What is New in iTunes?

The current version of iTunes is 9.0.2. Below is a list of some of the new features of iTunes, starting with version 4.0.

iTunes 4.0 has several major new features:

• Allows users on the same local area network to share their music library via Bonjour(Rendezvous).
• Music in iTunes 4.0 can be encoded in MP4 or AAC format for higher fidelity sound in a much more compact file. Music in the MP3 format can be converted to the new MP4 format through the selection of a single menu command.
• Allows users to purchase music from Apple's online Music Store.

iTunes version 4.5 added the ability to create a Party Shuffle, which is a smart playlist that allows users to modify the play list as it's playing. Users can publish their playlists as a Mix on the Apple Music Store. Music can also be ripped from CDs using the Apple Lossless Encoder which saves the music in a compact MP4 file without any loss in audio quality.

iTunes 4.6 adds the ability to stream music to any Airport Express base station on the LAN. For more information go to the iTunes web site.

iTunes 4.8, along with Quicktime 7.0 seems to have the ability to play video as well as audio.

iTunes 4.9 has podcast support, which allows users to subscribe to podcasts, download them automatically when they become available and then sync them with their iPods.

iTunes 5.0 has several new features. It sports a new search bar, parental controls, play list folders and smart shuffling. It also has a new streamline design.

iTunes 6.0. and later supports the new video store, podcasting as well as streaming audio to up to 3 Airport Express units.

iTunes 7.0 and later supports downloading movies from the iTunes Store, Cover Flow for flipping through album art associated with digital music, an improved user interface, a download manager to better manage the download of music, movies and podcasts, parental controls and many other features. Apple's iTunes webpage has a complete list of the changes.

iTunes 8.0 introduces the Genius Sidebar. When activated it helps to intelligently create playlists based on what it perceives to be the user's musical preferences. It will also suggest songs from the iTunes store which match the user's musical tastes but are not currently in the user's library.

Note: iTunes is now available for users running Windows XP and Windows Vista.