The birth of iTunes, Apple’s killer app
Apple iTunes, version 1. Image credit: Apple
Talk about a killer app! Apple’s iTunes and the incredibly successful iTunes Music Store have formed the basis for a huge wave of iPod sales. The program literally helped transform Apple from a maker of computers and software into a household name in the consumer electronics market. So how did it all start?
The first version of iTunes was released by Apple in January 2001 but the underpinnings of the program were first created by someone else.
Which application was bought by Apple and formed the basis for iTunes?
Think you know the answer? Post a response in the comments — we’ll post the answer tomorrow.
aj said:
Feb 08, 10 at 10:19 amThe application that served as the basis for the first version of Apple’s iTunes was SoundJam MP. Created by developers Jeff Robbin and Bill Kincaid, SoundJam MP was initially released by the company Casady & Greene in 1999. Prior to the SoundJam deal, Apple also had contact with another Macintosh software development company named Panic, the makers of Audion, another popular audio player on the market at the time.
For a history of Audion and a story about Panic and Apple, check out this interesting article on Panic’s website:
http://www.panic.com/extras/audionstory/