iPod iTunes Zone

Apple has released iTunes 9, brining with it support for Apple’s new iTunes LP enhanced album format, app organization features, an improved iTunes Store layout, smarter syncing, Genius Mixes, and Home Sharing. iTunes LP is a new enhanced album format that gives users an interactive, DVD-style presentation of the content, including lyrics, photos, writing, videos, and more. The new content will launch on a number of new albums, including Pearl Jam’s upcoming release Backspacer, as well as “Deluxe Edition” reissues of classic albums such as Highway 61 Revisited by Bob Dylan, American Beauty by the Grateful Dead, and The Doors: 40th Anniversary Mixes. An equivalent feature called iTunes Extras will be included with select movies, offering a DVD-style interface with extra features, including (for Wall-E) 3-D set fly-throughs, details on different robots, and more. Continue reading for more on iTunes 9 and for screenshots of the new software.

“iTunes 9 is a great iTunes release, with innovative features that make using iTunes better than ever and iTunes content richer than ever,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “iTunes LP, for example, lets artists share more of their creativity with fans and gives music lovers the feeling of being immersed in an entire album with art, lyrics, liner notes, photos and videos.”

iTunes 9 also adds a new application management feature, which allows users to set up pages of apps from their existing application library, move and reorder entire pages of applications, and can of course still change them on their devices. Genius Mixes are an expansion of Genius Playlists, utilizing a “Genius DJ” that creates “endless mixes of songs that go great together”—up to 12 from a media library. When syncing in iTunes 9, users can now choose to sync by artist or genre automatically, in addition to playlists, sync photo Events and Faces in addition to Albums, and automatically sync new purchases of music, movies, TV shows, audiobooks, and applications. Also new is a feature called Home Sharing, which lets families copy iTunes content to and from 5 authorized computers in their house, using drag-and-drop, and can also auto-sync new music, movie, TV, audiobook, or application purchases across all 5 computers.

iTunes 9 brings with it a completely redesigned iTunes Store, with a new navigation bar at the top of the Store, providing one-click access to different parts of the store, drop-down menus to dig deeper into different sections of the store, and new artist pages, movie, and TV pages. Users can now preview and buy songs and albums right from the top charts, with easier Quick View and previewing of albums, and a new arrow next to the buy buttons lets users create wishlists, gift albums or songs, and share links on Facebook and Twitter, directly from iTunes. iTunes 9 is available as a free download starting today.

source: iLounge

The fifth-generation iPod nano ($149/8GB, $179/16GB) preserves the shape of its fourth-generation predecessor while adding six primary features: a video camera capable of having special effects applied to realtime video recordings via holding down the Click Wheel’s central button, a microphone, an internal speaker, a wider 2.2” screen, an FM radio tuner, and a pedometer for use in exercise. The microphone and video camera are found on a chromed plate on the unit’s back, in the lower left corner; it reverses the prior headphone port and Dock Connector arrangement on the device’s bottom. Apple has also used a new “polished anodized aluminum” technique to give the devices each glossy but otherwise similar—not identical—colors to last year’s versions; purple becomes richer, “black” lighter, and so on. It is, as expected, a challenge to hold the iPod nano to actually record video, but once you’re doing so, it’s actually impressive to see how Apple smoothly fades transitions from menu screen to menu screen within camera mode.

The third-generation iPod touch (8GB/$199, 32GB/$299, 64GB/$399) is cosmetically identical to the second-generation model, and has received only one major hardware change: the addition of a 50% faster processor set for the 32GB and 64GB models, the latter now the largest-capacity iPod touch ever sold. According to an Apple representative on site at the event, the specifics of the hardware changes are not being discussed by the company other than the faster processor claim, which also adds OpenGL ES 2.0 support to bring the model in parity with the iPhone 3GS. When asked whether 802.11n support had been added to the device’s hardware, the comment was that there was nothing to announce on that at this time.

The third-generation iPod shuffle (2GB/$59, 4GB/$79) is the same as its predecessor released earlier this year, except for the addition of four new color options. Both the 2GB and 4GB models are available in three new colors—pink, blue, and green—which are more muted and iPod mini-like than the fourth and fifth-generation iPod nanos, without possessing the polished anodized aluminum. They all possess stainless steel rear clips. A new 4GB, entirely stainless steel model is being sold as an Apple Store exclusive special edition for $99, and predictably is a bright chrome through and through. No other changes were supposedly made to these models.

The iPod classic (160GB/$249) was not available for demonstration in Apple’s hands-on area after the event. It possesses the same thin profile as earlier 80GB and 120GB iPod classic models, but supposedly has no other changes from the second-generation version introduced last year.

source: iLounge

Apple has sent out invitations to select members of the media inviting them to a special event on September 9th. Featuring a large iPod silhouette graphic at the top sporting the phrase “It’s only rock and roll, but we like it,” the invite states that the event will be held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco, CA, and that it will begin at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. Apple is widely expected to announce its fall 2009 iPod lineup at the event.

Notable is the “only rock and roll” reference, which appears to be a simultaneous dismissal of rumors that the event might be focused on more than just Apple’s “music” business—iPods—and a reference to the Rolling Stones, who traditionally were seen as rivals to The Beatles. The September 9 date of the event coincides with the release of The Beatles’ entire backcatalog in remastered CD format, as well as a widely publicized tie-up for a special Beatles version of the game Rock Band; these events, combined with Apple’s longstanding interest in offering The Beatles’ catalog in digital format on iTunes, have led many to speculate that the event would include such an announcement. If so, the theme of the invitation provides only the most modest hint that such a thing could be possible.

source: iLounge

Apple introduced the anticipated fourth-generation iPod nano. The model is said to combine the best of the second-generation player’s shape with the large screen and video playback of the third-generation model but is even thinner and adds an enhanced, accelerometer-driven interface that rotates the on-screen interface; this improves the use of Cover Flow and even photo browsing, Apple says. Users can even shake the player to shuffle tracks similar to SanDisk’s Sansa Shaker. The new software also automatically builds in voice recording and has a context-sensitive menu that appears just by holding the center button.

Apple claims the same 24 hours of audio and four hours of video as with the third-generation player, but also a more environmentally-friendly device with an aluminum exterior, arsenic-free glass and toxin-free internals. It’s the “cleanest iPod ever,” Apple chief Steve Jobs says.

The nano will ship in an 8GB model for $149 and a 16GB version for $199; nine colors will be available and include more exotic colors such as orange and yellow. Most models should be available by the weekend, though the 16GB may be delayed to early next week.

Apple is also introducing new high-end earphones with a built-in play/pause control that works similar to the iPhone’s: double-clicking skips to the next track, while three clicks skip backwards. The optional earbuds cost $79 and come with three different fits for different ears.

Additionally, Apple has also announced a slightly upgraded iPod classic; the company is scrapping the 160GB model and now just offers a single 120GB model in silver or black. It will sell for $249 and should be available in a similar timeframe.

source: ipodnn.com

EA games has announced that it is bringing a number of titles to the iPhone. Reporting from the EA press conference at E3, Joystiq notes that EA will utilize the accelerometer in a newly announced Spore title for the iPhone, allowing full creature control. The company will offer full touch-support in Tetris and also make Scrabble WiFi compatible, allowing multi-player scrabble games from the iPhone. Sudoku, Tetris and Scrabble are already available at the iPhone App Store, while Spore Origins (a mini version of the bacteria stage of Spore, complete with a creature creator) is expected in the near future. There are also plans at EA to port popular titles such as Tiger Woods and Need for Speed to the iPhone.

Tetris ($10 at the App Store) offers 15 levels, a magic mode and marathon mode, with touch support, and drag, flick and poke actions, among others. Scrabble offers the classic board game on the iPhone, with zoom and drag-and-drop tiles, for $10. It allows players to work against the computer or utilize Wi-Fi for multi-player games. Sodoku offers 10,000 grids with five difficulty levels. It is available for $8.

source: macnn.com

Over 10 million downloads have been made from the newly-launched iTunes App Store, according to Apple. The company also notes that the amount of software has already increased since the store’s Thursday debut, from approximately 500 apps to over 800. Of these, some 90 percent are said to be less than $10, including 200 free ones like AIM and Remote. The company has not so far identified how many downloads to date have been of free software, or what categories are the most popular.

Reports meanwhile suggest that some developers are deliberately altering the names of applicationsiTune to gain rank at the App Store. By placing a space or a symbol such as a quotation mark in front their title, it is believed that companies can force apps to the front of the alphabetical listings, increasing visibility. One of the worst offenders is said to be Jirbo, whose Jirbo Break and Jirbo Avatar are even listed ahead of titles like 105 Classics and AIM.

source: ipodnn.com

With users finding ways to upgrade their original iPhones to iPhone 2.0, Apple yesterday began touting its iPod touch v2.0 software; although the iTunes Store was off-line, users can purchase the upgrade for their Touch for $9.95. The software update brings push email with Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync, contact search, multiple calendars, a scientific calculator, improved Mail attachment viewing, better email management (including bcc for emails), and user-selectable accounts for replying to email as well as updated language, dictionary, and keyboard support (English, French, German, Japanese, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Russian, and Polish).

source: macnn.com

In tandem with the release of iTunes 7.7, Apple has formally launched both its MobileMe online service and the iTunes App Store. The former is a dramatic revision of .Mac, emphasizing content sync between computers, handhelds and the web; push e-mail is also integrated. Existing .Mac subscribers can sign in at me.com with their old usernames and passwords, but some are reporting slow access, likely due to a large influx of visitors. Others are reporting prompts from Apple to install the “OS X Update for MobileMe,” though this has not yet appeared via Software Update.

The App Store is not currently highlighted on the iTunes US storefront, but can be accessed by enabling “Applications” in the General tab under Preferences, and then clicking “Get More Applications” when the appropriate Library view is selected. Available software covers a variety of categories, from social networking apps such as AIM and Twitterific through programs for finance, navigation, news and gaming. Many titles are free, but a number cost anywhere between 99 cents and $20.

source: ipodnn.com

Apple on Monday celebrated the fifth anniversary of iTunes (Music Store) with a look at back at all “all of the great music, video, and exclusives” that users discovered on iTunes and highlighting the songs and shows that defined each year. On its iTunes store, Apple offered a brief history along with a collection of “best sellers”. The company, which launched the iTunes Store on April 28, 2003, claims grew its music catalog of more than 200,000 songs and a handful of exclusive tracks to more than 10 million, according to info available at the online store — up 66 percent from the 6 million song catalog announced in early April. Update: As readers point out, the iTunes software was released in 2001. [updated]Earlier this month, the company announced that the iTunes Store surpassed Wal-Mart to become the number one music retailer in the US based on data from January and February of 2008. Apple also touted that it had served over 50 million customers and sold more than four billion songs.

iTunes accounts for approximately 70 percent of digital music sold worldwide. Wired notes that in the next five years, Apple’s media service may well account for a staggering 28 percent of all music sold worldwide. Citing a report from market research firm Instat, the Wired blogger notes that digital music is projected to account for 40 percent of music sold and that if Apple holds onto its current market share, it will account for more than one-quarter of all music sales by its ninth birthday.

In 2004, the company expanded its music catalog, began offering exclusive content with the first digital boxset: the Complete U2, launched ‘iTunes Originals’ with sets from Sting and Alanis Morissette, and added audiobooks to the its expanding its collection content beyond music.

In its third year (2005) Apple added TV shows and music videos as well as its Podcast directory and iTunes Essentials, which offers collections of music based on artist, genre, and other themes.

The following year (2006), Apple introduced movies, offering both new releases and library titles for sale. Apple also launched downloadable iPod games and the iTunes Latino Store with music, video, and media dedicated to the Latino culture.

During the last year (2007), the company launched iTunes U with free lectures, lessons, and other academic content as well as custom ringtones and the iTunes WiFi music store alongside the introduction of the iPhone and iPod Touch. The company said it now has a catalog of more than 10 million songs and serves over 22 countries worldwide. It also claims it has delivered over 125 million TV downloads.

source: macnn.com

Apple has just released the latest version of its iPod Reset Utility, an emergency tool which completely reverts iPods when the normal iTunes option refuses to work. The utility should not be used lightly, as it will erase all music and other data on an iPod, and install the very latest iPod firmware. The v1.0.3 update expands support, including reset options for both first- and second-generation iPod shuffles. The Mac version is a 3.6MB download, and requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later; the Windows software is 4.9MB, and requires either Windows 2000 with Service Pack 4, or XP with Service Pack 2.

source: ipodnn.com