With release of the latest iTunes 10, Apple has thrown it’s hat into the social media ring. Ping is an addition to iTunes which allows people to spy on friends, strangers, and celebs and discuss the one thing you’re most likely to have in common: music. Apple makes no illusions about Ping – this is a service created to help you buy more music. But the way it does it is delightful and engaging.

What first struck me about PIng was how easy it was to read updates from popular artists like Kate Perry and U2. Having found that neither Journey nor William Shattner were artists I could follow, I settled for Lady Gaga. Reading her posts did make me feel a tad dirty, as though I was sorting through someone else’s laundry, but I was reminded that this phenomenon is in fact responsible for the success of social media.

As I moved on to follow another music dignitary that Apple suggested I follow, Rick Rubin, I was again fascinated by Rick’s latest album choices (or those of his personal assistant), and found myself falling in love with old albums all over again. Who knew that the producer of Jay-Z likes Dusty Springfield? Not exactly valuable trivia, but interesting none the less.