As expected, Apple released a new version of iTunes, version 8.1 to coincide with yesterday’s new iPod shuffle release.
Apple claims the new version to be much faster and more responsive. Noticeable improvements should occur when – working with large libraries, browsing the iTunes Store, preparing to sync with an iPod/iPhone and optimizing photos for syncing. I hope Apple lives up to the claim – I am feeling the fat of the current version, especially in the Applications tab. I am hitting 300 apps soon and the experience is sluggish at best.
Besides the performance improvements, iTunes 8.1 also includes many other enhancements and bug fixes, some of which are listed below:
- syncing with new iPod shuffle VoiceOver (3rd generation)
- iTunes DJ (previously Party Shuffle) now allows friends to request songs
- Genius sidebar
can now be enabled for Movies and TV Showsseems to be pulled, according to this post over at The iPhone Blog - improved performance when downloading iTunes Plus tracks
- new AutoFill feature for iPods that are manually managed
- import tracks using the same quality settings as iTunes Plus
- accessibility improvements
- disable iTunes U and the iTunes Store separately using Parental Controls
- security updates
Mac users should also find the accompanying Front Row update if you have a recently released Macintosh computer that can make use of the feature. Besides this, Apple’s Remote software for both the iPhone and iPod touch has also been updated to version 1.2 in order to improve compatibility with iTunes 8.1.
Head over to Apple’s web site to get the new iTunes 8.1 – Mac users can opt to use Software Update to download both iTunes 8.1 and Front Row 2.1.7. Once iTunes 8.1 is installed, head over to the iTunes Store to get the updated Remote application for your iPhone or iPod touch.
Happy iTunes DJ-ing!
