the hassle that defines this product.

"You are the first and only person I have heard make that claim. Everyone I know is just shaking their heads at this program, and disabling it. We love the idea, but our little group of tech geeks have all disabled the feature.

Oh, and lotsa luck people if you want a refund. Apple seem to be opposed to giving refunds to those of us who just flat out don't want to bother with the hassle that defines this product."

Now you can say that you've heard 2 people make that claim.

Library size of 10,000+ songs, 1 MBP, 1 iMac, a Mac mini, an iPod Touch, an iPhone 4 & 4S, and Apple TV2.

All flawlessly matched - with cover art.

The only thing I don't like about Match is that I can't Airplay stream the music from my Apple TV2 to my stereo connected to an Airport Express... But I guess you can't have everything... at least I can do it from my iPhones.

And I'm now #3. Library of 15,000+ songs, MacBook Air, iMac, iPhone 4S, iPad 2, and ATV2. All working perfectly.

Bear in mind that I was NOT remotely happy in the first week+ after release (see my earlier posts), but I must give credit where it's due, and Apple has made huge progress since that traumatic first week.

"Now you can say that you've heard 2 people make that claim."

okay 😁

do you by any chance work for apple or a subsidiary? you just know I had to ask....

"And I'm now #3. Library of 15,000+ songs, MacBook Air, iMac, iPhone 4S, iPad 2, and ATV2. All working perfectly.

Bear in mind that I was NOT remotely happy in the first week+ after release (see my earlier posts), but I must give credit where it's due, and Apple has made huge progress since that traumatic first week. "

Okay. So why did you stick with the product after such an horrible experience during the first week?

I would amend my original statement to say that I know not of a single person that installed this product and had it work flawlessly from inception. I am glad it is working out for you, and honestly, I love the idea of iTunes Match, but the problems vs the payoff isnt worth the hassle in my own little world.

Have a great day.

PS It is amazing that you three would be such cheerleaders for the product given your previous remarks on the product. I am not nearly as staunch a fan I suppose.

I stayed with it because, considering my long history with Apple, I believed they would solve the problems and deliver on the grand promise of iTunes Match... And they did, at least for me.

I'm enjoying iTunes Match quite a bit and think it's totally worth the price. I have upgraded many of my 15,000+ songs to 256 kpbs and I love that I can edit songs (change star ratings, etc.) on one device and have them update on all my other devices over the cloud.

However, to say that iTunes Match is working flawlessly simply is not true.

* Play Count and Last Played Data is still not updating properly. Many of my smart playlists are based on Play Count and Last Played Data and these playlists simply don't work with iTunes Match on my iPhone at the moment.

* Furthermore, when I had iTunes Match enabled on my iPhone, it often took 10 to 20 seconds to load a song and the phone would sometimes become unresponsive when I attempted to skip tracks. I don't care if this is an issue with the player (versus being a problem with iTunes Match). The bottom line is that this problem does not occur if I sync my music with my iPhone the old way. I know other people have experienced this problem as well. I, myself, tried to troubleshoot this several times by turning iTunes Match off, clearing my phone and resyncing, turning iTunes match back on, etc. I still had the same problems on my phone over and over again.

I've disabled Itunes Match on my iPhone for now so that I can play the same playlists on my phone that I have had the pleasure of enjoying in the past. I will try iTunes Match on my phone again at a later date. Meanwhile, I'm still enjoying iTunes Match on multiple computers.

So, just to reiterate, I don't think it's fair or accurate to say this service is working flawlessly. A few kinks still need to be worked out in my opinion. Nevertheless, I am thoroughly enjoying several aspects of the service.

@TheVamp -

Just because you and your "little group of tech geeks" (:rollseyes:) are disappointed that iTunes didn't match your disorganized, rag-tag collection of 96kb mp3's that you downloaded from Napster & Kazaa back in '99, and failed upload the low-res gif files you found on AskJeeves for cover art, doesn't mean the service doesn't work. I picture a group of wounded Windoze IT doofuses huddled around the server room watercooler whining about inconsequential minutia like the lack of documentation for 'SPSchedule.EndMinute'.

My library consists entirely of ripped songs from CD's I legitimately own and albums I've purchased over the years from iTunes. I would expect that the quality of files, and well-maintained condition of my collection has a lot to do with my success with the service. Oh... and patience. You do know what patience is, yes?

And BTW, trying to undermine my accounting of my experience by suggesting that I "work for apple or a subsidiary" is something a 3rd grader might post as a juvenile rebuttal. You're not by any chance a 3rd grader, are you? You just know I had to ask...

Looks like you've stooped to the third grade level as well.

Yes, I digressed. Now, back to my real life.