Apple has introduced a new version of iTunes at its “Let’s Rock” event in San Francisco.
The new version of iTunes introduces a new playlist functionality entitled “Genius Playlists”, which join the regular playlists and Smart playlists. The new Genius Playlist analyses the track being played, and selects similar tracks in your iTunes library. It is similar in function to online services such as Last.fm and Rhapsody.
Steve Jobs said: “it automatically make playlists from songs in your music library that go great together in just one click.”
Genius works by comparing your music library to algorithms that Apple has created. These algorithms are stored in the Apple “cloud” and pushed to your computer once per week. Information about your music, conversely, is upload to Apple’s computer network.
Presumably pre-empting any concerns about privacy, Steve Jobs pointed out that at no time would the information your Mac sends to the Cloud contain any personal data. “It’s sent completely anonymously” said Jobs.
The Genius feature also sports a new Genius Sidebar that recommends music from the iTunes Store based upon the songs that you are playing in a Genius playlist.
iTunes 8 also sports a new browser for viewing your albums that shares many similarities with the photo browsing system found in iPhoto.
Finally, iTunes 8 now offers improved accessibility including access to the Voice Over functionality found in OS X Leopard.
iTunes 8 is available for download today.
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Comments received
haggis said on Tue, 09 Sep 2008
Algorithm? I'm wondering whether this is an Pandora-style algorithm, or a simple he's got X, Y & Z in his library type algorithm.
ArPang said on Wed, 10 Sep 2008
it appears to me that iTunes 8 has fixed duplicated IPA files problem. You can check if you have duplicated IPA files (even iTunes doesn't show duplicated icon) by selecting any app in Applications, right click "Show in Finder". "Mobile Applications" folder should pop up, then sort by name.
Duplicated entry can be easily spotted, for example:
aim 1.ipa
aim 2.ipa
aim 3.ipa
aim.ipa
and by date or by name, you know aim 3.ipa are latest while others are older copy (or duplicated copy as you download again)
ArPang said on Wed, 10 Sep 2008
I remove all app from iPhone, and remove them from iTunes (but select "Keep files"), then move back to iTunes 8 (after update). It seems able to detect any duplicated version and move the older version to Trash. but sometimes it moved the newer IPA to trash as well. So I move those back to Mobile Applications folder (just be careful that no overwrite occur). then run updates again. Check the Mobile Applications and trash again. now you will feel much better to see their new naming system and no duplicated IPA at all.
NickK said on Thu, 11 Sep 2008
Why did they have to mess around with the program preferences and confuse people - well, some of us at any rate?!
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