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Apple launches iTunes Preview for external browser links

This is the kind of thing that probably should have been done a long time ago, but Macworld is reporting that Apple has launched iTunes Preview, a page that appears when you click an iTunes link (like this one) and your browser sends you over to iTunes. Previously, you just got that placeholder page that said "One Moment Please" and asked if you wanted to open the link in an external application, but with iTunes Preview, you get a nicely laid out page with information and reviews (and your browser still opens up the iTunes store).

Currently it only seems to work with music -- movies and television only get a small thumbnail, and applications get the same old gray page. But that'll probably change before long -- it's much smoother to see what you're clicking through to, and of course there's the added bonus for people who don't actually have iTunes installed. As MacWorld points out, there are actually no "preview" buttons on the page -- you can't listen to music there, only click through to the iTunes store. But like I said, it's better than a blank window and a browser popup asking for your permission. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see this grow a lot more in the future.

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iTS Multimedia iTunes Apple Music

This is the kind of thing that probably should have been done a long time ago, but Macworld is reporting that Apple has launched iTunes...
 

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Erik

They still need a public API that allows me to query against their product database.

November 13 2009 at 3:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
dvashawn

Nice choice of preview album!!

November 13 2009 at 2:46 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
hmcnally

Finally.

November 13 2009 at 11:07 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
nmkl

since itunes 9 you need the new safari to get to the itunes store. looks like they switched their itunes store code to a regular html code.

November 13 2009 at 10:28 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ben Lawson

Nice! I wish there was an easy way to embed the audio preview (and click thru) in a web page. I usually put a link to the song I'm listening to while writing a post, it would be nice for readers to be able play the preview without leaving the page.

Currently I copy the link from the iTunes store and paste that in along with an album art thumbnail. Pretty laborious...

November 13 2009 at 10:20 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tony C

It really should have been a feature long ago... Wonder what took so long for them to implement?

November 13 2009 at 10:06 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ds

I'd noticed this yesterday, and it made me smile. Always good to have a preview of those phobos links.

November 13 2009 at 9:44 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
vandil

It's the little "user experience" tweaks to the fit and finish of Apple products and services that keep me an Apple customer. I "switched" in 2004.

November 13 2009 at 9:43 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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