iTunes Question

[JoeyGee]

LOML just got an iPod, which is a first for either of us. I normally use WMP to rip all my old CD's and download music to. When I started using iTunes, it recognized album art for all the music I bought through Amazon, but not CD's I had ripped. WMP pulled the album art from the Internet because I have it set to.

When I told iTunes to get the album art, it warned me info was being sent to Apple, but it wouldn't be kept, which made no sense to me. Anyway, I am normally not a paranoid person, but if I start using iTunes, will an Apple agent show up at my door requesting receipts for all my CD's? I know they are all legit, but couldn't prove it.

I know Apple has a big deal with DRM and stuff, but I really don't understand it.

[justaguy]

iTunes sends the CD name back as part of a query to search for the album artwork. In my experience it's nothing to worry about.

[crokett]

I have iTunes for the iTunes store. No one has shown up at my door yet. The only thing I use it for is for the store. I like WMP much better for managing my music.

[leehljp]

I rip my CDs. For a long time, I didn't get any artwork with some of the older ones, then one day within the past two years, I started getting the artwork. I don't remember the dialog popping up, but even it if it did, I am not worried about it as the first iPods were loaded with home ripped CDs and it was and still is recommended to be that way.

[jussi]

When I told iTunes to get the album art, it warned me info was being sent to Apple, but it wouldn't be kept, which made no sense to me.

.

Pretty sure this has to do with the genius bar. It needs the info to make it work.

[radhak]

info was being sent to Apple, but it wouldn't be kept, which made no sense to me.

What they're saying is, the info sent from your machine is used to search out the album art; but once the task is done and you received the said art, they simply delete all the info they received from you. In essence, they are trying to reassure you that your 'personal info' will not stay in their database for any reason.

FWIW, music on your computer or ipod does not need to be backed with proof of purchase. You can only be charged with piracy if they catch you in the act. IOW, if they see your IP address being used to download anything, etc. If I loan you a disk full of ripped mp3 and you copy it onto your ipod, nobody can prove how you acquired those files, and nobody can bat an eyelid about it. If you have the original CD, that's proof enough; if you don't, it still will not matter.