Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Do I need to use Apple's iTunes software to use iTunes U?
Yes and no. Public content in iTunes U is available via RSS, and can be downloaded using third-party software such as Juice, an open source podcast receiver. For restricted content that requires authentication, iTunes is required. Versions of the software are available for Mac OS X and Windows. A Linux version is not available.
Will iTunes U cost me anything?
No. Unlike the iTunes Music Store, all of the content within iTunes U is free.
Do I need an iPod to use iTunes U?
No.
Does Apple insert any proprietary digital rights management schemes into content uploaded to iTunes U?
No. All content is free of DRM.
If I have a song I bought in iTunes, does that mean I can share it with my students using iTunes U?
No. They are two separate services, and iTunes U doesn't grant any special uses for content bought in the iTunes Music Store. The 5-computer-per-song limit is still in effect for any songs you purchased through the iTunes Music Store.
What colleges and universities are using iTunes U?
A partial list of schools who are using iTunes U includes:
- Arizona State University
- Concordia Seminary
- Florida Institute of Technology
- Otis College of Art and Design
- Penn State University
- Stanford University
- UC Berkeley
Does Apple own my content if I upload it to iTunes U?
No.
Troubleshooting Questions
When I launch iTunes U in Firefox, I get a pop-up window similar to the one below. How do I get rid of this?
When this error message appears on Windows-based machines, select the "remember this choice" check box and then click the "launch application" button. From here on, Firefox won't bother you with this message.
On Macs using Firefox 1.0 through 1.5 there is a bug that prevents this check box from appearing on screen. You can train Firefox to accept the iTunes U links by vi sting the Using Firefox page of this site.
Macs using Firefox 2.0 or higher can follow the same procedure as their Windows-based counterparts.
When I launch iTunes U using Internet Explorer 6 and 7, I get a pop-up window like the one below warning me that the page is nonsecure. What should I do?
When Internet Explorer asks "Do you want to display the nonsecure items?", click the "yes" button. The iTunes Music Store will then load normally.
When launching iTunes U on Windows, I got this popup error message: "iTunes could not connect to the Music Store. The network connection was terminated unexpectedly. Make sure your network connection is active and try again." What should I do?
Ignore the error message by hitting the "ok" button on this box. The store will load properly in spite of this error message.