Things You Need to Know about Apple iTunes Store in Malaysia

Apple iTunes Store for Music and Movies are now available in 12 additional Asia countries, including Malaysia. Read this article to know more about iTunes, music and movie prices, iTunes Cloud, iTunes Match, and what’s missing.

For years, I envy people purchase music and videos on Apple iTunes Store and ignoring all the iTunes Store related announcement — because iTunes Store was not available in my country, Malaysia.

It is over now!

iTunes Store for additional 12 Asia countries

Today, Apple launches iTunes Store in 12 additional countries in Asia!

The 12 countries are: Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. China, Indonesia and India and others still need to wait…

Japan is the 1st in Asia to get iTunes Music Store in 2005 and sold 1 million songs in 4 days!

How to get iTunes Store?

You need to install the latest version of iTunes software on Mac/Windows to get iTunes Store on your computer.

For iOS devices (iPhone, iPod touch, iPad), launch iTunes app and tap on the “More” tab to access the iTunes Store. In coming iOS 6, the iTunes app will be redesigned to focus on iTunes Music & Movie, and removes Podcast (available in separate app).

iTunes Store for Music

The iTunes Store features local artists as well as international artists. There are over 20 million songs available to purchase and download.

Individual song’s price is starting from US$0.99 each. Buying whole album saves a little bit more.

I am glad to see that Chinese songs are included. But the song titles are mixed in Chinese, PinYin, Translated English. Make it difficult to search for songs you like.

iTunes Store for Movies

You can rent and purchase movies from the iTunes Store. Many are available in HD resolution. Audio is in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound.

Buy movie starts from US$9.99, buy HD version (1080p Blue-ray quality) adds US$5. Renting new release starts at US$3.99, old titles starts at US$2.99, rent HD version adds US$1.

For rented movie, you have 30 days to watch, 48 hours to finish viewing the movie from the time you click Play.

Movies are from major studios including 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, The Walt Disney Studios and Warner Bros. Pictures.

There’s no TV Shows available. And, I don’t see any local movie.

Note that iTunes Store purchases require a valid credit card with a billing address in country.

iTunes in the iCloud & iTunes Match

iTunes in the Cloud and iTunes Match are also available in the new countries added today.

iTunes in the Cloud automatically download new music purchases to all your iOS devices. For example, you buy a song on iPhone, and your iPad will also auto download it. No sync requires.

With iTunes in the Cloud, you can also download music, movies you previously purchased to all your devices.

iTunes Match (US$24.99/year) will import all your music — including those ripped & not purchased from iTunes — onto iCloud and make them available on all your devices.

My two cents

Thanks Apple for making iTunes Music & Movie Store now available in more Asia countries, after years of waiting.

Glad that we can finally legally purchase and download music & movie online.

Some friends might argue that you can get free (but illegal) online downloads, why buying? First of all, please support copyright. Secondly, buying original content ensure the quality. It will take a large amount of time to find high quality content from the illegal download sites.

Do you know that: Apple iTunes Music Store is the main reason that make iPod the World’s No.1 music player.

Many friends found that there are limited Malaysia local content. I think it depends on the contract between the record label/studios and Apple. I believe more will available soon.

Now, could we have Apple TV in local stores?

Update: Surprised! Apple TV is now available on the Apple online store for the added countries! For example, Apple Store (Malaysia) is selling Apple TV for RM 349. (hat tip to @andrewkjs)