When iTunes Match is activated, can I choose to keep the music files on any of the devices associated with my account (the way iCloud sync works)?
Ocassionally I'm way-off grid and still want to be able to access my music. I'm hesitant to commit to an all-streamins solution. I want the music files on my iMac and iPhone updated with ICloud sync and have my tablets use iCloud Match to conserve disc space. Is this possible?
iMac (27-inch Mid 2010), iOS 7.0.4
When you activate iTunes Match from your computer your computer's library gets matched or uploaded to the iTunes Match server. If you activate iTunes Match on your iPod Touch, iPhone, or iPad you will see all of your matched an uploaded music appear in the music app on that device. Songs that are downloaded locally on the device will appear without a cloud symbol meaning they are physically located on the device, can be played and not use data, and if you go off the grid, they will still show up and be playable. Songs that are in iTunes Match but not on your device will have a cloud icon. You can play these songs at any time but they are being played from the server, so if you connection is bad or you go offline, you may not see them or they may not load well. In the end, the answer to you question is yes. If you activate iTunes Match, you can choose which songs or playlists are downloaded locally to a device and which ones aren't. This article may answer more questions you may have http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5637
What I find confusing is the phrase "matched ond uploaded." If the files are "uploaded" it seems pretty clear that my origional copies that I placed on my device are still on that devide after the upload is complete. But what about the "matched" files? Can I retain a copy of the "matched " files on a devise if I want to, or will Apple automatically erase the files from my device? I want to be able to access ALL of my music when I am off-grid in the middle of nowhere without either cell service or wifi, so I want to keep the files on the devices I take with me.
iTunes Match vs iCloud Sync
