iTunes Search API - HTTPS artworkUrl?

Question

When I run a query against the iTunes Search API over SSL, most of the URL's returned are provided via HTTPS:

https://itunes.apple.com/search?term=rihanna

However, the artworkUrl results are served over HTTP and updating them manually throws an error since the SSL certificate doesn't match on the domain they're using.

Is there a way to grab these images over HTTPS instead of HTTP?

Answer 1

You have to replace the sub domain:

http://is<n> with https://is<n>-ssl

Example:

http://is5.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Music117/v4/dd/48/4a/dd484afb-2313-0a1a-ccf1-ff28a02ae2ca/source/100x100bb.jpg

to

https://is5-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Music117/v4/dd/48/4a/dd484afb-2313-0a1a-ccf1-ff28a02ae2ca/source/100x100bb.jpg

Answer 2

iTunes does not support the album art or song previews over HTTPS (yet).

The change over of the tools and links to HTTPS was recent (only four months ago): http://www.apple.com/itunes/affiliates/resources/blog/secure-links-to-itunes---content-and-tools.html