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Digital
iCloud won’t have streaming
By CMU Editorial | Published on Thursday 1 September 2011
Oh. So after those online reports that developers who had been given access to a beta version of iTunes Match had said it looks like Apple’s iCloud digital locker would have streaming functionality, now other people are saying it won’t.
As previously noted, when announcing its licensed digital locker offer earlier this year, Apple was a bit vague as to whether users who uploaded their digital music collections to the iTunes server (or who magic-ed them there via the wonders if the Match service) would then be able to stream it back to any net-connected Apple device, or whether tracks would have to be properly downloaded to be enjoyed.
Information circulated earlier this week by Apple seemed to suggest streaming would be an option. Some wondered why, if this was so, Apple reps had glossed over that bit of functionality when first announcing iCloud. But then some wondered if there had been licensing issues – remember, Apple’s digital locker is label sanctioned – that had delayed confirmation of the streaming bit.
But it seems that Apple probably didn’t mention streaming first time round, because it won’t be part of the service. Or at least that is what a rep for the IT giant has told AllThingsD. Of course, tracks can play while being downloaded, albeit with a little buffering, and it seems that’s where the confusion came from, developers were shown a track playing after being clicked on and assumed it was streaming, when, in fact, it was a progressive download.
I bet you’re glad you got up this morning so you can partake in all this tedious speculation about a service that won’t launch in the UK until next year, aren’t you?
