∞ Apple releases iTunes Match

Apple on Monday released a new version of iTunes that includes iTunes Match.

iTunes Match will set you back $24.99 per year. The software scans the content of your music library and matches it to the music available on the iTunes Store. Music that doesn’t match is automatically uploaded, so you can play any of your music on any of your iOS devices.

Your iTunes music will also be available from your Apple TV, as you can see from these screenshots. Apple missed its self-imposed deadline of October 31 for the release of iTunes Match, but typical of Apple, the company releases products when they are done, but not by deadlines.

You can download the new version of iTunes from Apple’s Web site. It isn’t available via the automatic software update in OS X yet.