Filed under: Audio, iLife, iTunes, Software Update, Apple
Apple to update iTunes any time now
Look for an update to iTunes sometime today or very soon. The Apple web site even talks about it (check the bottom of the page).Version 8.1 is said to have significant speed improvements for dealing with large libraries, and also a faster iTunes Store and zippier syncing of devices. Yay!
The Genius sidebar now includes suggestions for movies and TV shows, and the new version will also allow you to import your CD's as 256 kbps iTunes Plus format.
That all adds up to a nice update. So keep your eye on 'software update' under your Apple menu, or ask iTunes to 'check for updates'.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Luc said 3:36PM on 3-11-2009
Isn't iTunes plus format just AAC 256 kbps?
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tony d said 4:20PM on 3-11-2009
I think they just renamed the 256k option as iTunes Plus. Maybe for people who want to match their rips with the ITS files who don't know any better. I'm guessing that it'll be the default setting now.
Kevin Sutherland said 6:46PM on 3-11-2009
Yeah, I don't see how it could be anything special, other than a renaming of the currently titled "Higher Quality" Import Setting under AAC Encoder. I reencoded all my CDs at that quality a couple months ago anyway. Everything I'm reading on the new 8.1 release seems to act like its a big deal, but it really isn't.
brian said 5:03PM on 3-11-2009
i know that if you buy itunes plus songs, your email address is embedded in, even though it is drm free. maybe theyre doing this to imported cds as well to fight piracy?
Maurice S. Villarreal said 7:28PM on 3-11-2009
What i'd like to see in the iTunes is a way to disable completly the damn gapless functionality. I don't want to use this feature, and every time i open the iTunes it stars to do the gapless check. Please Apple, let us to decide!!!
Luc said 7:38PM on 3-11-2009
No, I really don't think this makes sense at all. I could see them making the 256kbps AAC the standard but and call it "iTunes format" but I don't think there is any difference.
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D.J. said 3:40PM on 3-11-2009
Yep! And the Remote Ap on the iPhone just showed an update to be compatible with 8.1 as well.
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Gordon Werner said 3:44PM on 3-11-2009
Why would I want to rip my CDs as 256k when I can import them in Apple Lossless format?
What exactly is iTunes Plus format anyway?
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Chris said 3:49PM on 3-11-2009
because Apple lossless is pointless on an ipod, given its sound limitations through both the headphones or connected speakers. Just do 320 mp3s for the ipod and FLAC for the home.
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Aron Trimble said 4:21PM on 3-11-2009
Actually, audiophiles will tell you that when hooked up to the line output (the dock connector) the iPod performs quite admirably.
pentiumforever said 3:49PM on 3-11-2009
@3
It's just AAC at 256 Kbps
Personally I hope that combining SD and HD encodes will be possible for Movies, not just TV Shows and music videos.
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Mike said 3:56PM on 3-11-2009
I do all my importing through the iTunes-LAME app at 256k v0 mp3.
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Simon Arch said 6:50PM on 3-11-2009
Same here. Gives me excellent results. They sound pretty much like the CD 99% of the time. I get the occasional glitch, but that's nothing I can't cope with by re-ripping the track. I sometimes think about re-doing my library in AAC but I just can't be bothered. It's taken so long just to get my library into shape in MP3 format and I just don't want to go through all that again with AAC.
For archiving I use Apple Lossless, but for my daily listening I'm very happy with MP3s.
Nick said 4:30PM on 3-11-2009
What is with the itunes dj thing on the 8.1 features page? It has it in a screenshot and there is a blurb that it appears under playlists.
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Jon said 4:36PM on 3-11-2009
They renamed Party Shuffle to iTunes DJ.
Rowdehaj said 4:58PM on 3-11-2009
Does it make the Windows version usable?
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Luc said 4:33PM on 3-11-2009
I remember reading that any song over 10mb on an iPod, because of the hard drive, will drain the battery much faster because it is constantly accessing the it.
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Galley said 4:33PM on 3-11-2009
Does this mean syncing my iPhone will only take three hours versus four?
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feeko said 5:00PM on 3-11-2009
Is the "iTunes DJ" going to be as useless as Party Shuffle? with thousands of songs to choose from and choosing only 25 songs ahead, it repeats songs all over the place, often playing the same song twice in a row.
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antiorario said 5:04PM on 3-11-2009
If you program Party Shuffle to fish songs out of smart playlists, and have the smart playlist pick songs that haven't been played in the past X days, Party Shuffle will not replay the same song for the next X days.