Apple today released a new version of iTunes to allow the syncing of interactive iBooks textbooks to your iPad and to presumably add new features for the “iBooks 2.0? app and the updated iTunes U program.This 107MB iTunes can be downloaded from this link.
What’s new in iTunes 10.5.3
iTunes 10.5.3 allows you to sync interactive iBooks textbooks to your iPad. These multi-touch textbooks are available for purchase from the iTunes Store on your Mac or from the iBookstore included with iBooks 2 on your iPad. iBooks textbooks are created with “iBooks Author” — now available as a free download on the Mac App Store.
Heres the direct link to watch Apples education event held last evening, you can also get it on iTunes. Checkout from iBooks, iTunes U to digital textbooks.
Dont miss this video – The video sports both teachers and students who rave about the mess that is the United States education system and how Apple is arriving to the rescue, via 9to5Mac.
With Apple’s education event now behind us, there is a lot to digest here. In addition, today has brought us three interesting software releases: “iBooks 2” and ”iTunes U“ apps for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, and the “iBooks Author“ program for the Mac.
Apple has launched a new webpage for iTunes Match which features a video walkthrough of the service. You can subscribe to iTunes Match from this Apple link. Heres how iTunes Match works:
iTunes determines which songs in your collection are available in the iTunes Store. Any music with a match is automatically added to iCloud for you to listen to anytime, on any device. Since there are more than 20 million songs in the iTunes Store, chances are your music is already in iCloud. And for the few songs that aren’t, iTunes uploads what it can’t match (which is much faster than uploading your entire music library). Even better, all the music iTunes matches plays back from iCloud at 256-Kbps AAC DRM-free quality – even if your original copy was of lower quality.
Once your music is in iCloud, you can stream it to any of your devices. Just browse the complete list of all your music stored in the cloud. To listen to a song, tap the iCloud icon next to it and your song starts playing. You can store up to 25,000 songs in iCloud (more if songs are purchased from the iTunes Store), but only what you want to play is stored on your device. So you have immediate access to a huge music library without taking up storage space.
If you’re not familiar with the service, iTunes Match essentially allows you to download all of the music on your home computer to any iPhone or other Mac.
The site answers several frequently asked questions, including this one:
Does iTunes Match stream or download songs?
On a computer, any songs stored in iCloud will stream over the air when played, though you can download them at any time by clicking the iCloud download button. iOS devices will start playing tracks from iCloud as they download and will store them so that you can listen to them later even if you don’t have a network connection. Apple TV only streams songs.
According to numerous online reports, Apple accidentally launched iTunes Match internationally yesterday. iTunes allowed customers to signup in Canada, Europe, and the U.K on Tuesday. But after signing up, customers were unable to use the service. Apple then on refunded customers who were billed for service. MacRumors forum member, posted his refund email which can be seen below.
The email reads:
I apologize for this Beau but as of the moment, iTunes Match is only available to Brazil and United States. iTunes Match will not function if the customer’s account is not a United States or Brazil account. I have reversed the charge for “iTunes Match”. In five to seven business days, a credit of $34.99 should be posted to the credit card that appears on the receipt for that purchase.
Yesterday Apple released an updated iTunes with several additional updates and bug fixes. iTunes 10.5.2 also improves iTunes Match. “iTunes 10.5.2 includes several improvements for iTunes Match and fixes an audio distortion problem when playing or importing certain CDs.” Hit the update link to upgrade your iTunes:
What’s new in iTunes 10.5.2
iTunes 10.5.2 includes several improvements for iTunes Match and fixes an audio distortion problem when playing or importing certain CDs.
iTunes 10.5.1 also included:
iTunes Match. Store your entire music library in iCloud, including music you’ve imported from CDs, and enjoy your collection anywhere, anytime, on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, computer, or Apple TV.
iTunes in the Cloud. iTunes now stores your music and TV purchases in iCloud and makes them available on your devices anywhere, any time, at no additional cost.
Automatic Downloads. Purchase music from any device or computer and automatically download a copy to your Mac and iOS devices.
Download Previous Purchases. Download your past music, TV, app, and book purchases again, at no additional cost. Previous purchases may be unavailable if they are no longer on the iTunes Store.
Sync with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 5.
Wi-Fi Syncing. Automatically sync your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iTunes any time they’re both on the same Wi-Fi network.
iTunes 10.5.1 with iTunes Match is live now. Hit your Update link under iTunes’ tab and you will be able to upgrade to 10.5.1. Its already available for download from Apple’s site. Apple also confirmed the availability of iTunes Match in the U.S., with the following announcement on their iTunes page. iTunes Match syncs users’ music to iCloud for $24.99 a year. Unlimited songs can be synced and doesn’t affect iCloud storage, but only songs that are available on iTunes can be synced, reports 9to5Mac.
iTunes Match lets you match, upload, and play music on a variety of different devices. This allows you to take your entire iTunes library with you on the go. Another interesting thing about iTunes Match is that it will match will match any music you have to 256Kbps AAC DRM-Free quality, even if the bit-rate is of a higher or lower quality.
iTunes determines which songs in your collection are available in the iTunes Store. Any music with a match is automatically added to iCloud. Since there are more than 20 million songs in the iTunes Store, most of your music is probably already in iCloud. All you have to upload is what iTunes can’t match. Which is much faster than starting from scratch. Once your music is in iCloud, you can stream and store it on any of your devices. Even better, all the music iTunes matches plays back from iCloud at 256-Kbps AAC DRM-free quality — even if your original copy was of lower quality.
Quick Update: Apple added a new section in iTunes Stores where one can buy text and alert tones. You can access this new store by going to Settings > Sounds > Buy More Tones. Ringtones are listed for $1.29 and alert tones for $0.99
Yesterday Apple released iTunes 10.5 which adds a number of improvements and official support for devices running iOS 5. Tomorrow iOS5 will go live and iTunes 10.5 will be required to sync devices that will be upgraded to the new software. For iOS 5 devices, iTunes 10.5 brings WiFi Syncing, a new feature that will allow owners of an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch to sync apps and media wirelessly through iTunes, reports MacStories.
What’s new in iTunes 10.5
iTunes in the Cloud. iTunes now stores your music and TV purchases in iCloud and makes them available on your devices anywhere, any time, at no additional cost.
Automatic Downloads. Purchase music from any device or computer and automatically download a copy to your Mac and iOS devices.
Download Previous Purchases. Download your past music, TV, app, and book purchases again, at no additional cost. Previous purchases may be unavailable if they are no longer on the iTunes Store.
Sync with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 5.
Wi-Fi Syncing. Automatically sync your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iTunes any time they’re both on the same Wi-Fi network.
Note: It appears iTunes Match has been removed from this public version of iTunes 10.5 — iTunes Match is still developer-only and launching at this end of this month
This comes as a surprise to US Apple Developers, as Apple once again opens iTunes Match service to US developers. You will need the latest iTunes 10.5 beta 8 and a US iTunes account associated to a US credit card. TiPb shares this a while back:
Devs who do make it in (and it looks like some are having trouble at the moment) will have to pony up the $24.99 annual subscription fee for iTunes Match, and are warned up front their libraries will be deleted at the end of the beta period. So remember, it’s not really early access, it’s beta.
iTunes Match is a part of iCloud and is expected to launch for everyone this October alongside iOS 5.
Apple has seeded iTunes 10.5 today to developers, working towards a full launch of the iCloud services. The releases include iTunes 10.5 beta 8 and iWork for iOS beta 3. The new iTunes 10.5 build comes before beta 7, which was released alongside iOS 5 beta 7 on August 31st:
iCloud introduces a smarter way for users to back up their info. It’s important to read the new iCloud Data Storage Guidelines to ensure that your app works best with iCloud Backup and Restore, available on iOS 5.
iCloud is expected to launch alongside iOS 5 and new iPhone and iPod hardware by the middle of next month.
Yesterday Apple sent out emailers to developers telling them that Apple’s music locker service, iTunes Match, is now in beta:
iTunes Match stores your complete music library in iCloud, allowing you to enjoy your collection anywhere, anytime, on any iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or computer. iTunes Match beta is currently available to developers in the United States. Beta subscribers will receive iTunes Match service during the beta period plus an additional 3 months for free with their 12 month paid subscription.
To get started with iTunes Match, download the current version of iOS 5 beta and iTunes 10.5 beta 6.1 with iTunes Match. Once installed, choose Turn On iTunes Match from the Store menu, and click “Subscribe for $24.99.”
Please note that you must maintain a local backup of your iTunes library as well as any music you add to iCloud. Apple will periodically reset your iCloud library during the beta and it is critical that you backup your music regularly. Some features and optimizations of iTunes Match will not be available during the beta.
Interesting feature that would change the way we using iPhone/iPad for ever, I feel. Lets wait and watch. Another month to go.
Apple has updated its iTunes to 10.4.1 which is available via Software Update from the Apple menu, contains several improvements that make the program better. Standalone iTunes 10.4.1 installers for Mac and Windows are available from the iTunes download page. Heres what’s new in iTunes 10.4.1
iTunes 10.4.1 provides a number of improvements, including:
• Fixes a problem where the media keys on some third-party keyboards work inconsistently with iTunes
• Addresses issues with adding artwork to songs and videos
• Resolves an issue which may cause iTunes to become unresponsive when purchasing an HD movie
• Fixes a problem where iTunes may take longer than expected to open after waking your Mac from sleep
• Addresses issues with VoiceOver support.
