Why? Pandora paid is more $ for the same basic features is it not?
I don' have the paid version, I only get ads if I skip a song which is rare.
Why? Pandora paid is more $ for the same basic features is it not?
How does that make it unusable though? I've got thousands and thousands of songs that all sync just fine. The main purpose of iTunes Match isn't to replace your tracks with different ones. iTunes Match is meant to make all of your iTunes library available in iCloud with the added bonus of it upping the quality of your songs if they exist in iTunes. When I use it, it works perfectly fine and dandy 95% of the time.
So, how exactly is it unusable?
I'd use Google Play as well, except I fell for their ploy of 'get everyone to subscribe at the introductory rate with promises of an iOS app any day' and yet, here we are, 3 months later and still no app, and zero communications from Google. Neat.
The main purpose of iTunes Match is to replace your tracks with higher quality encodings. If it can't ensure it doesn't replace the version you bought with whatever iTunes has, it is unusable.
No it isn't. The main purpose of iTunes Match is to make all of your MP3s available for instant download/streaming on any PC/Mac/iOS device. The fact that it also switched with higher quality encodings is simply an added bonus. I don't remember them announcing it and saying "It will allow you to get all of your crappy sounding music in high quality without paying! Oh, and I guess it also makes your music available to stream...but whatever, who cares, right?"
You're simply wanting iTunes Match to have a different primary function than it is actually meant to have. And by the way, I've never had any issues with getting higher quality tracks from iTunes Match. In fact, even if it isn't the primary function, it has always worked for me.
No, when it was announced the main purpose was said to upgrade your tracks.
They didn't say "without paying", although it was understood and I didn't like it. I've paid for all my tracks.
If that was the main function as you say, then why does it not even mention that functionality in the main description on Apple's website?
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It is redundant and expensive, you can just sync your iOS device.
$25 a year is literally pocket change for me and I'm a broke college student. If $25 a year is too expensive for you then how did you even afford an iOS device in the first place?
Also, sure you can sync your device. iTunes Match is an optional convenience. Lots of things in life are optional conveniences. Why have A/C when you can just get a fan? Why have a stove when you can just cook on an open fire? Why have a toilet when you can just poop outside?
iTunes Match may not be as great as A/C, but it's certainly the same exact type of optional convenience.
Streaming is too expensive, not the subscription.
What part of streaming is expensive? I stream tons of songs from iTunes Match in my car without issues or even coming close to exceeding my 2GB data plan on AT&T (I use plenty of data outside of streaming as well).
If you're talking about iTunes Radio, I agree, but it has absolutely nothing to do with iTunes Match aside from the fact that you get ad free radio.