iTunes Updated As Well As Front Row and Remote

[Jeff Campbell]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://smokingapples.com/software/itunes-81-frontrow-software-update/' target='_blank'>http://smokingapples.com/software/i...oftware-update/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"There you have it, boys. Dear Uncle Software Update has just brought us the goodie we've been waiting for. iTunes 8.1 has just landed, and it has brought along its distant cousin Front Row 2.1.7. Apple was kind enough to have updated us that the update could land anytime soon. As we told you earlier, iTunes 8.1 is now, apparently, faster and more responsive when working with large libraries, browsing the iTunes Store, preparing to sync with iPod or iPhone, and optimizing photos for syncing."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1236836442.usr105634.jpg" /></p><p>The release of the pre-announced <a href="http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/" target="_blank">iTunes 8.1</a> update is here. Funny how lately <a href="http://www.apple.com" target="_blank">Apple</a> is pre-announcing things, such as this update. But I digress. A few of the highlights are speed, autofill and importing CDs at higher quality. The speed, of course, to allow faster loading of the larger libraries and syncing the devices faster. The autofill feature allows iTunes to autofill your ipod from the whole library or a particular playlist. Seems to be pretty flexible with this feature which is nice. One of the big things for me is the ability to import CDs to iTunes at the same sound quality as iTunes Plus. I don't buy that many CDs these days, but I do have quite a few that I need to add to my library, and having them imported at the higher quality is a big plus. The only thing I'll have to be careful of is that Apple is basing their capacity calculations on the old 128-Kbps bit rate so there won't be as much room on my devices.</p><p>Not much noted on the <a href="http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/application_updates/frontrow_appleinc.html" target="_blank">Front Row update</a>, other than bring "improved iTunes 8.1 compatibility" to Front Row. To go along with this, the <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=284417350&amp;mt=8" target="_blank">Remote</a> application has also been updated, "for compatibility" and some bug fixes.</p><p>The <a href="http://www.apple.com/itunes/features/" target="_blank">feature list</a> can be found on the Apple site, and is very detailed. And as a bonus, after you update, you don't have to restart your computer. Wonder if that is going to be a regular occurrence?&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

[doogald]

The release of the pre-announced <a href="http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/" target="_blank">iTunes 8.1</a> update is here. Funny how lately <a href="http://www.apple.com" target="_blank">Apple</a> is pre-announcing things, such as this update.

I thought that this was announced yesterday. That's not like pre-announcing Windows Mobile 6.5 or something!

One of the big things for me is the ability to import CDs to iTunes at the same sound quality as iTunes Plus.

That is not new to 8.1; it is just renamed. In 8.0 (and, I think, prior releases) it was called "Higher Quality" for 256 kbit AAC (and they also support up to 320 kbit for both AAC and MP3 under the custom settings for both compressions). And there are better quality options, of course, that have long been supported as well. (Apple Lossless, WAV).

[Darius Wey]

That is not new to 8.1; it is just renamed. In 8.0 (and, I think, prior releases) it was called "Higher Quality" for 256 kbit AAC (and they also support up to 320 kbit for both AAC and MP3 under the custom settings for both compressions).

There's a slight difference between the "iTunes Plus" setting and the now retired "Higher Quality" setting - the former has VBR enabled, while the latter didn't. Bit and sample rates remain unaltered.

What's interesting is that iTunes Plus downloads are 256 kbps CBR, which currently makes Apple's definition of "iTunes Plus" a little fuzzy. I'm wondering if this is a slip up by Apple, or if it's a sign that we'll eventually see VBR downloads in the iTunes Store. Of course, I'm sure the average human ear couldn't care less. ;)

[doogald]

There's a slight difference between the "iTunes Plus" setting and the now retired "Higher Quality" setting - the former has VBR enabled, while the latter didn't. Bit and sample rates remain unaltered.

Ok, that said, you can still go into custom on 8.0 (and earlier) and set 256 kb, turn off VBR, etc. I was simply pointing out that 128 kbit AAC was not the only compression choice available prior to 8.1.

My library (created with iTunes circa ver 6) is all done with 320 kbit MP3s - because it's supported by my car audio system; if that supported AAC I would have used that instead. I actually started with Apple Lossless but my poor Mac Mini's hard disk was just too small for that (and then I remembered the car stereo . . .)

[Dyvim]

And as a bonus, after you update, you don't have to restart your computer
I had to restart my PC.

[Jeff Campbell]

I had to restart my PC.

Was there an update you downloaded for another program in the mix? I wondered if it was one or the other program updates so I did them separately and I didn't have to restart mine, weird. The magic of computers :)

[Dyvim]

Was there an update you downloaded for another program in the mix? I wondered if it was one or the other program updates so I did them separately and I didn't have to restart mine, weird. The magic of computers :)
No, just iTunes + Quick Time (together).
I don't know if I'd call it "magic"...:rolleyes:

[doogald]

Mac users did not have to restart, as the update did not include Quicktime. Windows users had a Quicktime component as well and needed the restart.

[Jeff Campbell]

Thanks! That clears it up :)