Maybe I missed this in earlier versions of iTunes, but after running Software Update today, I noticed a Music Store pane at the bottom of my library. By default, it gives you a sampling of the new releases as well as top songs and albums of the day. If that’s all it did, it’d be a little too obnoxious for me to ever use.
However, it also updates based upon what you’ve selected. Instantly, iTMS ratings, reviews, as well as the ability to gift the song or recommend it to a friend are all at your fingertips. Other selections from the artist are listed as are items commonly also purchased by customers. Pretty slick, even if it is advertising.
I’m just waiting for the other shoe to drop. The shoe I speak of is the one filled with slightly careful people that will immediately label this as “spyware” and an “invasion of privacy”. Does anyone have an egg timer?
why would anyone have a problem if you can just turn it off?
It's easy to turn this off. Just go to Preferences/Parental, check "Disable Music Store" and click OK. This makes both the bottom pane and the Music Store entry in the source list go away. If you then go back and uncheck "Disable Music Store" it reappears in the source list but the bottom pane is gone for good.