We’d previously heard reports that the next version of iTunes might eschew streaming media for social networking. Those rumors were right. Meet Ping. It’s like iTunes and Twitter and Last.FM collided together.
“One of the biggest things we focused on with iTunes is discovery. With over 12m songs, how do you find out about new stuff? People are always asking what are my friends listening to, what are my favorite artists up to? There’s not a great way to do that, there must be a better way,” says Jobs.
That’s what Ping is for. It’s a social network based around music: the convergence of the philosophies behind Twitter and Face with iTunes.
Once you click on Ping, you see the recent activity of the friends and artists you are following, which shows you the music they are listening to and endorsing. You can even be alerted to concerts.
Apple acknowledged privacy concerns about Ping, noting that you can selectively allow people to follow you, and even set yourself to be invisible. Given my embarrassing library of Brittany Spears tracks, thats a relief.
Ping will be available to up to 160 million iTunes users in over 23 countries, starting today. Anyone else think that’s a fantastic name?
[Image via GDGT]
