Filed under: iLife, iTunes, Software Update
They've gone and done it. Apple updates iTunes
Apple this evening has updated iTunes from version 8.02 to version 8.1. Here is the read me information:iTunes 8.1 is now faster and more responsive. You will enjoy noticeable improvements when working with large libraries, browsing the iTunes Store, preparing to sync with iPod or iPhone, and optimizing photos for syncing.
In addition, iTunes 8.1 provides many other improvements and bug fixes, including:
- Supports syncing with iPod shuffle (3rd generation)
- Allows friends to request songs for iTunes DJ
- Adds Genius sidebar for your Movies and TV Shows
- Improves performance when downloading iTunes Plus songs
- Provides AutoFill for manually managed iPods
- Allows CDs to be imported at the same sound quality as iTunes Plus
- Includes many accessibility improvements
- Allows iTunes U and the iTunes Store to be disabled separately using Parental Controls
The update should appear in 'software update'. I also received a Front Row update at the same time. Let us know if this new version of iTunes floats your boat.
Thanks to our eagle-eyed readers for the tip.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Steve said 9:34PM on 3-11-2009
What is 'iTunes DJ'? I've never heard of that before.
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Ben K. said 9:37PM on 3-11-2009
I was going to post and ask the same thing. What IS iTunes DJ?
willie said 9:54PM on 3-11-2009
iTunes DJ is a rebranding of Party Shuffle. They moved the settings, like 8.0 did with Podcast auto-delete, and added the ability for guests to request songs via iTunes Remote on the iPhone/iPod Touch. That's it, really.
Bruce Taylor said 3:08PM on 3-12-2009
For those interested, iTunes 8.1 breaks Front Row on Mac OS X Server. The Front Row update pushed down with 8.1 won't install on OS X Server.
GiantTalkingCow said 9:42PM on 3-11-2009
iTunes DJ is the new name for the Party Shuffle feature. I'm not sure if they've added any functionality to it.
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TylersPage.net said 9:43PM on 3-11-2009
It'd be nice if I could actually restore my iPod which I paid Apple $300 for... twice, after the first one broke. They offered me no support, and when I try to restore iTunes, it tells me that the SOFTWARE IS UNAVAILABLE!!!!!
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blender said 9:44PM on 3-11-2009
I've already installed and written some preliminary thoughts on the new version here: http://www.cowbird.org/chyrp/2009/03/11/oh-apple/
Needless to say, I'm not all that pleased with this new version
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Darren said 10:02PM on 3-11-2009
Needless to say?
puhsitch said 10:56PM on 3-11-2009
Your blog post doesn't present a whole lot of rationale for displeasure
VanillaSpice said 11:14PM on 3-11-2009
And your blog post also says that Apple lied about it being faster and more stable ... but you then go on only to show that it uses more memory.
So you didn't show how exactly it was slower or less stable, and you also didn't state what the memory usage statistics were supposed to demonstrate.
Simon Arch said 1:03AM on 3-12-2009
It seems faster to me. 8.0.2 used to take several seconds to start, and 8.1 starts almost instantly. Same with quitting. My library is about 20,000 tracks, so that's pretty darn good. I hope this is an indicator of how much faster the app will be in other places.
James said 7:47AM on 3-12-2009
Needless to say, you're a dolt.
Ben Z said 9:46PM on 3-11-2009
iTunes DJ is the new name for Party Shuffle. iPhones and iPod touches connected to the library via Remote.app can 'request' songs to the iTunes DJ service. Much faster than the original Party Shuffle too - no lag at all.
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Ben K. said 9:47PM on 3-11-2009
Ah, I just pulled it up and saw it. Weird.
ipodrulz said 10:12PM on 3-11-2009
Please.. you read Tuaw. It's an iPod Touch, or iPhone.
puhsitch said 10:59PM on 3-11-2009
I'm confused, ipodrulz...are you correcting something that he said?
Andrew Moulton said 12:14AM on 3-12-2009
indeed it should never ever be "iPod Touches"
Simon Arch said 1:30AM on 3-12-2009
How about "iPods touch"? I don't see a problem with iPod touches. But then I also don't see a problem with iTouch, either, and I know that gives some people fits.
ijohnjones said 9:47PM on 3-11-2009
I'm digging iTunes DJ! This is great for friends to vote (even from iPhone or iPod Touch) what they want to hear from the computers iTunes list.
I could see bars and clubs implementing this for patrons to pick the tunes. I think it's neat.
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DJFriar said 10:07PM on 3-11-2009
Real bars and clubs don't use iTunes for DJ'ing. It has maybe 5% of the features a real DJ needs.
That said, it would be a cool feature for the major DJ apps to integrate in.