Get All Access for $5/mo

Apple Decides to Kill its Favourite Child iTunes iTunes is no longer the part of Apple, to be replaced by three separate apps for music, video and podcasts in the next update

By Nazreen Nazir

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Shutterstock.com

Apple recently made the announcement that it's going to kill the iTunes. In the next MacOs update Catalina, it will be replaced by three separate apps for music, video and podcasts. Apple's iTunes helped revolutionize the entire music, television and tech industries before it became an example of what could go wrong with them. In an era of Walkman, CDs, tapes, one hit albums and high prices, iTunes arrived as a savior. The 20 year old journey of iTunes has ended. Let's take a look at the rise and fall of iTunes.

The rise of iTunes

Although Apple didn't invent digital music but it set the groundwork in motion for 21st century music buying and streaming. iTunes was first launched solely with the intent of providing music online at 99 cents and that too legally. As technology grew and software improved, Apple made the leap from desktop to pockets with photos, videos, and later all apps with iTunes. It tended to different types of digital content to portable devices. In 2003, iPod was launched and the second version of iTunes was released along with it.

Launched with 200,000 songs, the iTunes store sold one million songs in its first week. The same was repeated with iPod and world was rocking to their personal playlists while wearing signature white earphones. For years, Apple crushed its competitors with iPod and digital music and it was included in every company presentation. Apple lived and breathed iPod with iTunes.

What led to the fall

As the years went by and updates were added along with new features, the app became bloated. Apple's original idea of providing one stop-shop for all the media became iTunes greatest undoing as it saddled the app with baggage and ate its usability. When Steve Jobs introduced iTunes, he said that music apps that existed were too complex and very difficult to learn and use. In the same way, iTunes had become the confusing amalgamation of features that no longer seemed feasible.

iTunes was originally launched as a music player. With so many things inculcated in the app it lost its original appeal for people as it became difficult to find features that were once easily accessible. People found themselves getting stuck in a morass of features designed to only sell products from iTunes.

iTunes will be replaced by three separate apps for music, video and podcasts which makes more sense as they will be much faster and easier to navigate through for the users. iTunes changed the way music was accessed and shared when it was launched in 2001. In the same way it should die as it has become a relic in the age of streaming music and podcasts.


Nazreen Nazir

Entrepreneur Staff

Features Writer

Looking for happiness in the world of business news and technology. 

I love reading and can be found doodling sometimes.

News and Trends

"45% of All Ongoing Hydropower Projects in India are Ours": Patel Engineering

Patel Engineering reported a turnover of INR 4,400 crore in the last fiscal year, with a projected 10 per cent growth for the current year.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Side Hustle

'Hustling Every Day': These Friends Started a Side Hustle With $2,500 Each — It 'Snowballed' to Over $500,000 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

Paris Emily Nicholson and Saskia Teje Jenkins had a 2020 brainstorm session that led to a lucrative business.

Science & Technology

5 Rule-Bending AI Hacks to Make Your Mornings More Productive and Profitable

By 2025, AI will transform productivity by streamlining workflows and cutting costs. Major companies like Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI are leading the way, advancing AI into "Phase 3," where tools act as digital assistants. Discover 5 AI hacks to boost efficiency and redefine your daily routine.

News and Trends

Aadhaar-Driven Financial Inclusion: Catalyzing Regional Economic Growth in Rural India

The emergence of digital tools such as the Aadhaar-enabled Payment System (AePS), which uses the biometric-based Aadhaar identity system for cash transfers and regular banking tasks, has become a tool to bridge the gap and improve financial inclusion

News and Trends

5 Things to Know About India's Chess Pride, Gukesh Dommaraju

He is not only inspired by Dhoni but also relies on a coach from Dhoni's cricketing era to help him prepare mentally.