iTunes Going to the iCloud

This week, TechCrunch posted an article about Apple working to create iTunes.com, which will eventually replace the standard iTunes software. The CEO of MP3.com stated that this move was bound to occur eventually.

Of course, Apple implemented a strategy that is not only convenient for the consumers, but it also poses as an economical advantage. By creating iTunes.com, outside websites can benefit by creating "one-click purchase content" buttons through iTunes APIs, otherwise known as Application Program Interfaces. That way, multiple third-party sites can benefit in this win-win situation.

Even though iTunes currently has these purchasing buttons available on some websites, the process is still not as easy as it should be since customers would still have to download the software and purchase items through the original iTunes store. This is not ideal, because the more difficult or time-consuming the overall process, the easier it is for the customer to be bored and neglect an easy purchase. After all, the customer is always right, and inconvenience is the ultimate enemy.

This "in the clouds" approach could potentially turn into a huge business endeavor and Apple hopes to make their profit margin higher than ever before. In the future, TechCrunch believes that sites, such as Pandora, will be converted into an iTunes-like store. For example, once songs randomly play on your station, they will be easy to purchase with the click of a button.

This is a smart maneuver, because there will ultimately be fewer bugs, more streamlined updates, and more financial opportunities for Apple. In terms of streamlined updates, Apple's millions of customers will all have access to the same site, without relying on outdated software.

If you're like me, you are still holding onto the original mini iPod. And why not? The hardware and the actual iTunes software are still fully functional, but the biggest difference lies in the available song space. 3 GB hardly seems sufficient for anyone these days, so access to a continually improving site is great news!

It only seems like a logical progression, because the iPod is one of the few technological gadgets that the public has readily accepted and been committed to. In Karen's undergraduate class last semester, we discussed how most customers continue, and event want, to upgrade their iPods and seek the latest Apple trends. Most companies' products are usually either phased out or trumped by another inventions.

Whatever Apple decides, they have already adequately made their mark on the technology world and in our daily lives. I'm excited to see what the future of Apple has "in store" for us!