If you wanted to download Angry Birds, take a gander at Apple’s new WWDC app, or download Lady Gaga’s newest album, you may have noticed that iTunes and the App Store ecosystems are failing to download or accept purchases worldwide. While content may still be accessible to browse, Engadget first noticed that the podcast section of iTunes has gone offline, followed by failure by many to download apps from the iOS and Mac App Stores. The most common issue right now is that users can’t download apps from the iPhone or iPad, with symptoms of slow loading times, download failures, and general errors popping up in several countries worldwide. Several users are reporting problems, so either Apple is working on the backend (perhaps this service disruption as something to do with iCloud), or a server or two have decided to bite the dust at the wrong time. Apple Discussion forums such as this one are starting to crop up during this moment of inconvenience, and we’ll keep you updated as the afternoon progresses.

[Updating…]

Update 1: Many users are reporting 5002 errors and are failing to log in, alongside the inability to download or purchase iTunes albums and songs, apps, or app updates.

Via @pinot

Via @toddkedwards

Update 2: Some users are reporting that accessing the iTunes web store and streaming music is fine. The issue may be specifically related to your Apple IDs and logins, where, anything that requires your identity for purchase, downloads, code redemptions, or updates, simply doesn’t work.

Below, we’ve displayed some reports of the outage in progress. Twitter is alive right now with users unable to access certain services from iTunes or the App Store.

Update 3: Users in Canada and parts of Europe such as the Netherlands and Germany are reporting that the App Store is live again, allowing for app updating and downloads. Others are still seeing some wonkiness when it comes to purchases, and we’re betting the outage will leave some side-effects as it disappears. Let us know if it’s getting any better in your neck of the woods.

Update 4: Many are reporting that App Store and download services have been restored, thus users are able to successfully log in and grab their apps and tunes. I still can’t access the podcasts section of the iTunes Store, but hopefully we’ll see that issue resolved soon as well.

Update 5: If  you love talk shows, podcasts appear to be working again in the US! Check out iTunes or refresh your subscriptions - everything should be okay, but there might be isolated wonkiness after todays outage.