Apple today released iTunes 4.8 which includes new Music Store features and support for transferring contacts and calendars from your computer to your iPod (requires Mac OS X version 10.4 on your computer). Apple’s iTunes web page also notes that “more than 1.3 million tracks and 600 independent labels with 30-second previews” are now available via the iTunes Music Store.
AppleInsider notes, “One feature Apple curiously failed to mention is video support. The new version is capable of not only storing, but also displaying QuickTime video content. New options built into the iTunes “Advanced” preference pane lets users choose whether they want video content to in ‘the main window,’ ‘a separate window,’ or ‘full screen.'” AppleInsider has screenshot links in their full article here.
With iTunes 4.8, if you have Mac OS X version 10.4 or later installed, you can transfer the contact and calendar information on your computer to your iPod or iPod mini to take with you on the go.
For calendar and contact synchronization to work, you need to store your contacts and calendar information in an application that works with Mac OS X synchronization, such as Address Book or iCal. You should sync your iPod with only one computer.
Note: You may have previously used iSync to transfer contact and calendar information from your computer to your iPod. With Mac OS X version 10.4 or later, however, you now use iTunes instead of iSync.
1. Connect your iPod or iPod mini to your computer.
2. Choose iTunes > Preferences and click the iPod button.
3. To set up iTunes to transfer contacts, click the Contacts button, select the Synchronize Address Book Contacts checkbox, and then choose which contact information you want to transfer. You can choose to transfer all your contact information or only selected contacts.
4. To set up iTunes to transfer calendars, click the Calendars button, select the Synchronize iCal Calendars checkbox, and then choose which calendar information you want to transfer. You can choose to transfer all your calendars or only selected calendars.
5. When you’re ready to transfer the information to your iPod, click the OK button in the Preferences window.
It may take a few moments to see the contact or calendar information on your iPod. Press the menu button on your iPod until you return to the main iPod menu, then choose Extras, and then choose Contacts or Calendar.
Your contact and calendar information will be updated on your iPod each time you sync your music (when you connect your iPod or iPod mini to your computer or choose File > Update iPod). If you’ve set up iTunes so that you transfer music manually, your contacts and calendars will be updated only when you choose File > Update iPod.
Macintosh Requirements:
• Mac OS X v10.2.8 or later; Mac OS X v10.3 required for AirPort Express
• 400MHz G3 processor or better
• QuickTime 6.2 required to encode AAC
• QuickTime 6.5.2 and latest iLife updates required to use purchased music in iLife ’04
• 256 RAM recommended
• DSL, cable modem, or LAN-based high-speed Internet connection recommended for buying and streaming music
Windows Requirements:
• Windows XP or 2000
• 500 MHz Pentium class processor or better
• QuickTime 6.5.2 (included)
• 128 MB RAM minimum/256 RAM recommended
• Latest Windows service packs recommended
• Supported CD-RW drive to burn CDs, video display card, soundcard
• DSL, cable modem, or LAN-based high-speed Internet connection recommended for buying and streaming music
More info and download link (11MB) here.
MacDailyNews Take: iTunes’ new ability to store and play QuickTime video content should have alarm bells ringing far and wide. This could be very large. For Apple not to mention it in their notes is very, very interesting. These new QuickTime video abilities are just simply, well, there. As a side note, iTunes 4.8 allows the ability to play full screen QuickTime for free; no US$29.99 QuickTime Pro required for the full screen playback feature. Does this mean that multimedia content (movies, TV shows, and/or more) for sale is coming to the iTunes Music Store? Is this a harbinger of a Video iPod? What do you think it means?
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Cringely: Apple prepping Video iTunes, Video iPod, and setting stage for iPod clones – May 06, 2005