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Seems like iCloud is not for songs that I ripped from CD and add to my iTunes Library?

It seems that I have to hook up the device one by one, the iPhone, the iPad, the iPod, and then drag the song from the iTunes's Library or Playlist to that device?

I tried that on the iCloud on my PC and it seems to be able to sync the bookmarks, Outlook data, Photos, but not for songs. Is that correct? It works for songs that I purchased, but not for songs I ripped from a CD myself? I haven't tried that on the Mac yet as I am still running Snow Leopard, but upgrading to Lion still might not be able to sync the songs I ripped from CD through iCloud?

iCloud in Control Panel of Windows 7:

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3 Answers

up vote 2 down vote accepted

iCloud does not handle music at this time, and likely never will since that content is handled by iTunes, although only for purchased content:

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Because purchased content runs through Apple's servers, it's easy on them to just push the newly purchased song to any device connected to the respective Apple ID yet still retain control of the media, so to speak.

As for iCloud on OS X, it only includes a few more features over the Windows version, but none of them deal with music:

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I don't doubt they could add the functionality, but it might ruffle feathers (RIAA) and certainly put considerable load on their data centers.

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+1 Much better answer then mine since I was going to have to search for all the links. – Diago Oct 26 '11 at 7:32
Typically, I never like answering these. I add additional info but a part of me just wants to add a comment that reads "nope, can't be done." ;) – cksum Oct 26 '11 at 7:35
I can 100% relate. But explaining why makes it easier to close future similar questions :) – Diago Oct 26 '11 at 7:37
@cksum or maybe you can just say you read on some webpage or blog that says so, that in fact, songs can't be sync through iCloud unless it is purchased on iTunes – 動靜能量 Oct 26 '11 at 8:42
up vote 2 down vote

As of October 2011, no. iTunes in the Cloud only works for songs you've purchased from the iTunes store.

However, in a few months or so, Apple's iTunes Match service will do exactly what you want. For $25 a year, it uploads all your songs, purchased from iTunes, ripped from CDs, or even those downloaded from unscrupulous sources to iCloud. If iTunes Match finds a match for a song in the iTunes Store, it'll give you access to that song without you having to spend the time uploading it. If it can't find the song, then it uploads it.

In short, for free, iTunes in the Cloud will sync songs purchased songs from iTunes. For $25, iTunes Match will sync all of your songs.

iTunes Match has been in beta for a few months now. I believe it was originally due for release in October, though now on Apple's site its release data has just changed to "Coming Soon".

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Also, initial release is only US and UK. If your country does not sell music in the App Store, then you will also not be able to use it. – Diago Oct 26 '11 at 14:38
up vote 0 down vote

I think iTunes Match will add this functionality to iCloud at some point although I'm not sure about all the particulars, read here:

http://www.apple.com/icloud/features/

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You are referring to “iTunes in the Cloud”, which is not available outside the US (and UK?) yet. – kopischke Oct 26 '11 at 12:42
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Actually, iTunes Match is a piece of iTunes in the cloud, it will allow people who have ripped their own CDs for their iTunes library to pay a fee and have that music converted into a form that Apple will then allow to be shared with all devices through iTunes in the cloud. It's in development now and there was just a notice that development libraries will be deleted as it gets closer to going live: iclarified.com/entry/index.php?enid=17620 – Richard Oct 27 '11 at 11:07
Correct. My point was wireless downloads of purchased iTunes media across devices are not dependent on iTunes Match. – kopischke Oct 27 '11 at 12:04

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