iTunes Match Released in Australia, However Problems Reported
No less than 2 days after Apple have released the iTunes 10.5.2 Update, reports from multiple tech blogs including Gizmodo have reported that Apple has rolled out iTunes Match to Australian users.
The link posted by Gizmodo, takes users to a page allowing them to sign up to the long-awaited iTunes Match within Australia for $34.99 Per Year, providing access to the Millions of Songs via the Apple iCloud service.
Unfortunately, the service may have been launched too early, or in error, as after you subscribe to the service, there are errors within iTunes preventing the service from operating as designed.
Error Reported: When users register within Australia for the iTunes Match services, the following error appears prompting that “iTunes Match has encountered an error. Please choose Sign Out and the Sign In from the iTunes Store menu and try again.
Mac blog site iClarified, have advised that Apple have confirmed via correspondence that “Apple has accidentally launched iTunes Match internationally“, and that “Apple has since begun refunding customers who were billed for service”.
This comes as a blow to Australian users, that are left waiting in the wings of the US and Brazil iTunes Match users that have had access to the service since it’s release in mid November within the US, and more recently in Brazil.
iTunes Australian users have been able to register for iTunes Match, after the link was published via Tech Blog Gizmodo, however it is uncertain how Apple will handle the influx of interest from the UK, European, NZ and Australian markets, and if the issues reported, and related to a technical glitch, or just that ”Apple has accidentally launched iTunes Match internationally“, as reported by iClarified.
[MacRumours via Gizmodo]
Read MoreApple updates iTunes version 10.5.2 – No iTunes Match Australia Release Date in Sight
Apple have released an update to iTunes 10.5.2, to include several improvements for iTunes Match release last month in the US (only). The update also fixes an audio distortion problem when playing or importing certain CD’s. 
iTunes 10.5.2 includes several improvements for iTunes Match and fixes an audio distortion problem when playing or importing certain CDs.
Apple iTunes 10.5.2 can be downloaded directly from Apples iTunes page. Only minor details of the Apple software update have been release on the support page, however this could be due to a pending release that has not been released to date.
Click to Download iTunes 10.5.2 or Run iTunes Software Update
Although iTunes Match has been released in the US, there is still no release date for Australia, Canada, Europe and Asia, however are still hopeful for an announcement by the end of year.
What is iTunes Match?
For US$24.99/Per year, iTunes Match is an iCloud based streaming service, that will analyse your local iTunes library, and provides an exact copy of the track or album in the Cloud via iTunes. If a song is not matched, it is uploaded in its current format, ensuring that your existing music is not compromised in quality. Once your library has been scanned and uploaded you can access this content from any iTunes enabled device (including iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad).
Read MorePimpMyRide Mario Kart Style. MarioKart7 for Nintendo 3DS release date
Picture - http://www.westcoastcustoms.com/
On Dec 4, Nintendo will release the long-awaited MarioKart7 for the Nintendo 3DS which displays games in 3D resolution.
To promote the release of the game MarioKart7, Nintendo has commissioned MTV’s PimpMyRide’s ‘West Coast Custom Shop’ to create two real-life replicas of the classic, Mario Kart and Luigi’s Bumblebee Kart. The Karts will be on display at the 2011 LA Auto Show promoting the release of MarioKart7, and one of the Karts will be given away as a prize to one lucky GameStop Customer.
via (WestCoastCustomShop) via JalopNik
Read MoreApple release ‘iTunes Match’ in the US. Rest of World left waiting for release date.
Apple today have released the long-awaited iTunes Match service for U.S. iTunes fans only. iTunes Match has been bundled and released with the recent iTunes 10.5.1 update. Unfortunately, there is no release date for Australia (including Rest of World), however I am confident that before the end of year, we will see this service pushed out to UK, Canada, Australia and Beyond.
What is iTunes Match?
For US$24.99/Per year, iTunes Match is an iCloud based service, and with over 20 Million songs for matching, iTunes Match will analyse your iTunes library, matching songs, and uploading non-matched content to your iCloud service. If a song is matched, it becomes available to you to download to any of your devices linked to your iCloud account via iTunes. If a song is not matched, it is uploaded in its current format, ensuring that your existing music is not compromised in quality. In addition iTunes match will replace any lower quality version of an existing songs with higher quality 256k version.
Read More“iTunes determines which songs in your collection are available in the iTunes Store. Any music with a match is automatically added to iCloud for you to listen to anytime, on any device. Since there are more than 20 million songs in the iTunes Store, chances are, your music is already in iCloud. And for the few songs that aren’t, iTunes has to upload only what it can’t match. Which is much faster than starting from scratch. Once your music is in iCloud, you can stream and store it to any of your devices. Even better, all the music iTunes matches plays back from iCloud at 256-Kbps AAC DRM-free quality — even if your original copy was of lower quality.”
Apple Adds Multitasking Gestures for Original iPad
In a previous blog post I mentioned, Apple have included in the IOS 5.0.1 update to include Multitasking Gestures for Original iPad (1G). Using four or five fingers on your iPad screen, Multitasking Gestures allow you to swipe up to reveal the multitasking bar, pinch to return to the Home screen, and swipe left or right to switch between apps.
How-To Enable Multitasking Gestures:
To Enable this Option on your iPad;
1. Access the ‘Settings’ menu,
2. Tap on ‘General’,
3. Locate the ”Multitasking Gestures” option, and select On..
Note: Blogger “Cocoa Box Notes” has advised that there are known issues with Multitasking if you are using the Penultimate or other Handwriting Apps.
If required, once enabled, you can disable Multitasking Gestures at any time, by accessing the ‘Settings’ on your iPad. In the ‘General’ settings area, look for ‘Multitasking Gestures’, and disable the feature.
Using four or five fingers on your iPad screen, Multitasking Gestures allow you to swipe up to reveal the multitasking bar, pinch to return to the Home screen, and swipe left or right to switch between apps.
Read More
Apple release iOS 5.0.1 Software Update. Battery Fix, Multitasking & Improved Voice Recognition for Australian Users.
Apple release iOS 5.0.1 Software Update. Battery Fix, MultiTasking for iPad 1G and Improved Voice Recognition for Australian Users.
For the first time, Apple users can update their IOS straight from their devices. Simply plug in your device into a power source, access the settings menu, tap on General, and then select Software Update.
Release from Apple Includes:
Fixes bugs affecting battery life
Adds Multitasking Gestures for original iPad
Resolves bugs with Documents in the Cloud
Improves voice recognition for Australian users using dictation
Products compatible with this software update:
iPhone 4S
iPhone 4
iPhone 3GS
iPad 2
iPad
iPod touch (4th generation)
iPod touch (3rd generation)
For information on the security content of this update, please visit this website:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222
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