iTunes Radio is a feature of iOS 7 for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
There are reports today that the Wi-Fi networks of many major universities have crashed because of a huge number of downloads of iOS 7 by students, according to a Sept 18 article in Business Insider. Elsewhere users report that they have received messages that the update service is unavailable or sluggish. All of this because Apple's servers have been flooded since launch today with user requests to download the newest operating system for Apple's iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.
While my nephew was unable so far to download iOS 7 to his iPhone 5, I did manage to install Apple's new operating system on my iPad. Once you use iOS 7 you can see why so many users are eager to download it. Apple's new iOS is packed with new features and one of the best is iTunes Radio.
About iTunes Radio
According to a Sept 18 report in Forbes, iTunes Radio is destined to be a major competitor to Pandora. Like Pandora, iTunes Radio is free streaming radio (both are ad-supported). But unlike Pandora, if you hear a song that you love, you can buy it with a simple tap—making for a good “browse-buy” combination. If you are an iTunes Match subscriber, iTunes Radio is ad-free.
In addition to featured stations (with the likes of Drake or Miles Davis, for example), you can also customize your own stations in iTunes Radio. Like Pandora, you can base your station on artist, genre or song. You can also share your stations through text, Twitter, Facebook, email or AirDrop, Apple's new file sharing vehicle (new to iOS that is, not Mac). Whether you choose a custom or featured station, you can skip songs (up to six each hour for each station) and give thumbs up or down on iTunes Radio recommendations.
What iTunes Radio has, and Pandora will probably never be able to match, is Siri. Apple's virtual assistant is now out of beta with a more natural female voice, an option for a male voice, and a completely redesigned interface. Siri is integrated into iTunes Radio for hands-free operation. Through voice commands you can play or pause iTunes Radio (even when you're in another app), select radio stations as well as pause and skip songs. What's more, if you hear and song and don't know who is singing it, you can just as Siri and it will tell you. Wow!
Which iPhones, iPads and iPod Touchs support iOS 7?
Apple says that iPhone 4+, iPad 2+, the iPads with Retina display and the iPad mini, along with the iPad Touch 5+ can all be updated to iOS 7.
