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
But the BIG question is this – does it FUBAR Real’s Harmony? (Not that I care, I’m just curious…)
FUBAR?
I’m confused. Hasn’t the iPod had Address/Calendar since the 2g? All this means is they’ve moved it from iSync to iTunes… boring.
F*@ked
Up
Beyond
All
Recognition
or for the sensitive types…
Fouled
Up
Beyond
All
Recognition
OK, the PDA stuff is all in place.
Now add the ability to place and receive phone calls and we’re all set–one device does it all, with Apple’s ease-of-use, click wheel, hardware/software integration and form factor.
I could have thousands of tunes and have the incoming call pause the song I was listening to (if I so choose). I can also just click on a contact to place a call. No more manually punching in contact info to my phone. And I can be alerted, perhaps between songs, of an upcoming appointment.
I hate today’s cell phones (poor ease-of-use) and PDAs (too limited!). I’d go for an all-in-one by Apple in an instant, though.
I am not sure I like the idea that iTunes handles so many things beyond music. I just don’t like bloated softwares. Apple should have just developed iSync: Windows to handle calendar/contacts/notes/photos/whatever. Isn’t that the purpose of iSync?
the new iTunes does not come up in my software update! what is wrong?
ok, so iPhoto stores video, iTunes stores video, but iMovie only makes them… makes sense I guess.
Here come the video iPods.
MDN keyword: standard, for obvious reasons.
hmmm … these aren’t the current iTMS videos or movie trailers that get played in a seperate window. That doesn’t seem to happen, not for me at least. But QuickTime videos added from outside iTunes do play in a seperate iTunes window.
ITMS comung to Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland in this round.
Quote from the bottom of the iTunes page:
“iTunes is licensed for reproduction of non-copyrighted materials or materials the user is legally permitted to reproduce. Purchases from the iTunes Music Store are available only in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. #1 music download store according to Nielsen SoundScan. See Terms of Sale.”
Notice the new countries. I guess Oz and NZ aren’t in this wave. Too bad down under 🙁
MW: Ask as in ask and ye shall receive!
Need a spell checker!
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comung === coming
joe
This way apple can upload your calendar and addressbook without your knowledge
if you have Little Snitch installed, you’ll be amazed how often your Mac calls home
Huh?
I suppose the “video” part is new, but I have saved music videos and such in the current version just fine. It plays the music, though I see no video.
Hmm…download a ton of music videos off the web and make your own Empty-V in iTunes?
I’m not getting it in Software Update, either. I just downloaded the disk image. We’ll see how it runs…
Software Update does not work with Tiger….Beware.
Probably the worst of numerous bugs.
I still have Panther. No Software Update at my house either. I had to get iTunes 4.8 from Apple.com
Do you have .mac Alex? That might explain some things.
Software Update does work with Tiger !!!
I installed Tiger a few days ago and did my first Software Update this morning (Garageband update).
wc
It means these guys are bloody smart and have their sights set on a number of targets that meet the three fundament criteria they see as a prerequisite …
a) definable opportunity
b) few or no valid competitors
c) the solution can deliver excellent fiscal return
Relax people. Software update is always behind the general announcements made on apple.com. Just go to itunes.com if you can’t wait.
Chill about the iTunes updates. The major updates haven’t appeared in their for a while, just the second decimal point ones that break Real’s thing.
I just found “This is how it feels” by the Inspiral Carpets on iTunes. I’d forgotten just how good that song is. “She Comes In the Fall” is also f**king brilliant. I’m back at the Student Union again, headbanging away and spilling my 80p pint.
Now those were the days. I had hair and never got hangovers.
I’m confused…
iSync is capable of syncing contacts and calendars with my iPod and .Mac account (well, not the calendars). How come Apple created iTunes 4.8 syncing and the new .Mac Sync? Something strange is going on. I thought iSync was a one stop app for all your sync needs. Is there a plan to deviate from this?
Apple, please clarify!
I think it’s just a matter of time before Apple starts selling/renting video content on the web. My questions are: 1) When, 2) Will they start with a small selection and gradually build or start with a relatively big selection to make a huge impact, and 3) What will the pricing be?
I think somehere here said the video ipod may just be an iPod photo with a s-video out connection. Perfect for taking to a friends house to watch Monty Python or your latest iMovie creation.