February 9, 2010

Browsing Without Digging Down

As you point in turn at the album/slipcase/etc. images in the iTunes Music, Movies and TV Shows stores, a small control will appear in the lower right of each image -- an iconic "i" (info) in Music, an iconic play button in Movies, and both in TV Shows. What they all share is a way to hear, see, and know more about the item in question and to act, all without having to leave the page you're on. Click the play button to bring up a panel containing video, basic info, and buttons for the buying/renting possibilities. "I" panels contain play and episode lists, and Buy buttons for each track/episode as well as for whole albums/series. And as you point at each track/episode, a small play button will appear on the left to let you preview the content.

Throughout all the panels a click on the small triangles next to each Buy button offers opportunities to share your thoughts (Facebook and Twitter), give the item as a gift, and/or add it to your wish list for later. In the Music store there's also a Preview All button at the bottom of the panel which plays through the preview for each track in turn, and a particularly interesting "Other Versions" option available via the triangle for each buyable track. Choose it to get an iTunes page containing other recordings and covers from all over the music store. Fun and often surprising.