Apple iTunes 10.5 Review - This latest update to iTunes is all about iOS 5 and iCloud, which ironically, removes some of the need for iTunes itself. With iCloud, users of iPads, iPhones, and iPod touches will no longer need to sync to a PC running iTunes in order to update the device's OS or even to sync music, photos, or other media content to their other Apple devices. And if iDevice users still do want to sync to a computer, iTunes finally lets them do so wirelessly over Wi-Fi. Though you can play music and video in other apps, iTunes remains the media software to beat.
This latest update to iTunes is all about iOS 5 and iCloud, which ironically, removes some of the need for iTunes itself. With iCloud, users of iPads, iPhones, and iPod touches will no longer need to sync to a PC running iTunes in order to update the device's OS or even to sync music, photos, or other media content to their other Apple devices. And if iDevice users still do want to sync to a computer, iTunes finally lets them do so wirelessly over Wi-Fi. Though you can play music and video in other apps, iTunes remains the media software to beat.
Part of the reason for this is that Apple just keeps improving on iTunes. Version 10 added Apple TV integration, TV show rentals, better app management and Ping, a Facebook-like music-oriented social network that lives inside the media player software. Version 10.2 added support for the iOS 4.3 operating system on iPod touch, iPhone, and iPad 2 ($499-$829, 4.5 stars), along with support for Home Sharing's streaming video to those devices. The wireless streaming feature, AirPlay lets you send music to compatible third-part audio devices—which are finally showing up. In version 10.3, Apple added the piece of iCloud called iTunes in the Cloud, which makes downloading music, apps, and books to multiple apps easier.
Other recent innovations still worthy of note include Genius playlists and Genius mixes. They automatically create playlists based on song styles and moods. iTunes LP is another, giving you liner notes, photos, and video to go along with an album. Its DJ feature lets you create a live mix in which friends can make requests and vote on songs. This is in addition to what other players give you—an equalizer, Internet radio, and podcast subscriptions.
ITunes is, of course, available for Mac OS X (version 10.5 or later), as well as Windows 7, Vista, and XP. If your PC is running a 64-bit version of Vista or Windows 7, you'll need to download the separate 64-bit installer. By default, the installer makes iTunes your default player for audio files, though you can uncheck this if you prefer Windows Media Player (Free, 4 stars), Winamp (Free, 4 stars), or another player.
This latest update to iTunes is all about iOS 5 and iCloud, which ironically, removes some of the need for iTunes itself. With iCloud, users of iPads, iPhones, and iPod touches will no longer need to sync to a PC running iTunes in order to update the device's OS or even to sync music, photos, or other media content to their other Apple devices. And if iDevice users still do want to sync to a computer, iTunes finally lets them do so wirelessly over Wi-Fi. Though you can play music and video in other apps, iTunes remains the media software to beat.
Part of the reason for this is that Apple just keeps improving on iTunes. Version 10 added Apple TV integration, TV show rentals, better app management and Ping, a Facebook-like music-oriented social network that lives inside the media player software. Version 10.2 added support for the iOS 4.3 operating system on iPod touch, iPhone, and iPad 2 ($499-$829, 4.5 stars), along with support for Home Sharing's streaming video to those devices. The wireless streaming feature, AirPlay lets you send music to compatible third-part audio devices—which are finally showing up. In version 10.3, Apple added the piece of iCloud called iTunes in the Cloud, which makes downloading music, apps, and books to multiple apps easier.
Other recent innovations still worthy of note include Genius playlists and Genius mixes. They automatically create playlists based on song styles and moods. iTunes LP is another, giving you liner notes, photos, and video to go along with an album. Its DJ feature lets you create a live mix in which friends can make requests and vote on songs. This is in addition to what other players give you—an equalizer, Internet radio, and podcast subscriptions.
ITunes is, of course, available for Mac OS X (version 10.5 or later), as well as Windows 7, Vista, and XP. If your PC is running a 64-bit version of Vista or Windows 7, you'll need to download the separate 64-bit installer. By default, the installer makes iTunes your default player for audio files, though you can uncheck this if you prefer Windows Media Player (Free, 4 stars), Winamp (Free, 4 stars), or another player.
After you install the software on a Mac, a setup assistant asks you questions that help it customize your installation. The Windows version asks you whether you want to add all songs, audio, and convert and add Windows Media Audio (WMA) files. You can also have iTunes organize your library by renaming files and moving them to the folders that match. A final privacy check asks if you want the app to download album art.
After you first launch iTunes, you're offered nine tutorials that cover topics ranging from the Ping service to iTunes U; these offer a good, simple way to get you started with unfamiliar features. One disappointment in starting up and signing into iTunes is that there's no easy way to switch among multiple accounts.
Apple doesn't add new file format support with this release, but I should note that the player software no longer requires a separate QuickTime installation to play media. You're still more likely to be able to play that difficult file in the excellent VLC media player (Free, 4 stars) media player, which supports over 20 video formats alone, compared with iTunes' seven.
