iTunes 10.5 beta is 64-bit, and… Cocoa?

“The beta version of iTunes 10.5 released to developers last week is the first version of iTunes to run in 64-bit mode,” Arnold Kim reports for Mac Rumors.

“The distinction is perhaps a bit minor for an app like iTunes, but has been the source of much discussion over the years,” Kim reports. “What’s perhaps of more significance is the belief that this 64-bit support must mean that iTunes has been ported from Carbon to Cocoa, though that line seems to be rather blurred.”

Kim reports, “The latest iTunes 10.5 developer beta does run in 64-bit mode in Mac OS X Lion, but still runs in 32-bit mode in previous versions of Mac OS X. Discussions in the forum, however, point out that there is still some debate about the ‘Cocoa vs Carbon’ status.”

Read more in the full article here.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Sarah” and “Brawndo Drinker” for the heads up.]

22 Comments

    1. “The latest iTunes 10.5 developer beta does run in 64-bit mode in Mac OS X Lion, but still runs in 32-bit mode in previous versions of Mac OS X”

      because you don’t have LION…

      1. Apple is beginning to disappoint me. Hardware has been 64-bit for years, but just now Apple finally makes the leap. … and then forces people to buy Lion in order to have 64-bit iTunes !?!?!?!?!?!?

        It was bad enough that one can’t download iTunes independently of Quicktime. That is the kind of crap that everyone hates MS for doing. There is no excuse to treat customers to unnecessary forced-updates.

        Moreover, there is a growing number of iTunes users who would like the option of an “iTunes Light” media player – a version without the unnecessary bloat of genius, animations, store, raincloud. Just make a snappy small light version like it used to be!!!

    1. It is indeed much faster (smoother) on my 13″ 2.53ghz MBP. iTunes used to lag on these specs, but with Lion and 10.5 Beta, there’s no more lag. Lion though does make all my apps slower, except, well in that case, iTunes 10.5.

    1. Thank you. You’re the first person to describe it as much faster without all the stops and starts that those of us who use it a lot hate. Really stoked to read that.

  1. Mac OS X is 10 years old. With all the whining about Cocoa vs Carbon, why has it taken Apple this long to port such an important app?
    The whole iTunes/iPod/iPhone/iPad/Apple TV empire is built around this application.

    1. @ Mr. Reeee:

      You owe it to yourself to learn Automator. Create the script to launch iTunes in the mode you prefer, then replace the iTunes link in your Dock with a shortcut to your script. Very simple.

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