iTunes Now Available From the Microsoft Store For Windows 10 (windowscentral.com)

iTunes is now available in the Microsoft Store, almost a year after Microsoft first revealed it was working with Apple to get iTunes listed in the Store. Windows Central reports: For a portion of Windows 10 users, iTunes' appearance on the Microsoft Store may not matter much because they can use the standard desktop app. Where it will have an impact, however, is for anyone using Windows 10 S, which is locked down and only allows installation of apps from the Microsoft Store. For those users, the full desktop iTunes experience should be available here, complete with access to Apple Music streaming and iPhone syncing.

Comments

Re:Great news

[mark-t]

Nope. There's still no Linux or FreeBSD iTunes client.

Whether that is complaining or gratitude is left as an exercise for the reader.

Re:Maybe updates will work via the store.

[GerryGilmore]

So, why use it? Between Banshee and the plethora of alternatives available is there ANY functionality only available through iTunes?

In other news :

[Anonymous Coward]

- Lotus Notes is released, working with Microsoft Sharepoint
- a new Java JVM now runs on the .NET runtime
- OpenBSD environment available on the HURD
- Burger King available at Macdonalds
- Comcast partners with Tesla to include their cable box software in the center console
- Jehovah Witnesses are available at the Church of Scientology
- Prison food now available at school lunches

Re:Maybe updates will work via the store.

[tlhIngan]

iTunes has always had update problems for me in the past. (uninstall, multiple reboots, install, to get it to work) I'm just hoping that this means I can keep iTunes up to date without a huge hassle going forward.

Yes, because iTunes from the Microsoft App Store cannot have extra services (no more iPod helper services, bonjour services, etc), and Apple has to ditch the Apple Software Updater, so no more requests to install iCloud or other Apple software as well when you update iTunes.

Basically it's self contained, and the Microsoft App Store is responsible for keeping it updated.

So, why use it? Between Banshee and the plethora of alternatives available is there ANY functionality only available through iTunes?

Yes, full iOS backups. Did you know iCloud will not back up certain things? Personal things like password keychains and such are not backed up with iCloud (including stuff like location services MAC caches, the source of the "tracking" data a few years ago).

An iTunes backup will backup the apps on your device, or it should, so discontinued apps can be safely stored and installed on other devices you own even if they're no longer sold.

An ENCRYPTED iTunes backup will backup your entire iOS device, passwords and all, so if you want to make sure you absolutely have every bit of data, you need an encrypted backup.

The reason for this is obvious - passwords and such Apple doesn't want in iCloud - because it means any law enforcement request for iCloud data would leak 3rd party account information as well, so Apple does not want to be the "loophole" that lets law enforcement bypass the need to get warrants for services the user may use. So just because they get your iCloud data, it means they won't have access to your email, facebook or other account data and would have to subpeona those services independently.

Obviously, an unencrypted iTunes backup (a local backup) should expose sensitive data either, or it's a loophole to get at your personal information. (Why subpoena Apple when you can sync the phone and get at all the data on it?).

Thus, full backups require an encrypted backup so your PC will not have your phone's data in the clear.