Apple's iTunes Store at 10: A visual timeline
Apple's iTunes Store turns 10 years old this weekend. CNET breaks down some of the key moments along the way.
Josh Lowensohn Former Senior Writer
Josh Lowensohn joined CNET in 2006 and now covers Apple. Before that, Josh wrote about everything from new Web start-ups, to remote-controlled robots that watch your house. Prior to joining CNET, Josh covered breaking video game news, as well as reviewing game software. His current console favorite is the Xbox 360.
2 min read
Apple's iTunes Storeturns 10 years old this weekend. A lot's happened in that time, including a jump from just music to selling nearly every type of content, short of animated GIFs.
We've rounded down some of the key moments from the past 10 years, along with links to CNET News stories that puts them all in context.
You can also take a look at Apple's own timeline, which the company put out yesterday, and requires Apple's iTunes software on computers or an iOS device.
CNET Story links:
- January 2001: Apple releases iTunes software for Mac
- April 2003: iTunes Store launches. Has 200,000 songs, at 99 cents each.
- October 2003: iTunes for Windows released and Apple strikes exclusive deal with Audible to put audiobooks on iTunes.
- June 2004: iTunes Music Store branches out to U.K., France and Germany
- October 2005: iTunes Store gets TV shows and music videos
- September 2006: Apple starts selling movies on iTunes
- September 2007: Apple adds iTunes Wi-Fi store app to iPhones as part of iOS 1.1.1 software. Apple also starts selling ringtones for 99 cents.
- January 2008: iTunes gets movie rentals
- April 2008: iTunes surpasses Walmart to become No. 1 music retailer in the U.S.
- July 2008: App Store launches within new iTunes
- January 2009: iTunes songs go DRM-free
- April 2009: Apple changes music pricing for the first time. Songs are now sold at 69 cents, 99 cents, and $1.29.
- January 2010: Apple launches iBookstore to sell e-books
- November 2010: Apple puts up entire Beatles catalog
- January 2011: Apple launches App Store for Macs with 1,000 pieces of software.
- November 2011: Apple launches iTunes Match service
- August 2011: Apple kills off iTunes TV show rentals
- December 2012:iTunes Store comes to 56 extra countries, including Russia and India.