Chapter 7. Shopping at the iTunes Store

In This Chapter

  • Setting up an account with the iTunes Store

  • Previewing and buying songs, TV shows, movies, and audio books

  • Browsing, previewing, and downloading podcasts

  • Buying music, podcasts, and apps directly with your iPod touch or iPhone

When Apple announced its online music service, Steve Jobs remarked that other services put forward by the music industry tend to treat consumers like criminals. The Apple CEO had a point. Record labels dragged their feet for years, experimenting with online sales and taking legal action against online sites that allowed free downloads and music copying. Consumers and the industry both needed a solution. Apple did the research on how to make a service that worked better and was easier to use, and the company forged ahead with the iTunes Store.

By all accounts, Apple has succeeded in offering the easiest, fastest, and most cost-effective service for buying content online. You can purchase or rent movies, including HD movies, and you can purchase TV shows, music videos, applications, and games to play on your iPod or iPhone.

The iTunes Store includes the App Store, which offers free and commercial iPod touch and iPhone applications by the thousands. You can find apps in just about every category you can think of, including gaming, social networking, sports, business, and more. The store also includes games for the iPod nano and iPod classic.

You can also download free or commercial content and apps directly to an ...

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