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Ping, Apple's new social network, is the standout feature in iTunes 10, the most recent update to Apple's music management application. Within Ping, you can find and follow your favorite bands and your friends as well as recommend or leave notes about the music you listen to. Ping adds a new layer to iTunes - a social layer focused on discovery, not only of new tracks you'll want to buy (as is the obvious goal), but it also lets you discover news from artists you care about, including concert updates, photos, videos and more.

After spending some time with the social network, we rounded up what we believe are the ten most important things you need to know about Ping, as well as some of the possibly misunderstood features.

Is Ping for you? Read on to find out.

The new iTunes social network Ping will let you connect directly with your favorite artists, but Apple's promotional image for the new feature conveniently omits a string of Tweets from Lady Gaga's timeline in which she protests anti-gay marriage legislation Proposition 8.

It's a little thing, but given the controversies Apple has faced around app store censorship, and the direct-to-audience promise of both Twitter (and presumably Ping), it certainly seems notable. Apparently the company wanted to have its cake and eat it too when it came to one of the world's most famous, and outspoken, musical artists.

Startups flourish when entrepreneurs find new ways to disrupt existing markets and industries. One of the oldest businesses that has been in dire need of innovation is the music industry, and startups have begun to crowd the industry, rethinking the way people share, buy and experience music. Billboard Magazine recently named Rdio, a brand new subscription streaming service with storied founders, the top music startup of 2010 - and how it got there may sound familiar.

Check-in apps are all the rage in the mobile space, but these days users aren't just checking into business and landmarks. Apps like Miso and Facebook's recent acquisition Hot Potato, which allow users to check-in to movies, TV shows, books and other activities, have been part of the fuel behind the recent check-in craze. Another player in the "check-in to anything" game is GetGlue, whose popularity ballooned after the launch of its iPhone app earlier this summer. Today, the startup hopes to build on its success with the release of an Android app, a mobile website and new brand partnerships.

MOG, an up-and-coming streaming music service, has just launched its own editorial hub called the MOG Music Network. This online news source goes hand-in-hand with its music listening service, the latter which is available both online and as mobile applications for the iPhone and Android.

The MOG Music Network (MMN) includes music-related news from the company's network of 1,200 music blogs plus in-house news, reviews another other features. According to MOG, its network of blogs now generates more than 20 million monthly unique visitors and its goal is to become the largest music network online.

As a technology journalist and musician, I am fascinated by the tech at the intersection of these two fields. During a recent trip to Boston, I was interested to learn that Symphony Hall had been scientifically and mathematically designed to provide outstanding acoustics during performances. Other venues, like arenas, can't take advantage of this acoustical precision because they need to accomodate other events, but thanks to some new technology that leverages RFID, any venue can greatly enhance the quality of sound delivered to its audience.

MOG, the online demand music service whose accompanying mobile applications are among the best of the breed for streaming tunes to your handset, has just released its highly anticipated iPhone app upgrade. With the now iOS 4 compatible app, MOG addresses one its users' top complaints: no multi-tasking support.

Now the app runs in the background, allowing you to listen to music while working with other apps. This, plus a few other features, make the new MOG app the must-download update of the day.

Mobile media company ParkVu is today introducing a new Facebook application called Music WithMe which publishes your iTunes music library to Facebook where the tracks it contains can be shared, liked, commented on and discussed among your friends.

The app, which also requires a desktop software download (currently Windows-only, Mac coming soon), connects your iTunes music library to Facebook and then continually syncs changes as you purchase and add new music.

It's fascinating to track the changing dynamics of how artistic content is delivered and promoted on the Web. Last week we looked at how the band Arcade Fire released its latest album 'The Suburbs' via the Web, using social media like Facebook and YouTube. Today we check out how a web site in the backwaters of Illinois is making a name for itself as a live recording studio. Daytrotter records indie bands and releases those recordings on its web site for free, accompanied by unique cartoon imagery. Daytrotter is also currently working on a movie.

"The Internet is the new Seattle," was the rather hyperbolic claim made by a musician in a Daytrotter promo video (see below). Does this mean that musicians should wear their pajamas on stage now, instead of flannel? Let's find out.

Rdio, a newcomer to the crowded playing field of streaming music services, launched this morning for U.S. and Canadian listeners. The service offers a socially-infused online music streaming experience for $4.99 per month or you can purchase a $10-per-month plan to access Rdio from both the Web and your mobile phone.

Rdio is notable for its social network integration, with its ability to connect your account to Facebook, Twitter and Last.fm. It also syncs your iTunes music to its database to create an online collection of songs.

These features are great, but more importantly, does Rdio have the tunes?