RSSiTunes 8.1 adds multi-remote feature
By Tim Conneally | Published March 12, 2009, 11:45 AM
Since the newest iPod shuffle requires iTunes 8.1 to function properly, Apple has released an update to the desktop music organization software. Though the update was brought around for the new iPod, the real benefits of the update go to multi-iPhone user groups.
ITunes 8.1 has eliminated "Party Shuffle," which is also known as "random," and has been replaced with "iTunes DJ." When iTunes is playing music largely at random, anyone with an iPod Touch or iPhone equipped with iTunes Remote (version 1.2) can request a song and vote when it will play. Betanews also attempted to use the feature this morning with Android Tunes Remote, but it looks like that software will also need to be updated to bring Android users into the DJ booth.
The Genius sidebar feature has also been updated to include a user's video library, now making the intelligent request service available to most content. Additionally, CDs can now automatically be imported in "iTunes Plus" quality (a.k.a., 256 kbps AAC), overall performance speed has been improved, and parental controls have been added to the iTunes store that allows everything but iTunesU to be blocked.
will this version let you identify some files as podcasts like you can audiobooks? if not, then no thanks. itunes on vista is bad enough. there's nothing here to compel me to upgrade.
Score: 0
|I'm not a big fan of iTunes on Windows myself, but I use Mac anyways. The iPod Touch works great with the new DJ feature, and the program definitely runs quicker. Cover Flow seems a bit smoother, as I can seamlessly swipe through my whole library (201 albums) in one swipe on the trackpad. The best improvement is in the iTunes Store. The page load times are incredibly faster now, and the back/forward trackpad navigation gestures now work (provided that you have one of the latest MacBooks). I found it strange before, when I found I could only use them in Safari and Finder, but they have now been integrated into iTunes.
Score: 1
|he forgot to mention ituneshelper.exe though :)
edit: oops, that was in reply to lvthunder
Score: 0
|"iTunes 8.1 adds multi-remote feature" an tons of other crap that messes up a Windows computer.
Score: 3
|70 MB of bloat (windows version) and requires 3 programs to be installed and running in the background, (Bonjour, Quicktime, and Apple update) eating resources. No thanks.
Score: 3
|Actually Software Update doesn't run in the background. It runs as a scheduled task once a week.
Score: 0
|But it doesn't close itself.
Score: 0
|Yay, more bloat for iTunes.
I know it backfired with Vista, but Apple should seriously release slim versions and versions with more features. I don't even want to know how many services iTunes DJ will run in the background... just give me something that can organize and play music and synch my iPhone. Don't want or need the other crap.
Score: 1
|I agree, iTunes has gained quite a bit of weight since first being released, and yet the only features I use are those that have been there since the beginning.
Score: 1
|