Better late than never, right?
Apple debuted the new iTunes, iTunes 11, at their iPhone 5 event back in September. The original September launch date was pushed back to October, and that launch date was then pushed back to November. Well, November’s almost over and you can finally download iTunes 11.
iTunes 11 comes with a redesigned layout, better playlists, new views for both the library and albums, a new mini-player, and better iCloud support.
The first thing you’ll notice is that the left-hand navigation bar that’s been a staple of the service for years is gone. Now, you use a drop-down menu to access your music, movies, podcasts, etc. When you finally get to browsing music, you’ll see a new “expanded view.” It allows you to look at all the songs from the album you’ve selected and continue to browse while you play. The view also includes new recommendations for similar content. You also have a new, stripped-down mini-player.
Any song you download will now be accessible across other Apple devices, as Apple has further integrated the iCloud into iTunes 11. Also, if you pause any media, you’ll be able to pick up where you left off across other devices.
So, open up iTunes and download the update. It’s available now, and you’ve been waiting long enough.