iTunes finally extends song previews to 90 seconds

One of the features of iTunes, as with most music stores, is the ability to preview a song before you actually purchase the song. Most stores that are purchased-based allow you to listen to 30 seconds of a song. Most of the time this may include the chorus, but sometimes it does not. Well, iTunes has just upped the ante by finally releasing the rumored 90-second previews for iTunes.

Beatles.Please.Please.Me.Preview

Since the launch of the iTunes Music Store in April of 2003, song previews have always been 30 seconds long. This has changed for the first time in almost eight years. Instead of just doubling, the previews are now triple the length of the original preview.

Kenny.Chesney.I.Didn't.Get.Here.Alone.Preview

There is a cut-off point for the 90 second previews. If a song is under 2 minutes and 30 seconds, it will only have a 30 second preview. However, anything over 2 minutes and 30 seconds will play the 90 second preview. If you would like to verify this for yourself, use the Beatle’s Album “Please Please Me or the Hard Day’s Night album. There are a few songs just under the 2 minute and 30-second mark, and a couple just over. You can see the difference for yourself.

So what does this mean? Well, it means that if you think you might have the right version of a song, you can now be triply sure. This will help people truly figure out if the song that they are about to purchase is the proper track.

I think that the 90 second previews are only a precursor for the eventuality of an iTunes streaming service. When such a service will exist is solely in hands of the greedy music labels. I would hope to see this within the next year or so, but I am not going to hold my breath.

I think everybody should go and check out their favorite song previews. Why? Just because you can.

Article Via 9 to 5 Mac

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