iTunes Will Remain Unchanged On Windows (For Now)

iTunes users rejoice, as the music app we all know and love it still alive and in the last place you’d probably expect. As noted by Ars Technica, the revolutionary music app will still exist on Microsoft’s Windows. 

Apple told the publication that users of iTunes under Microsoft Windows won’t see any changes. It won't be broken up into several apps, it will work just like it does now. However, Apple did not provide any clarification about what support will be like for future features. The company simply says that Windows users will continue to have the same experience as before and that it is not announcing any plans to end support for iTunes in Windows. Thought this doesn’t  mean that Apple could break iTunes for Windows down the road.

The iTunes Store Isn’t Going Anywhere And Everything You Need To Know About The Upcoming iTunes Changes

The iTunes app is no more in macOS Catalina, and it’s left a lot of us with questions on how things will work going forward. Thankfully, Apple has created a support document that explains all of the upcoming changes.

As we already know, Apple is planning to split iTunes into three apps in macOS Catalina: Music, Podcasts, and TV. One of the most frequent questions concerns device management and syncing, which is currently done through iTunes. In Catalina, Apple is transitioning device management functionality to the Finder app, and when you plug an iOS device into your Mac, it will be listed as an available device on the left side of the window, with all of the same controls and information. 

The Music app is going to feature all of the music that you've imported or purchased, and don’t worry the iTunes Store is still going to be available in the Music app for making music purchases. Apple Music will also be available in the Music app right alongside your purchased music or other imported music. iTunes Music purchases will also continue to be available on iOS. Likewise, TV shows and Movies that you've purchased or rented from iTunes will be listed in the upcoming Apple TV app, and it will also be used for future purchases and rentals. All of your podcasts will be transitioned over to the Podcasts app, while audiobooks can be purchased and accessed in the Apple Books app for Mac. 

Last but not least, iTunes Gift Cards and iTunes credits will be usable in the new TV and Music apps and in the App Store. Looks like that’s the one thing that’s gone unchanged.  

Apple Rumored To Break-Up iTunes At WWDC

The long rumored  break-up of iTunes on the Mac could be coming true at Apple Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC), according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

He says: “iTunes has been the way Apple users listen to music, watch movies and TV shows, hear podcasts, and manage their devices for almost two decades. This year, Apple is finally ready to move into a new era. The company is launching a trio of new apps for the Mac – Music, TV, and Podcasts – to replace iTunes. That matches Apple's media app strategy on iPhones and iPads. Without iTunes, customers can manage their Apple gadgets through the Music app.”

I honestly wish Apple would just redesign iTunes and not separate things. But, with the company focusing more on services like Apple Music and Apple TV+ it’s kinda inevitable. It’s an end of an era for sure. 

Apple To Stop Selling iTunes LP’s

Apple has sent out an email to those working in the music business announcing the end of iTunes LPs, according to Metro. 

iTunes is a format for interactive album artwork that Apple introduced in 2009. It allows users to view multimedia elements alongside music. The company’s reasoning was that the format would make album downloads more appealing. However, the format apparently never caught on.

According to Metro, Apple will no longer accept new submissions of iTunes LPs after March 2018. Also, existing LPs will be deprecated from the store during the remainder of 2018. Customers who have previously purchased an album containing an iTunes LP will still be able to download the additional content using iTunes Match.

“Although this one decision does not spell immediate doom for iTunes, music industry sources and experts said it’s evidence which chimes with rumours that Apple is intending to stop selling music downloads and shift to a subscription model,” the Metro article says.

It should be noted that this doesn’t mean Apple will NOT stop selling music, they’ll just stop selling iTunes LPs. 

iTunes Store Will Stop Working On Original Apple TV and Older PCs Starting May 25

Apple has published a new support document noting that security changes being implemented on May 25 will prevent the first-generation Apple TV and PCs running Windows XP or Vista from using the iTunes Store. Apple has also begun emailing users with active first-generation Apple TVs to warn them of the upcoming change. The first-generation Apple TV based on a traditional hard drive was introduced back in 2007 and was supplanted by the much smaller flash-based second-generation model in late 2010. The first-generation model was made obsolete by Apple in late 2015. As for PC users, Apple notes that PCs running Windows XP or Vista are no longer supported by Microsoft and are unable to use the latest versions of iTunes, as iTunes 12 requires Windows 7 or later. Older versions of Windows and iTunes won't be able to make new purchases or re-download previous purchases from the iTunes Store. 

Apple Releases List For Most Popular Apps, Music, Movies And More In 2017

Apple has released its charts and trends, celebrating the most popular apps, music, movies, TV shows, books and podcasts across the App Store, Apple Music, iTunes, iBooks and Apple Podcasts for 2017. Editors and curators from Apple Music, App Store and iTunes highlight great content from indie artists and developers from around the globe. You can find the complete list here.

Play Every Digital Purchased Movie In One App, Movies Anywhere Platform

Movies Anywhere has launched in the U.S. with 5 Hollywood studios and four digital retailers on board.

The service features films from Sony Pictures Entertainment, The Walt Disney Studios (encompassing Disney, Pixar, Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm), Twentieth Century Fox Film, Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. Entertainment purchased or redeemed through digital retailers iTunes, Amazon Video, Google Play, and Vudu, Movies Anywhere brings the movies people love together to create a simple, seamless digital entertainment experience across platforms.

Using the free Movies Anywhere app and website, consumers can access all their eligible movies by connecting their Movies Anywhere account with their participating digital retailer accounts. Movies Anywhere syncs users' libraries across their connected accounts, so consumers can watch their purchased and redeemed digital movies on an array of platforms including: the Apple TV; iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch;  Amazon Fire devices; Android devices and Android TV; Apple TV; Chromecast; Roku devices and popular browsers, with more platforms and retailers to come.

"Movies Anywhere means that consumers never have to remember where they purchased a film or which device they can watch it on, because all of their eligible movies will be centralized within their Movies Anywhere library and available across platforms through the Movies Anywhere app and website and also available at their connected digital retailers,” says Karin Gilford, general manager, Movies Anywhere. “And as Movies Anywhere continues to add more studios, retailers and platforms, the entertainment possibilities are endless."      

Movies Anywhere initially features access to a library of over 7,300 digital movies, along with fresh previews and film extras from the studios responsible for such 2017 films as Disney's "Beauty and the Beast," Warner Bros.' "Wonder Woman," Sony Pictures' "Spider-Man: Homecoming," Universal's "The Fate of the Furious" and Twentieth Century Fox's "War for the Planet of the Apes."

To celebrate the launch, Movies Anywhere is welcoming new users with a limited-time offer to receive up to five digital movies. You can activate and connect your account with iTunes, Amazon Video, Google Play, or Vudu, and you'll receive a digital copy of both Sony Pictures' "Ghostbusters" (2016) and Twentieth Century Fox's "Ice Age." Connect with a second participating digital retailer and Disney's "Big Hero 6," Universal's "Jason Bourne" and Warner Bros.' "The LEGO Movie" will be added to your digital movie collection.

You Can’t Download 4K iTunes Content On Apple TV 4K, Only Stream

Though the Apple TV 4K offers both 4K and HDR support, you’ll only be able to steam 4K films, not download them from the iTunes store. In a support document, Apple says you can buy or rent movies from the iTunes Store in high-definition (HD) or 4K resolution formats. These videos might also feature high dynamic range (HDR) or Dolby Vision. Apple says you can download a local copy of an HD movie, and you might be able to download HDR and Dolby Vision versions, but you can’t download a 4K version. This is likely due to licensing issues with film studios. This despite a statement from Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services, that “customers will love watching stunning 4K HDR movies from an impressive catalog on iTunes, while also getting automatic upgrades of 4K HDR movies already in their iTunes library.”

Apple’s iTunes Is Coming To The Windows Store

Microsoft has announced that Apple will bring its iTunes app to the Windows 10 Store. iTunes is already available for Windows users, but adding it to the Windows Store will make it easier for Windows users to find the software. 

iTunes 12.5.4 Adds Support For The New TV App

Apple has released iTunes version 12.5.4. The upgrade adds support for the new "TV" app on iOS and tvOS. It also improves Touch Bar capabilities with the new MacBook Pro. With Touch Bar on the new MacBook Pro, you can use the scrubber to go to different parts of songs, movies, TV shows, and more. Version 12.5.4 also includes minor app and performance improvements. iTunes 12.5.4 can be downloaded using the Software Update feature at the Mac App Store.

Apple Releases iTunes Update 12.5.1

Apple has updated iTunes for Mac OS X to version 12.5.1. The free update available in the Mac App Store  and includes support for iOS 10 and more. Here’s what the update also adds:

• Now with an all-new Apple Music design, which brings greater clarity and simplicity to every aspect of the experience.
• Siri. Play music from your Library and Apple Music using your voice. Just ask Siri.
• Picture-in-Picture. Watch videos as you multitask and use different apps. Your video floats above your desktop in any corner of the screen.

The Siri and Picture-in-Picture features require macOS Sierra, which is set for release on September 20.

Watch Out For This iTunes And App Store Scam

According to This is Money, Apple users are being targeted with a new scam involving invoices for fake iTunes, App Store or Netflix purchases. The fake emails claim that someone has been shopping using your Apple account. The scam mails, adorned with the Apple logo that looks legit, claim that say someone has bought music on iTunes or purchased a new annual Netflix subscription with your account. You’re told to click on a “refund” link, where you’re asked to fill in your credit card and banking info. Apple is advising users to ignore the emails. 

Pokemon GO Breaks An iTunes Record

Pokemon GO has had more downloads in its first week than any other app in history, Apple has confirmed this to Polygon. No specific numbers are known. I can’t say I’m surprised. Pokemon GO continues to be a phenomenon and a behemoth. The real question is, what record will Pokemon Go break next ? What do you think ? 

Apple Releases Updates For iTunes, OS X, iOS, WatchOS And tvOS

Apple has released new software updates for iTunes, OS X, iOS, watchOS and tvOS. iTunes 12.4 for OS X sports a redesigned interface that’s designed to be simpler. iTunes 12.4 can be downloaded on the Mac App Store. Mac OS X 10.11.5 offers bug fixes and security enhancements. It’s also available on the Mac App Store. iOS 9.3.2 focuses mainly on under the hood performance improvements and bug fixes. You can download it at the Apple App Store or via the General/Software Updates in the Settings. tvOS 9.2.1 and watchOS 2.2.1 are designed to deal with various bugs. The tvOS update can be found in the fourth-generation Apple TV's settings app. Apple Watch updates are installed through the iOS Watch app on a connected iPhone. 

Apple's iTunes Radio Will Soon Charge You To Listen

Apple will no longer offer its ad-supported radio stations and instead charge you $10 to use the service starting on January 29. Customers who've been enjoying iTunes Radio's ad-supported broadcasts since the service launched back in 2013 will now need to pay a monthly subscription fee for access. iTunes Radio grants users access to over 200 stations. Users previously had the option to subscribe to the iTunes Match service to listen to the radio stations ad-free. Why Apple would do this is beyond me. It makes no sense and it’s kinda messed up and they’re just driving away users from there service. What do you think of Apple doing this ? 

The iPod was Introduced To The World 14 Years Ago Today

Time sure does fly, 14 years ago today Steve Jobs introduced the world to the iPod. The iPod is credited with being the start of Apple’s success, making CDs and other MP3 players obsolete and paving the way towards consuming music and other media off of pocketable devices. At the time, most MP3 players held just a handful of songs, perfect for a run, but they weren’t capable of holding the thousands of songs. In addition, the user interface on most of these devices was horrible. Apple revolutionized the business by using a small hard drive that could hold a thousand songs or more, and make individual songs or playlists to use. The iPod revolutionized the music industry and the way me listen to and consume music, it truly is a game changer in the tech and music world. You can watch the keynote were the iPod war revealed below. What do you think of the iPod ? 

China Now Has Access To Apple Music, iTunes Movies And iBooks

Apple Music, iTunes movies and iBooks are now available in China. Users can also rent or purchase movies from a selection of Chinese studios as well as America movies on the iTunes Store, in addition to enjoying paid and free books from the iBooks Store. For the first time, customers in China will have access to Apple’s entertainment ecosystem with music, movies and books right at their fingertips, says Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. Starting on September 30, China customers are invited to a 3 month trial membership of Apple Music, after which a 10 RMB/month subscription fee will apply. There will also be a family plan providing service for up to six family members available for 15 RMB/month. 

Apple Gives Life To The Entire iPod Line Up

Today Apple revealed a brand new iPod Touch and announced a bunch of new color options for the entire iPod line. The new iPod Touch includes an 8 MP camera and an improved front facing HD camera, along with the Apple A8 processor. The A8 is the same processor currently found nestled in the innards of the iPhone 6. The new colors for the iPod line are space gray, silver, gold, blue and pink. The announcement from Apple confirms an earlier report that Apple accidentally revealed its new iPod lineup in the new iTunes 12 update. Pricing for the new iPod Touch begins at $200 US for the 16GB model, $250 for 32GB, and $300 for the 64GB. Apple is also offering the iPod Touch for the first time with 128GB of storage which will cost $400.

Apple Releases iTunes 12.2.1

Apple has released iTunes 12.2.1, a minor update that introduces some much needed bug fixes for iTunes Match and other features introduced with Apple Music. Apple Music was first released 2 weeks ago, but included several major bugs with iTunes Match that caused entire music libraries to be deleted amongst other issues.

Here are the patch notes from the update:

- Fixes an issue for iTunes Match where iTunes incorrectly changed some songs from Matched to Apple Music

- Provides a way to correct a library problem affecting former iTunes Match subscribers

- Includes minor bug fixes and improvements for Beats 1

Here’s How Apple Music’s “For You” Suggests Music For You

Apple treats "likes" or “hearts” in Apple Music is a way of tailoring the "For You" recommendations in the service, along with the help of things like personal library data. Tapping or clicking a heart button when playing content in Apple Music in fact only affects the For You section of the service, and will not skew the content of the service's built in radio stations. The For You section is also influenced by additions to a listener's personal library, and any time a track is listened to in full.