iTunes Brand's Slow Demise Continues as Apple Updates URLs for App Web Listings

[MacRumors]

Apple switched its URL structure for hosting app listings on the web this week, in another sure sign that the company is gradually moving on from its all-encompassing 18-year-old iTunes brand.

When viewing an iOS or Mac app listing on the web, the URL address now contains apps.apple.com, where previously it was itunes.apple.com.

The change follows similar URL updates reported earlier this month for songs and music artists, which now direct to music.apple.com rather than the old itunes.apple.com nomenclature.

Apple is also in the process of replacing all iTunes links for podcasts, TV shows, movies, and books with category-specific links such as podcasts.apple.com, tv.apple.com, movies.apple.com, and books.apple.com. The company has also wiped all its iTunes pages on Facebook and Instagram.

Apple's move away from the iTunes brand for its web-hosted storefront follows its decision to sunset the iTunes app and replace it with standalone Music, Podcasts, and TV apps as part of macOS Catalina, unveiled last week and coming in the fall.

Apple says users' existing iTunes music libraries will be imported automatically when they update to the new macOS, and the iTunes Store will live on in the new Music app's sidebar to allow users to buy music on Mac, iOS, and Apple TV. However syncing iOS devices like iPhones and iPads on Mac will take place in Finder instead.

Thanks, Micah!

Article Link: iTunes Brand's Slow Demise Continues as Apple Updates URLs for App Web Listings

 

[miniyou64]

What a mistake on Apple’s part to devalue such brand recognition. Crazy

 

[Aluminum213]

That’s a URL change alright

 

[Mike MA]

The PowerBook and iTunes in special were basically what encouraged me to switch to the Mac back that days. Oh well, you have to carry on I guess...

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

What’s left still using the i branding?

iMac, iPhone, iPad, iCloud, iPod Touch, and iMovie. Did I forget anything?

Edit: iMessage.

Edit 2: Does Apple still refer to Pages, Keynote, and Numbers as iWork? It seems like they kept the apps but stopped referring to them as iWork when they stopped being sold separately...

 

[martyjmclean]

What’s left still using the i branding?

iMac, iPhone, iPad, iCloud, iPod Touch, and iMovie. Did I forget anything?

Edit: iMessage.

Edit 2: Does Apple still refer to Pages, Keynote, and Numbers as iWork? It seems like they kept the apps but stopped referring to them as iWork when they stopped being sold separately...

That's it. Apple refers to iWork apps separately, bit of a mouthful.

appstore.apple.com would have been a better URL, but this new one is still better than itunes.apple.com.

 

[Shirasaki]

Followed by this, I wonder how long Apple will wait until they terminate the iTunes 12.6.5 app package download and manage ability (alongside maybe other third party tools as well). As of now there is really no alternative for app and (custom) ringtone management that is also free.

 

[Sharewaredemon]

I'm interested in what they are going to call iTunes U, which, at this time is still using it in the URL:
https://itunesu.itunes.apple.com/coursemanager/

 

[lunarworks]

What a mistake on Apple’s part to devalue such brand recognition. Crazy

iTunes was becoming as much of a weird but popular branding mismatch as Canadian Tire.

 

[Sharewaredemon]

iTunes was becoming as much of a weird but popular branding mismatch as Canadian Tire.

Never bought tires there, but I love the potato chips and chainsaws they sell.

 

[az431]

What a mistake on Apple’s part to devalue such brand recognition. Crazy

How is it a mistake? The iTunes branding as applied to anything other than songs has always been confusing, especially when apps are purchased on the App Store and not on iTunes. Given that, it's a wild leap to say that the iTunes name is what sells apps.

Even when applied to songs it is pretty clear people could care less whether it is "Apple Music" or "iTunes."

For most people, the name iTunes is a dated, bloated, and overall crappy app that should have died 10 years ago.

 

[rhett7660]

I love the fact, you go back through the pages of Macrumors and do a search for iTunes and the amount of posts calling for the end of iTunes, or break up iTunes, or... with iTunes is funny. Now that they are finally doing it, people are complaining about it. Now granted some of the folks complaining probably were not part of the community back then. But it is still funny.

 

[ignatius345]

I love the fact, you go back through the pages of Macrumors and do a search for iTunes and the amount of posts calling for the end of iTunes, or break up iTunes, or... with iTunes is funny. Now that they are finally doing it, people are complaining about it. Now granted some of the folks complaining probably were not part of the community back then. But it is still funny.

People love to gripe, basically.

I myself get that iTunes has/had a lot going on, but it's also had a TON of power user features that I dearly hope make it over to the new Music app.

 

[KoolAid-Drink]

Edit 2: Does Apple still refer to Pages, Keynote, and Numbers as iWork? It seems like they kept the apps but stopped referring to them as iWork when they stopped being sold separately...

They do, yes. https://www.apple.com/iwork/

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

I'm interested in what they are going to call iTunes U, which, at this time is still using it in the URL:
https://itunesu.itunes.apple.com/coursemanager/

It's be confusing to call it Apple University, given that's what they already call their employee training program...

or maybe not. Just go ahead and call it that. Other universities have multiple schools within them - why can't Apple have internal courses and public courses all hosted under the name "Apple University"?

 

[dos771]

Wondering what will happen with all app download links on countless websites and blogs. For now, the links are being redirected to the new apps.apple.com URLs, but is it a permanent redirect or a temporary one?