iTunes experiments with video downloads: Today in Apple History

May 9, 2005: Apple begins quietly to sell music videos in the iTunes Music Store.

The function arrives with iTunes 4.8 and initially offers bonus content for people who buy albums in the shop. It will take several months for Apple to sell individual music videos together with Pixar short films and a selection of television programs for 1.99 US dollars per pop.

iTunes music store adds video downloads

Apple's decision to accept video made a completely sensible sense. YouTube was still in its infancy (so people paid money for music videos instead of streaming them for free). However, increased high-speed internet penetration finally made video streaming for normal users.

In the attempt to compete with services such as iTunes, some record labels sold improved CDs at this time. The discs were delivered with music videos, background images and other extras that are accessible from the computer.

However, this format has never really enjoyed increased CDs due to the general awkwardness of playing. To access the bonus functions, they had to take the CD out of their CD player, put them in their computer and then navigate into a (usually poorly designed) interface to look at a short MPEG video.

ITunes, on the other hand, made everything seamlessly. Downloading videos did not work differently than downloading music. There was no additional step. This usability made the difference.

Music videos on iTunes

The first music videos that appear on iTunes contained a mixture of solo tracks and albums with extras: “Feel Good Inc.” From Gorillaz, The antidote by Morcheba (9.90 US dollars for 10 songs plus a video), “Warning Shots” by Thievery Corporation (USD 1.98 for a song and a video), Stand up by Dave Matthew's band (11.99 US dollars for 14 songs, a video and a PDF) and “Pink Bullets” by The Shins (USD 1.98 for a song and a video).

The video quality was not always amazing. In contrast to the highly loading quality of today's iTunes video downloads or Apple TV+ video, some music videos received a knife resolution of 480 × 360. However, Apple was ironed out the kinks for video downloads instead of premium content.

At that time, Apple started the fifth generation iPod Classic. This device demonstrated a video reproduction – confirmed video as an extremely important part of the content of Cupertino.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyhnuvazj-k

Apple Music TV

Nowadays Apple is deep into the streaming game. The subscription -Service Apple Music was based on the 3 -billion dollar -acquisition of Beats and started in 2015. The video was always in the mix because Cupertino folded some music documentaries into the service. And then Apple followed TV+ in 2019. A year later, Apple turned a free streaming music video service called Apple Music TV.

What was the first video download you made about iTunes? Leave your comments below.