Apple's Ping - A Social Network for Music

September 1, 2010
from apple.com

"iTunes 10 - Your music, movies, TV shows, apps, and more. The best way to follow your favorite artists and friends — and discover the music they’re talking about, listening to, and downloading. iTunes is home to everything that entertains you."

During their event today in San Francisco, Apple announced iTunes 10, the latest version of their music software. But they also introduced a big new feature in the app — Ping: a social network for music.

It’s like “Facebook and Twitter meet iTunes,” Jobs says. “But it’s not Facebook, it’s not Twitter,” Jobs is quick to note — “it’s a social network all about music.” And guess what? It has 160 million users in 23 countries built in right away (Apple will presumably be opening it up to other iTunes users later). And it’s available on your iPhone and iPod touch — right in the iTunes Store.

Jobs notes that this feature is all about discovery. You can follow both artists and your friends. And you can be followed. With it, you get custom song and album charts to discover new music. And you can post your thoughts and opinions about your favorite music. Plus, there are 17,000 concert listing in the network.

"It's Facebook meets Twitter meets iTunes," Jobs added as he explained Ping was a tool to help its 160 million iTunes customers to discover new music.

"With Ping you can follow your favourite artists and friends and join a worldwide conversation with music's most passionate fans," said Jobs. Users can create a "circle of friends" to share their tastes, as happens with Facebook, or broadcast their opinions in Ping, as with Twitter.

Ping is available as a part of iTunes 10 — which is available today. You can go Apple offial site to see more iTunes new features.

Related News: Apple Introduces New iPod touch