ITunes Ping
Encyclopedia
iTunes Ping, also known simply as Ping, is a software-based, music-oriented social networking
and recommender system service developed and operated by Apple. It was announced and launched on 1 September 2010 as part of the tenth major release of iTunes
. The service launched with 1 million members in 23 countries.
The service allows users to follow artists and see short timely postings by both friends and artists. Ping is also accessible via iTunes for the iPhone
and iPod Touch
.
, a golfing equipment manufacturer, released a statement regarding the name of Apple's social network, stating that Karsten Manufacturing had entered into an agreement with Apple under which Apple will use the "Ping" trademark in connection with its iTunes
application.
The name has also caused minor confusion as the term "to ping
", which is now being used by users of Ping, is already a commonly used but unrelated computing term.
as being "sort of like Facebook
and Twitter
meet iTunes
," but stating that "Ping
is not Facebook" and "it is not Twitter," instead describing it as "something else ... all about music." Many have speculated that Ping was meant to compete directly with the declining MySpace
, which is still holding on to its existence through music.
, lead singer of Coldplay
, who closed the event by performing "Viva La Vida" and "Yellow", as well as an unreleased song titled "Wedding Bells", and Lady GaGa
who introduced the social network in a prerecorded video message that was played as part of the practical demo of the service. Lady Gaga's pro-gay posts were censored from promo shots by Apple.
Facebook
During Apple's announcement of Ping, chief executive Steve Jobs gave a demo of the service in which he demonstrated the basic functionality of the service, including Facebook integration. However, shortly after Ping was released to the public, users began to report that Facebook
's social integration had been removed.
Kara Swisher
, technology columnist for the Wall Street Journal, reported that after speaking to Steve Jobs regarding the matter, he had revealed that Facebook and Apple had failed to reach an agreement. Jobs further reported that Facebook wanted "onerous terms that [Apple] could not agree to." However, Apple launched Ping with Facebook integration without authorisation, and subsequently, Facebook implemented a block, denying Ping access to the application programming interface
(API), necessary in linking Facebook with Ping. The result is the inability to search for an iTunes user’s friends on Facebook who are also connected to Ping.
To provide Facebook integration in Ping, Apple must retrieve users' information through Facebook's API. The APIs are provided to third parties for free, but services such as Ping, that are expected to make more than 100 million information requests per 24-hour period, are required to negotiate terms of use with Facebook, in accordance to Facebook's Developer Principles and Policies.
were published. The fraudsters would create an iTunes profile and post links to a number of online scams, including ones that promised "free iPhones" or "free iPads" in exchange for filling out online surveys. For the most part, these suspicious links are being posted in the comments sections of popular artists on Ping, such as Britney Spears
, Lady GaGa
, Katy Perry
and U2
, all of whom are among the recommended accounts listed on the Ping homepage.
Sophos
has expressed bemusement that Apple has allegedly set up no spam or URL
filtering in Ping, leaving the service open to spam commenting. MacRumors
reported that the "first 'free iPhone' spam wave remained active for up to four hours before being disabled." PC World
noted that if Sophos' claims are correct it would be very "surprising ... considering that Apple appears to be filtering profile photos."
reported via Twitter that an account had been created in his name, continuing to mention that he is unaware as to who had created it. Graham Cluley
, senior technology consultant at Sophos
, said it is "used to ... scams like this being spread far and wide via sites like Facebook, but clearly the lack of filtering on Ping is making it a brand new playground for [scammers] to operate in."
. Therefore, users in countries with limited or no access to the iTunes Store, such as Chile, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Kosovo, Albania and India, are unable to access Ping yet.
reported that it was "impressed" and "could see using [the service] regularly." Wired
gave the service a favourable review, stating that "Ping has significant advantages against other music-oriented social networks." GigaOM
wrote that it foresees Ping as being "the future of Social Commerce." ReadWriteWeb
concluded that the service is "OK", stating that it has "potential." MacTech
listed several complaints voiced by early adopters (such as Ping's lack of podcast
and iOS app integration), but ultimately concluded that the service could eventually become "a pretty useful social network for music junkies."
The Guardian
criticised the lack of existing social network integration, and NowPublic
continued to criticise the absence of major artists and users inability to perform "basic" social networking interactions, such as posting status updates.
CNN
rated Ping as one of the ten biggest tech 'fails' of 2010. In the same "top 10" list there are Apple's iPhone
4 Antennagate, Google Buzz
and Digg
relaunch.
Social network service
A social networking service is an online service, platform, or site that focuses on building and reflecting of social networks or social relations among people, who, for example, share interests and/or activities. A social network service consists of a representation of each user , his/her social...
and recommender system service developed and operated by Apple. It was announced and launched on 1 September 2010 as part of the tenth major release of iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
. The service launched with 1 million members in 23 countries.
The service allows users to follow artists and see short timely postings by both friends and artists. Ping is also accessible via iTunes for the iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
and iPod Touch
IPod Touch
The iPod Touch is a portable media player, personal digital assistant, handheld game console, and Wi-Fi mobile device designed and marketed by Apple Inc. The iPod Touch adds the multi-touch graphical user interface to the iPod line...
.
Name
After Ping's official announcement on 1 September 2010, Karsten Manufacturing, the parent company of PINGPing (golf)
PING is an American brand of high-quality golf equipment, as well as one of the largest of the remaining American manufacturers of golf clubs, based in Phoenix, Arizona, founded by Karsten Solheim, who was an engineer at the General Electric company. In 1959, he started making his own putters in...
, a golfing equipment manufacturer, released a statement regarding the name of Apple's social network, stating that Karsten Manufacturing had entered into an agreement with Apple under which Apple will use the "Ping" trademark in connection with its iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
application.
The name has also caused minor confusion as the term "to ping
Ping
Ping is a computer network administration utility used to test the reachability of a host on an Internet Protocol network and to measure the round-trip time for messages sent from the originating host to a destination computer...
", which is now being used by users of Ping, is already a commonly used but unrelated computing term.
Announcement
Ping was announced by Apple's CEO, Steve JobsSteve Jobs
Steven Paul Jobs was an American businessman and inventor widely recognized as a charismatic pioneer of the personal computer revolution. He was co-founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Apple Inc...
as being "sort of like Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
and Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
meet iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
," but stating that "Ping
Ping
Ping is a computer network administration utility used to test the reachability of a host on an Internet Protocol network and to measure the round-trip time for messages sent from the originating host to a destination computer...
is not Facebook" and "it is not Twitter," instead describing it as "something else ... all about music." Many have speculated that Ping was meant to compete directly with the declining MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
, which is still holding on to its existence through music.
Endorsement
The announcement was endorsed by both Chris MartinChris Martin
Christopher Anthony John "Chris" Martin is an English song-writer, who is the lead vocalist, pianist and rhythm guitarist of the band Coldplay. He is married to actress Gwyneth Paltrow.-Early life:...
, lead singer of Coldplay
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
, who closed the event by performing "Viva La Vida" and "Yellow", as well as an unreleased song titled "Wedding Bells", and Lady GaGa
Lady GaGa
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to...
who introduced the social network in a prerecorded video message that was played as part of the practical demo of the service. Lady Gaga's pro-gay posts were censored from promo shots by Apple.
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
's social integration had been removed.
Kara Swisher
Kara Swisher
Kara Swisher is an American technology columnist for the Wall Street Journal and an author and commentator on the Internet....
, technology columnist for the Wall Street Journal, reported that after speaking to Steve Jobs regarding the matter, he had revealed that Facebook and Apple had failed to reach an agreement. Jobs further reported that Facebook wanted "onerous terms that [Apple] could not agree to." However, Apple launched Ping with Facebook integration without authorisation, and subsequently, Facebook implemented a block, denying Ping access to the application programming interface
Application programming interface
An application programming interface is a source code based specification intended to be used as an interface by software components to communicate with each other...
(API), necessary in linking Facebook with Ping. The result is the inability to search for an iTunes user’s friends on Facebook who are also connected to Ping.
To provide Facebook integration in Ping, Apple must retrieve users' information through Facebook's API. The APIs are provided to third parties for free, but services such as Ping, that are expected to make more than 100 million information requests per 24-hour period, are required to negotiate terms of use with Facebook, in accordance to Facebook's Developer Principles and Policies.
Spam
Twenty-four hours after Ping was launched to the public, reports of the service being flooded with spamSpam (electronic)
Spam is the use of electronic messaging systems to send unsolicited bulk messages indiscriminately...
were published. The fraudsters would create an iTunes profile and post links to a number of online scams, including ones that promised "free iPhones" or "free iPads" in exchange for filling out online surveys. For the most part, these suspicious links are being posted in the comments sections of popular artists on Ping, such as Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
, Lady GaGa
Lady GaGa
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to...
, Katy Perry
Katy Perry
Katy Perry is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Born in Santa Barbara, California, and raised by Christian pastor parents, Perry grew up listening to only gospel music and sang in her local church as a child. After earning a GED during her first year of high school, she began to pursue a...
and U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
, all of whom are among the recommended accounts listed on the Ping homepage.
Sophos
Sophos
Sophos is a developer and vendor of security software and hardware, including anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-spam, network access control, encryption software and data loss prevention for desktops, servers, email systems and other network gateways....
has expressed bemusement that Apple has allegedly set up no spam or URL
Uniform Resource Locator
In computing, a uniform resource locator or universal resource locator is a specific character string that constitutes a reference to an Internet resource....
filtering in Ping, leaving the service open to spam commenting. MacRumors
MacRumors
MacRumors.com is a website that aggregates Mac and Apple related news, rumors, and reports. The site was launched in 2000, and is owned by Arnold Kim.By consolidating reports and cross-referencing claims, MacRumors attempts to keep track of the rumor community...
reported that the "first 'free iPhone' spam wave remained active for up to four hours before being disabled." PC World
PC World (magazine)
PC World is a global computer magazine published monthly by IDG. It offers advice on various aspects of PCs and related items, the Internet, and other personal-technology products and services...
noted that if Sophos' claims are correct it would be very "surprising ... considering that Apple appears to be filtering profile photos."
Fake accounts
On 2 September 2010, singer-songwriter Ben FoldsBen Folds
Benjamin Scott "Ben" Folds is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and television personality. From 1995-2000, Folds was the frontman and pianist of the alternative rock band Ben Folds Five. Since the group disbanded, Folds has performed as a solo artist and has toured all over the world...
reported via Twitter that an account had been created in his name, continuing to mention that he is unaware as to who had created it. Graham Cluley
Graham Cluley
Graham Cluley is a British computer programmer and Senior Technology Consultant at Sophos well known in the anti-virus industry. However, he is better known nowadays as a security blogger and educationalist, and media contact point for Sophos...
, senior technology consultant at Sophos
Sophos
Sophos is a developer and vendor of security software and hardware, including anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-spam, network access control, encryption software and data loss prevention for desktops, servers, email systems and other network gateways....
, said it is "used to ... scams like this being spread far and wide via sites like Facebook, but clearly the lack of filtering on Ping is making it a brand new playground for [scammers] to operate in."
Limited availability
The service was initially available in 23 countries where users have full access to the iTunes StoreITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
. Therefore, users in countries with limited or no access to the iTunes Store, such as Chile, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Kosovo, Albania and India, are unable to access Ping yet.
Service
Users of Ping are able to view what music their friends are purchasing and reviewing. Users also receive a personalised "charts" list that features what other people with a similar taste in music are listening to through iTunes. Additionally, users will be informed about what concerts their friends are attending and be able to purchase tickets accordingly.Reception
There are favorable reviews of Ping. Business InsiderBusiness Insider
Business Insider is a U.S. business/entertainment news website launched in February 2009. Founded by DoubleClick Founder and former C.E.O. Kevin P. Ryan it is the overarching brand beneath which fall the Silicon Alley Insider and Clusterstock verticals...
reported that it was "impressed" and "could see using [the service] regularly." Wired
Wired (magazine)
Wired is a full-color monthly American magazine and on-line periodical, published since January 1993, that reports on how new and developing technology affects culture, the economy, and politics...
gave the service a favourable review, stating that "Ping has significant advantages against other music-oriented social networks." GigaOM
GigaOM
GigaOM is a Web 2.0 blog started by Om Malik and published by Giga Omni Media, Inc. in San Francisco, California. According to the company website it has a monthly global audience of 500,000. It is among the top 50 blogs worldwide by Technorati Rank, and is listed on CNet's Blog 100 list...
wrote that it foresees Ping as being "the future of Social Commerce." ReadWriteWeb
ReadWriteWeb
ReadWriteWeb is a Web technology blog launched in 2003. RWW covers Web 2.0 and Web technology in general, and provides industry news, reviews, and analysis. Founded by Richard MacManus, Technorati ranked ReadWriteWeb at number 12 in its list of top 100 blogs worldwide, as of October 9, 2010. RWW...
concluded that the service is "OK", stating that it has "potential." MacTech
MacTech
MacTech is the journal of Apple technology, a monthly magazine for software developers, system administrators, and other technical users of the Apple Macintosh line of computers....
listed several complaints voiced by early adopters (such as Ping's lack of podcast
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
and iOS app integration), but ultimately concluded that the service could eventually become "a pretty useful social network for music junkies."
The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
criticised the lack of existing social network integration, and NowPublic
NowPublic
NowPublic is a user-generated social news website. The company is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and was founded by Michael Tippett, Leonard Brody and Michael E. Meyers in 2005. On Sept. 2, 2009 the company was acquired by Clarity Digital Group, LLC, wholly owned by The Anschutz...
continued to criticise the absence of major artists and users inability to perform "basic" social networking interactions, such as posting status updates.
CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
rated Ping as one of the ten biggest tech 'fails' of 2010. In the same "top 10" list there are Apple's iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
4 Antennagate, Google Buzz
Google Buzz
Google Buzz is a social networking, microblogging and messaging tool from Google integrated into the company's web-based email program, Gmail. Users can share links, photos, videos, status messages and comments organized in "conversations" and visible in the user's inbox. On October 14, 2011,...
and Digg
Digg
Digg is a social news website. Prior to Digg v4, its cornerstone function consisted of letting people vote stories up or down, called digging and burying, respectively. Digg's popularity prompted the creation of copycat social networking sites with story submission and voting systems...
relaunch.