Q: iTunes song preview time is cutting off.

Just goes to show there are still some serious issues here - what a happy gang, huh?  I never did get a reply to my last communication with iTunes.  Gee, maybe they're busy.

Just wanted to add that this happens to me as well and has been for a couple months.  I can preview songs at Amazon without any issue.  I'm glad to find I am not alone here, but it is depressing to find out that the general opinion is that itunes does not acknowledge the problem.

So I thought I would share my two cents. I haven't even tried to contact Apple support because I don't think it would help much and as a network engineer I normally talk way over their heads. So while playing a few previews I decided to run a scan of my firewall/proxy (Microsoft TMG). The logging lets me see where the traffic is going to and coming from. So as the preview starts everything looks fine. I see a connection to 23.15.8.211 then to 23.15.8.200, both of which are owned by Akamai Tech which is a digital Media distribution company. At around 22 seconds into the song I get an error in the TMG log. The specific network name is no long available Request GET: http://23.15.8.200/us/r1000/070/Music/ef/1e/92/mzm.jatztvoy.aac.ep.m4a failed. This happens everytime no matter which song I play, and no matter which record company it is from. At first I thought it maybe was a malware inspection rule that was causing the issue. So I created a rule the would allow content from the Akamai servers to download without inspection. Next scan was the samething as the previous but I learned something from this failure. When you listen to a preview you are not listening to just one file you are listen to 3 different files. Now I use TMG for proxy services on my home network. So I thought I would play with the web proxy setting. I started by allowing my machine to bypass the proxy server for connections to the Akiama server which didn't fix anything, then I tried turning off proxy all together nope that didn't fix it either. Now I am on Verizon FIOS and running my own DNS server which forwards DNS request to Verizons DNS servers. So I started changing what DNS server I was using. After going over 20 different Verizon DNS servers none fixed my issue next I tried Googles DNS servers that didn't help either. Then I tried OpenDNS server (208.67.222.222208.67.220.220) bam, first song, second song, third song they just keep working. So I start watching the logging in TMG again. the errors I was getting were not showing up. switched back to the Verizon DNS server and they come back, switch to google dns and I get the error around 54 seconds. I try AT&Ts open DNS servers and songs are working, Nortons too. With exception of Google and Verizon preview work when using any of the dns addresses list on this website.

http://theos.in/windows-xp/free-fast-public-dns-server-list/

Give it a try and let me know. If you are still having trouble post back here and I'll do what I can to help you out.

hi GibbyOH, I have an open case with Apple and will share your post with them.  thanks   Vinny

Vinny,

I have already opened a case with Verizon and have reached out to a contact over at Google to try and determine if the issue is on their side or on Akamia's side. I am going to try and reach out to Akaima tomorrow and see what I can get out of them on the issue. I have got to believe it is on Akaima side because Verizon and Google are two very well maintained DNS servers.

You know, its really good that people are trying to help others with their solutions. Unfortunately, their solutions might help them, but not others. Example, the multiple posts referring to "oh just turn of your Norton firewall" well not everyone uses Norton!!!! its absolutely inexcusable that this has been going on for months, and Apple still has no solution yet. Said this a few posts back and ill say it again, buying music should be a pleasurable experience, not a frustrating one.

thanks for your advise TBC, it seems to me GibbyOH is down the correct track, I have passed his information to Apple Support (it seems he may solve it without them).  There are many reasons to keep all purchases in itunes, I manage 4 itouches (music and apps), we get itunes gift cards, ...   so just as not everyone has Norton, not everyone's move to amazon would be painless, I am a big amazon prime buyer so I love them, ...   Vinny

Thanks GibbyOh!

208.067.222.222

208.067.222.220 

fixed me right up.

Funny thing, I always use OpenDNS, but for some reason hadn't set it up this last time. lol.

Can someone explain to me what DNS is and what I have to do?  I have Verizon.  Don't know what it is set on.

gvcoleman,

DNS stands for Domain Name System. Think of it as a phonebook, you look up john smith in the phonebook and next to his name you get his phone number 555-555-5556. Same thing here when you type in www.apple.com your computer goes out to the DNS server set for your network card and ask it what the IP address is for www.apple.com. The computer then calls that IP address for you and retrieves the requested data. iTunes is doing the same thing. When you click on a preview iTunes goes out to the DNS server and ask for a certian Akamia server. If that DNS server doesn't know or has as out dated info about what the IP address is then you don't get any data back. Now the reason we are hearing some of the preview is becuase iTunes doesn't get the whole song from one server it get pieces and parts from different servers. In doing more testing I found it's not always three, something it 5 or more which would explain why people have been seeing song previews cut off at different times.

To update your DNS setting and use the the opendns ip address, is going to depend on what OS you are using. I would advise you bing it as there are several good tutorials out there.

Thank you GiggyOH for the DNS discovery,  Once I changed my FIOS DNS to the open DNS IP's, the problem went away and now I can listen to the entire preview of any song.

The DNS issue indeed fix this for me as well.  But now I have another problem and that is the songs that I have downloaded which are complete according to iTunes, but are not actually all there (meaning there is about half a song and then empty dead air for the remaining time on the song)

I have iCloud, but for some reason I can't figure out how to redownload - anyone have any advice on how to do that?

Thank you very much GibbyOH, that change of the DNS fixed the problem.  It's too bad Apple Support can't figure it out.  At least you know what is going on.  Thank you very much!

I changed my settings to the open DNS per the instructions and then went to itunes and it would not access the itunes store at all.  I have Comcast wifi.  Do you have to make changes to the modem/router, or are there other changes in your settings that need tobe completed other than the Open DNS server addresses.  I'm lost.

Here is the reply that I got from Apple when I open a case.  There solution is for me to uninstall itunes, quicktime and all other related software, in a very specific order, and then update my windows service pack and then reinstall itunes.  There are earlier post in this thread that this did not work.  I am not sure I want to go to this effort when it hasn't work for others.

TEXT FROM APPLE SUPPORT:

This is Morgan with the iTunes Store Customer Support. I understand you are experiencing an issue with previewing songs from iTunes on your computer. I know it's very important that you are able to preview desired purchases before completing a transaction so I'll be happy to assist with resolving this issue.

I recommend that you attempt to resolve this issue by uninstalling iTunes and then reinstall the latest version. To do this, first ensure that you are logged in to an Administrator user account on your computer, then follow the instructions in the article below:

Removing and reinstalling iTunes, QuickTime, and other software components for Windows Vista or Windows 7

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1923

Note: Titles you purchased from the iTunes Store or imported from CDs are saved in your iTunes folder by default and are not deleted by uninstalling iTunes. Backing up your iTunes library regularly is recommended.

After successfully uninstalling iTunes, please ensure you have upgraded to the latest Service Pack for Windows by installing all updates available to you on Microsoft Windows Update:

http://update.microsoft.com

Once you have the latest Service Pack for Windows installed, download and install iTunes for Windows:

http://www.apple.com/itunes/download

If the previewing issue persists, you may wish to contact Apple technical support. A representative will be able to tell you about Apple's complimentary and fee-based support options and can help you determine which option might be most helpful. If you would like to create a technical-support case via our website and arrange for a representative to call you, please visit the Apple Expert website:

http://www.apple.com/support/expert

If you prefer to contact Apple technical support by telephone, you can find the appropriate phone number here:

http://www.apple.com/support/contact/phone_contacts.html