--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Apple's iTunes program was once the envy…" description: "\"Apple's iTunes program was once the envy of the world. A combined digital music store and player, it could also sync your iPod. And it worked on both M..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c25/walt-mossberg-4158_apple_apple-s-itunes-program-was-once-the-envy_2781093.png" --- # Apple's iTunes program was once the envy of the world. A… ![“Apple's iTunes program was once the envy of the world. A combined digital music store and player, it could also sync your iPod. And it worked on both Mac and Windows. It was reasonably fast and very sure-footed.” quote by Walt Mossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c25/walt-mossberg-4158_apple_apple-s-itunes-program-was-once-the-envy_2781093.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c25/walt-mossberg-4158_apple_apple-s-itunes-program-was-once-the-envy_2781093.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c25/walt-mossberg-4158_apple_apple-s-itunes-program-was-once-the-envy_2781093.png) > “Apple's iTunes program was once the envy of the world. A combined digital music store and player, it could also sync your iPod. And it worked on both Mac and Windows. It was reasonably fast and very sure-footed.” [Walt Mossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-mossberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. iTunes combined a music store, player, and iPod sync across Mac and Windows, offering speed and reliability that set a benchmark for digital media platforms. **In simple terms:** iTunes set a high standard for cross‑platform music services. Key Takeaway Learn from its user‑centric design. Themes technology innovation media Mood nostalgic reflective Type historical critical When to use this quote - personal music libraries - device syncing - online retail - software development Key Concepts digital distribution user experience platform interoperability Questions to Reflect On - What design choices made iTunes successful? - How can modern services improve on its limitations? A Different Perspective Its closed ecosystem limited competition and later faced criticism for lack of openness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Envy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Asked about the fact that Apple's iTunes software for Windows computers was extremely popular, Jobs joked, 'It's like giving a glass of ice water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/asked-about-the-fact-that-apple-s-itunes-software-for-windows/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [Believe me, I love Apple...but iTunes shouldn't be the answer. For artists, it should be the scariest thing in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am-2/believe-me-i-love-apple-but-itunes-shouldn-t-be-the-answer-for/) [Will I Am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am-2/) > [“Content Every time users of Apple’s iTunes add a song to their collection, they are strengthening ties to the service.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nir-eyal/content-every-time-users-of-apple-s-itunes-add-a-song-to-their/) [Nir Eyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nir-eyal/) > [The iPod is a proprietary integrated product, although that is becoming quite modular. You can download your music from Amazon as easily as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-ipod-is-a-proprietary-integrated-product-although-that-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Microsoft makes numerous apps for both Android and iOS, as do Google, Amazon and Facebook. You can run iTunes and iCloud on Windows and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-mossberg/microsoft-makes-numerous-apps-for-both-android-and-ios-as-do-google/) [Walt Mossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-mossberg/) > [Jeff Williams, Apple's senior vice president of operations, has been called 'Tim Cook's Tim Cook' by some.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-mossberg/jeff-williams-apple-s-senior-vice-president-of-operations-has-been/) [Walt Mossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-mossberg/) > [When I walk into a Best Buy, I now see, right from the front door, a giant Apple logo. I see a giant Samsung…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-mossberg/when-i-walk-into-a-best-buy-i-now-see-right-from-the-front-door-a/) [Walt Mossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-mossberg/) > [Apple's advantage is that it designs and builds software together, so if the software isn't excellent, it does the superlative hardware a disservice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-mossberg/apple-s-advantage-is-that-it-designs-and-builds-software-together-so/) [Walt Mossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-mossberg/) > [My first computers were a Timex Sinclair and an Apple II.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-mossberg/my-first-computers-were-a-timex-sinclair-and-an-apple-ii/) [Walt Mossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-mossberg/) > [Microsoft's Windows 3.1, released in 1992, was the first truly successful edition of Windows and juiced the Redmond juggernaut. Apple's Macintosh System 7.5, released…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-mossberg/microsoft-s-windows-3-1-released-in-1992-was-the-first-truly/) [Walt Mossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-mossberg/) > [In August of 2011, Steve Jobs, the tech icon who disrupted a string of traditional industries, called me and told me he thought he'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-mossberg/in-august-of-2011-steve-jobs-the-tech-icon-who-disrupted-a-string-of/) [Walt Mossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-mossberg/) > [I wrote a lot about the need for an information appliance. I think we've pretty much arrived at one: the iPad. A child could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-mossberg/i-wrote-a-lot-about-the-need-for-an-information-appliance-i-think-we/) [Walt Mossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-mossberg/) > [Truth is, people like buying things for $0.99 and $1.99 for their digital devices. We know that from iTunes. We know that from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lee/truth-is-people-like-buying-things-for-0-99-and-1-99-for-their/) [Jennifer Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lee/) > [I have done a bit of recording and the songs are available on iTunes, and I've got some nice comments. It's something I enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-felton/i-have-done-a-bit-of-recording-and-the-songs-are-available-on-itunes/) [Tom Felton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-felton/) > [I have a radio show on Sirius XM. I put it up as a free download on my Soundcloud and on iTunes. That's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-trak/i-have-a-radio-show-on-sirius-xm-i-put-it-up-as-a-free-download-on-my/) [A-Trak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-trak/) ## More by Walt Mossberg > [I wasn't surprised to find Samsung's OLED screen to be bright, vivid, and clear. It's beautiful, although in viewing some photos and videos, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-mossberg/i-wasn-t-surprised-to-find-samsung-s-oled-screen-to-be-bright-vivid/) [Walt Mossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-mossberg/) > [Books should cost less and they should be digital.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-mossberg/books-should-cost-less-and-they-should-be-digital/) [Walt Mossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-mossberg/) > [Just remember: you're not a 'dummy,' no matter what those computer books claim. The real dummies are the people who-though technically expert-couldn't design hardware…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-mossberg/just-remember-you-re-not-a-dummy-no-matter-what-those-computer-books/) [Walt Mossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-mossberg/) > [I have on my wall right now a front page of the 'Journal' from January 1991, when I co-wrote a front-page story about Iraq…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-mossberg/i-have-on-my-wall-right-now-a-front-page-of-the-journal-from-january/) [Walt Mossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-mossberg/) > [Microsoft makes numerous apps for both Android and iOS, as do Google, Amazon and Facebook. You can run iTunes and iCloud on Windows and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-mossberg/microsoft-makes-numerous-apps-for-both-android-and-ios-as-do-google/) [Walt Mossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-mossberg/) > [Jeff Williams, Apple's senior vice president of operations, has been called 'Tim Cook's Tim Cook' by some.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-mossberg/jeff-williams-apple-s-senior-vice-president-of-operations-has-been/) [Walt Mossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-mossberg/) > [The products I review are typically lent to me by their manufacturers for a few weeks or months. I return any products I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-mossberg/the-products-i-review-are-typically-lent-to-me-by-their-manufacturers/) [Walt Mossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-mossberg/) > [Who have I picked fights with over the years? Bill Gates. Google. Mark Zuckerberg. Even - despite everything that's written about my relationship with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-mossberg/who-have-i-picked-fights-with-over-the-years-bill-gates-google-mark/) [Walt Mossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-mossberg/) > [There are lots of reasons email persists, even as faster and simpler forms of communication proliferate and your personal communications likely have mostly migrated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-mossberg/there-are-lots-of-reasons-email-persists-even-as-faster-and-simpler/) [Walt Mossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-mossberg/) > [Big screens helped propel Samsung to top-tier prominence and helped iPhone sales explode a few years later. But for many, including myself, the biggest-screen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-mossberg/big-screens-helped-propel-samsung-to-top-tier-prominence-and-helped/) [Walt Mossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-mossberg/) > [Though it has plenty of competitors, Slack claims to be the 'fastest growing business application in history'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-mossberg/though-it-has-plenty-of-competitors-slack-claims-to-be-the-fastest/) [Walt Mossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-mossberg/) > [When I walk into a Best Buy, I now see, right from the front door, a giant Apple logo. I see a giant Samsung…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-mossberg/when-i-walk-into-a-best-buy-i-now-see-right-from-the-front-door-a/) [Walt Mossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-mossberg/) > [I try not to make snap judgments. I never, ever make conclusions about products I've never tried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-mossberg/i-try-not-to-make-snap-judgments-i-never-ever-make-conclusions-about/) [Walt Mossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-mossberg/) > [I believe that tablets - and especially the iPad - are extremely versatile and productive tools for consumers, schools and businesses and are better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-mossberg/i-believe-that-tablets-and-especially-the-ipad-are-extremely/) [Walt Mossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-mossberg/) > [It turns out that CVS is one of about 40 merchants in a consortium that formed in 2011 to develop their own mobile-phone-based payment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-mossberg/it-turns-out-that-cvs-is-one-of-about-40-merchants-in-a-consortium/) [Walt Mossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-mossberg/) [Explore all 115 Walt Mossberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-mossberg/) ## More Apple quotes > [“Neither's the one you get, less you want me to see if your apple's ripe, yet. - Yoren”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/neither-s-the-one-you-get-less-you-want-me-to-see-if-your-apple-s/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“Most people believe the apple merely represented Knowledge. But we know better. 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I think Steve Jobs has started one of the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-rock/i-m-not-only-a-fan-of-apple-products-i-have-stock-in-the-company-i/) [Kid Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-rock/) > [When Apple introduced its game-changing iPhone in 2007, Nokia was caught sleeping on the job. Although it had actually developed an iPhone-style device -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noreena-hertz/when-apple-introduced-its-game-changing-iphone-in-2007-nokia-was/) [Noreena Hertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noreena-hertz/) > [I like to make pies. That's kind of my new obsession - peach, blueberry, apple, strawberry. I make a really good pumpkin pie with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-saylor/i-like-to-make-pies-that-s-kind-of-my-new-obsession-peach-blueberry/) [Morgan Saylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-saylor/) > [I love to eat an apple after a meal, just to cleanse my teeth - they always look polished afterwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-zeta-jones/i-love-to-eat-an-apple-after-a-meal-just-to-cleanse-my-teeth-they/) [Catherine Zeta-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-zeta-jones/) > [Back in my school days, when I would scuttle off with a cheese roll, an apple, a box of Sun-Maid raisins and a Penguin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-khoo/back-in-my-school-days-when-i-would-scuttle-off-with-a-cheese-roll-an/) [Rachel Khoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-khoo/) > [As far as Apple goes, it was a different company every few years from the time I joined in 1984.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/as-far-as-apple-goes-it-was-a-different-company-every-few-years-from/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [“You are the apple of Love’s eye.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-paul-kirkpatrick/you-are-the-apple-of-love-s-eye/) [David Paul Kirkpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-paul-kirkpatrick/) > [Like a satellite in orbit, Apple is perpetually falling. It just happens to miss Earth every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-dediu/like-a-satellite-in-orbit-apple-is-perpetually-falling-it-just/) Horace Dediu > [Positive thinking is so firmly enshrined in our culture that knocking it is a little like attacking motherhood or apple pie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/srikumar-rao/positive-thinking-is-so-firmly-enshrined-in-our-culture-that-knocking/) [Srikumar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/srikumar-rao/) > [To the extent that anyone anywhere does anything interesting, the question is: 'Why isn't Apple doing that; why is Apple behind in that?' We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-federighi/to-the-extent-that-anyone-anywhere-does-anything-interesting-the/) [Craig Federighi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-federighi/) > [I read the Steve Jobs book, and that kind of changed everything. 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