Apple Launches Ping, Exclusive Social Network for Music
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Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the company's own social network for music available today in new iTunes 10.
"In iTunes 10 we're announcing Ping — it's a social network for music," Jobs said at Apple's annual fall keynote event held in San Francisco. "It's like Facebook and Twitter meet iTunes. It's all about music."
Jobs pitched the service as a level playing field for musicians and music lovers alike. "Most artists will hold their hand up and say 'you can follow me' — you can hold your hand up and say that as well."
Perhaps reluctant to stir up a privacy frenzy like the one that has followed Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg since early this year, Jobs explained that Ping has a range of privacy options.
Ping has adopted the follow /follower labels of popular microblogging site Twitter.
"You can say 'people can follow me but I have to approve who follows me.' Then you can set up a circle of friends. You can have you and your 10 buddies but no one else," he said.
iTunes is the top music community in the world with more than 160 million iTunes users in 23 countries, according to the company. Ping will allow this community to post opinions on albums and songs, view concert listings and share which concerts individuals are planning to attend. Ping will generate Top 10 lists based on downloads by those the user follows.
Ping is available today via iTunes on the computer, iPhone , iPad and iPod.
