The New iTunes

Wednesday, September 20th, 2006 | Mac Resources, Reviews

Last week on September 12th, Apple released a new version of iTunes. One of the more subtle changes that you may notice is a new icon. Those of you who have keen eyes when it comes to details will recognize that it’s no longer green. However, beside the icon, Apple made a few other enhancements that are more attractive to music lovers. One of the major improvements is the "gapless" playback of tracks that are meant to be played seamlessly together. When you first run the new version, it will scan your library looking for tracks that should be played without a gap. From that point on you won’t have to wait for the next track to begin as the prior one ends. But remember, this is not true for all tracks, only for those that are recorded to be played seamlessly.

My favorite part of the new iTunes is the cover flow view. I like things that are visually pleasing. As you probably figured, this view is only nice if you have cover art for all the albums in your library. Fortunately, Apple thought of that too. And they are allowing all who have an iTunes Store login to download cover art from Apple. This doesn’t mean that Apple will have cover art for all of your albums, but in most cases your library should be outfitted pretty well.

I know I’ve touched on only several new features in iTunes 7. There’s lots more to savor in the new iTunes. So, if you haven’t yet, head on over to Apple.com and download the new version. As you explore iTunes 7, which features do you like the most? Are there any features you are still waiting for? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Tags: iTunes, Music, Apple, Audio Players