Now that Apple’s latest event has come to an end, we can go ahead and collect ourselves, and go over everything we’ve announced. And sure, there are changes to the iPod lines that definitely deserve attention, but we can’t forget about iTunes now can we? After all, it basically started it all, and it’s about time the online giant got a major upgrade. And let’s just say that iTunes 9 fits the bill perfectly, and it is a welcomed addition to the Apple family.
This time tomorrow we’ll be cranking up the liveblog engine in preparation for Apple’s iPod event, set to kick off at 10AM PST in sunny San Francisco. SlashGear will be bringing you all the news from the event as it happens, courtesy of our automatically-updating liveblog system at http://live.slashgear.com/
The Zune Software is populated with many a great thing. From television shows, to podcasts, there’s generally something for everyone. Of course, you can’t expect any less from today’s online marketplaces, now can you? And while many people were wondering why the Xbox 360 would be getting HD movies (via the upcoming update) before the Zune itself, those worries are now being addressed. And let’s just say, the console isn’t getting all the love.
Apple’s yearly iPod event is tipped to take place on September 9th, after people “familiar with the matter” informed Apple Insider of the freshly confirmed date. While no press invitations have yet been issued, the Cupertino company is believed to have informed its industry partners of the settled date, having also been discussing September 8th. Other information about the event suggests that the new, camera-bearing iPod nano and iPod touch models expected to launch – and which will apparently have 3.2-megapixel CMOS sensors – will only be “one piece” of the overall news.
Only a couple of hours ago we were talking about rumors that iTunes 9 might include enhanced sharing features as part of a greater push by Apple to corner the market in social network aggregation. Now, according to one Chinese forum, you’re looking at the first leaked screenshots of the app.
According to the latest BGR tipsters, the upcoming iTunes 9 upgrade promises more than just pinging social networks with what track you’re listening to. Their source is suggesting that Apple are developing a “Social” application which will tap into iTunes’ functionality; this new app will consolidate multiple social networks, such as Facebook, Flickr and Twitter, and allow you to share music with those you are connected with.
Apple are planning to add Blu-ray support in iTunes 9, the next major upgrade to the company’s media software, according to the latest tipsters. The update is expected to coincide with Apple adding Blu-ray drives to its desktop iMac range, a move which has again been highlighted by Apple Insider.
Palm have released their latest update for Pre, webOS 1.1.0, and along with increased speed and various UI tweaks they’ve also addressed one of the more contentious issues from the past month: iTunes synchronization. After Apple seemingly purposefully blocked the Pre from using iTunes in their 8.2.1 update midway through the month, webOS 1.1.0 “resolves an issue preventing media sync from working with latest version of iTunes (8.2.1).”
Apple have yanked Pre compatibility from iTunes 8.2.1, in an update to the media management software described as “an issue with verification of Apple devices.” The move is not exactly unexpected; the two companies traded feints in mid-June, with Apple suggesting that future versions of iTunes “may no longer provide syncing functionality” with anything other than iPods and iPhones, while Palm accused them of threatening “a direct blow” to users seeking a seamless experience.
Say what you like about the Pre, Palm aren’t holding back when it comes to positioning their new smartphone in the best possible way. After Apple released a support note warning non-iPod users (e.g. Palm Pre owners) that their ability to sync with iTunes could be broken with future software updates, Palm have described such an action as “a direct blow to their users who will be deprived of a seamless synchronization experience.”
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