Apple Plans to Kill iTunes (Report)

The end of an era may be coming for Apple’s customers as, after 18 years, the company is retiring iTunes, Bloomberg reported Friday.

According to Bloomberg, Apple will announce the move next week during the Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose. The paper reports that iTunes’ one-stop-shop for music, TV and podcast content will be replaced with three new apps specific to each category. If so, it would bring desktop users in line with Apple’s mobile strategy — iPad and iPhone users already make use of separate apps for Music, TV and Podcasts.

Should the end of iTunes come, it happens following years of rumors to that effect — rumors Apple expressly denied just three years ago. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment from TheWrap.

Also Read: Apple Sold Its Customers' iTunes Data Without Consent, Lawsuit Says

The report comes just days after Apple was accused of “intentionally and unlawfully” selling its users’ iTunes habits and other data in a lawsuit filed in California. The suit says the data includes user names, home addresses, and music preferences that were sold without consent.

And on May 13, the Supreme Court ruled that an antitrust case against Apple can proceed, after the plaintiffs argued the tech giant’s “monopoly power” over the App Store allows it to unfairly drive up app prices.

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Source: the wrap feed