Or you could just go here: http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/

iTunes on Campus: http://www.apple.com/education/itunesoncampus/features.html

There's a warning about not having the latest version of QT. 6.5.1.

The last thing I care about is a Candian Music store. Thank goodness Steve is working on what's important.

If you don't like it, move. But for God's sake ... shut up! I would think that of the top 100 things on most people's minds at Apple, Canada is 102.

i got the warning as well about not having the new quicktime... mine is at 6.5.

but more importantly... after the install i was greeted with an empty library! yay! like empty empty. a default set of stuff. all my preferences stayed the same though.

nice one. well... at least it didn't toast my library itself... since it was on an external drive. THAT would have seriously pissed me off. 19000+ songs in my library.

at least the retrospect server ran 2 days ago... so i can just restore the "iTunes Music Library" and the .xml file... if i had to make all the playlists from scratch i would be SERIOUSLY upset... but not as bad as missing the files themselves.

so it did an "Updating Music Libary" progress bar with the Retrospect restored files and all seems fine.

maybe a heads up to others to backup their "iTunes Music Library" file and the similar named .xml version before running the update.

"Party Shuffle" is kinda weird. and not what i was hoping for... maybe i haven't figured it out yet. i was thinking more something to select the next track to play without stopping the first track and without making a playlist as i do it. but go back and forth between playlists and load up on tracks... without actually just making a new playlist.

the 'go to music store and search' arrows are highly annoying though.

there is a pref to delete the stupid -> to music store. good.

there is new ipod software available now too. lets you play the Apple Lossless files. and probably other stuff too.

http://www.apple.com/ipod/download/

from the page:

iPod Update 2004-04-28 supports all models of iPod and iPod mini introduced before April 28, 2004. This update is required to take advantage of new features in iTunes 4.5 and the iTunes Music Store.
Changes for iPod without a Dock connector

* Compatibility with iTunes 4.5 and the iTunes Music Store
* Improved playback performance

Changes for iPod with a Dock connector and iPod mini

* Compatibility with iTunes 4.5 and the iTunes Music Store
* Improved playback performance
* Support for the Apple Lossless Encoder, to enable compressed music encoding at high quality

I love features that don't work.

What are they?

Interesting that the lossless playback only works on the third
generation and iPod mini units. Not that I expected this for my
first generation iPod but being a musician having this encoder
available (990+ kbps level audio quality) is a desirable thing for
checking out mixes in as close to the original as possible while
still remaining at a decent audio quality.
At least it works in iTunes.

Has iTunes for Windows been updated to v 4.5 yet?

Are all of the screen shots at http://www.apple.com/itunes/ from Windows XP, or only most of them?

I think it depends on which OS you're viewing the site from. If you're on a Mac, all the screenshots are of the mac version, and from XP, all the screenshots are of the Windows version.

Noticed it's actually called Apple Lossless Encoder, not ALE or ALE (TM) or FLAC, etc., etc.

WOnder if Apple is gonna licence this new codec, or if the name implies that it's Apple developed????

I’m sorry but iTunes 4.5 is truly visionary. Just downloaded it, opened it up, clicked on one of the new arrows, and up came the iTMS. Truly BEAUTIFUL integration. This release answers all audiophile misgivings about iTunes (lossless encoder and new mp3 features), allows mpa, etc. It’s getting close to perfect, even if I still can’t use iTMS here is Australia. Jobs is really getting it all together. Motion, G5, more powerful and complete notebooks, etc, etc, Another year I say, till undisputed domination over Windows....
Simon

What's the deal with this "playlists from around the country" c***. I mean, since all radio stations are owned by a handful of companies, and they're the ones controlling the playlists, and they get payoffs to play music from certain artists and companies, all these things are going to be basically the same list over and over again.

If they're going to have something like this, they should limit it to independent and college stations only, and then have just a big "Clear Channel Alternative" and "Clear Channel R&B" and so on, rather then having to dig through all that c***.

Oh, and there's no oldies or classic rock stations on the lists. What's the deal with that!

Yes, the Windows version is updated. I installed WinXP and OS X versions on all of my machines this morning. I am really impressed. I honestly don't know why you people fly off the handle so easily and rip Steve a new one. They made progress, and you aren't paying a dime for it, so shut your fucken mouths for a change, and grow the f*** up.

I honestly don't know why you people fly off the handle so easily and rip Steve a new one. They made progress, and you aren't paying a dime for it, so shut your fucken mouths for a change,

Easy, because its easy. And the stupidity of it helps dismiss all criticism of it, which is sorta like going "Hey, its great. Stop whining!". I'm just upset because its 26 posts in and no one's whining about missing features like OGG playback, movie downloads and playback, the lack of a headless iMac/eMac, Steve's 76 million dollars worth of stock, the fight against terror, the 'idiot' in the white house, or any of 8000 off-topic posts that get stuck in these things.

Go to the main http://www.apple.com location and there's a clickable in the bottom left corner for me that you can download "My Hero" by Foo Fighters, FREE!! Good deal. ;)

"till no mention of iTMS coming north to Canada. I honestly have no idea why"

Have you been under a rock for the past 6 months? Haven't you heard, time and time again that it's the RECORD COMPANIES who are holding up the iTMS for Canada, NOT APPLE.

man, some of you guys are way too quick to judge... This is GREAT upgrade. Look through the program, you can now encode your music into almost any format (at least the formats that people actually use!!!). Being able to access the music store directly from your library is great. Oh, and one more thing...it's a direct assult on MusicMatch and WMA. From Apple's website,

"If you’re excited about using iTunes, but have already have a music collection built up in other programs, you’re in luck. iTunes can import music from Windows Media Player, MusicMatch and any other app that uses MP3, AAC or WMA (unprotected). iTunes 4.5 will now convert files digitized by Windows Media Player in unprotected format to AAC, so you can use them in iTunes or on iPod. When you import your MusicMatch library or other MP3 collection, you can choose to let iTunes make a copy of the library, or point to the old files. If you want to gather up all your music later, iTunes lets you consolidate your library anytime."

There's even a section on how Window's uses "unnecessary protection" to limit your music on an XP machine.

Great stuff!

You can watch movie trailers in iTunes now. Do we see a possibility of Jobs opening up a Video Store in the near future?

Mostly, we drink beer (as opposed to "wining") up here as we lounge under our rocks (the Canadian, as opposed to Candian, Shield). But thanks for letting us know our place in the scheme of things.

I can't download the Windows 2000/XP update for iTunes 4.5 or Quicktime 6.5.1 or the iPod for Windows update. I did however download the updates for Mac OS X just fine on two Macs. I thought the Windows versions were out too.

Reading Apple's info, it looks like only newer iPods (with the dock connector) will be able to use the lossless compression.

This stinks. I don't mind not having all the other features-the playlists, the games, but this could have been useful. At least I'll be able to use it to create archival copies of my CDs, as long as I transcode them into a usable format before putting them on the 'Pod.

So, with the updates to Quicktime, does this mean we need to re-rip our music to get better sounding files (like it implies)? Anyone do any tests yet on existing AAC music and ones ripped in 4.5?

god there are a lot of losers posting comments here...as one poster said, "it's free" so shut up and look at whats good about it and all the stuff that no other company has offered, thought about or too damn greedy to release. There's so much there that it makes you wonder what iTunes 5 will look like........
I'm bored with all you neg types.

My question is, why are there no new iPods? They're more than ripe for a juicy update. This would seem like the opportune time, all the other music stuff is being updated, yet it seems that the announcements for the day have already been made. Why would they announce some stuff by press release early in the day if there's more to come later on? Is Steve holding out on us?

If you noticed the info page for iPod Updater, it is only for iPods released BEFORE 28 APR 2004!

the new 7 cd/5 computer policy, the trade off is fine with me. but the thing that disturbs me is that apple can change the licensing after we bought those tracks already. i guess one can argue that you don't have to update to itunes 4.5 and you can keep the original terms.

i think i'll be playfairing my tracks from now on.

the new 7 cd/5 computer policy, the trade off is fine with me. but the thing that disturbs me is that apple can change the licensing after we bought those tracks already. i guess one can argue that you don't have to update to itunes 4.5 and you can keep the original terms.

i think i'll be playfairing my tracks from now on.

Its licensing for the software, not the songs. Keeping iTunes 4.0, you can still do the 10 burns, 3 computers thing (why anyone needs to burn more than one or two copies of a playlist is beyond me, but then again I'm a friendless 40 year old virgin still living with his folks).

Looking at it from the other side, how would you like it if they said "Hey, all new songs from iTMS can be burned only 7 times a playlist, but you can play it on up to 5 computers. Oh, but all your existing stuff is still only available on 3 computers because that's the terms you bought them under". In fact, Apple has made the terms better then before on your licenses. What's the chance Napster doing that?

According to Apple's site (Import page under Key Features), it says - Save to AAC from unprotected WMA (Windows only).

Make me wonder why Apple left it out of the Mac version. Not that I have any WMA files on my computer, but it could be an issue for someone who has downloaded/saved files that were only availble in WMA who doesn't own a PC.

I think Apple was responding to all those poor souls on the Windows platform who would use iTunes and the iTMS but they were unwittingly screwed because WMP for windows burns to WMA by default (my boss got screwed by this), and won't burn MP3 (well, it does, but only 64kbps - if you want to call that music - unless you spend $20 for a Plus! pack from MS), so you got all these people with their entire collection in WMA format and didn't want to reburn their stuff. Now they can migrate too. (Unless they had the 'protect my music' option turned on in WMP, which DRMs your own music for you - what nice people MS is to worry that someone might take your music from your computer without your knowledge).

For as long as I have owned an iPod (original 5GB since it was announced) and the 3G iPod, I've enjoyed all the features/functionality that Apple has released to support their product. Sure there could always be more that comes out - new/improved iPod, other encoding schemes, but let's not look a gift horse in the mouth. It's all free - with the exception of the iPod and systems required, but for software it does what it says it will. Before I would have to live with poorly encoded MP3's, not wanting to buy CD's (still don't buy as many, but have gotten back into listening more to music since I now have a greater variety), and not having a single app to manage my collection. Now that I have iTunes I couldn't be happier. Just play with the new features and enjoy the music.

I just updated my 20GB 2nd Generation iPod and it WORKED, and brought ther firmware up to version 1.4. So all you older iPod owners can quit whining. Now if they would only ad Ogg Vorbis support, I would be happy!

Apparently no Canadian ITMS isn't as important as all the other BS that gets brought up in these forums? I mean P**** off, it's just as important to Apple as it is to Canada and the rest of the world that they get this technology to the advanced nations that are going to be quick to adopt before other companies do.

Older iPods don't get support for the lossless compression they've released. So it doesn't work completely on the older versions.

Warning: PlayFair doesnt work any more once you upgrade to 4.5

Maybe iTMS in Canada is Apple US's 102nd priority, but you would think that it would be a high priority for Apple Canada.

If you ask Apple, the problem is with Canadian distributors, but if you check with them, the problem is with Apple.

So figure it out ... a Windows-based-technology music store is available in Canada (Puretracks), which does not work with iPods but works with everything else. You would think Apple Canada, not known for successfully selling Macs, would at least look at doing something to help iPod sales. If Puretracks can do it, iTMS can too.

LOL Windows is so stupid. With IE 6 or Mozilla my automatic download will not start. I can use IE or Safari on 10.3.3 and download the Windows iTunes 4.5, Quicktime 6.5.1, and iPod Updater every time I click on them. Nice little trick from Apple to those PC users :)

Who the h*** burns CDs anymore?

They probably changed the way they store the 'key'. And I wouldn't be surprised if they fixed their Quicktime software to remove the holes that let this stuff work on windows, too.

It's interesting how you have to go the website to download iTunes 4.5 and that it is NOT in available via Software Update (Mac OS X).

overall speaking, it is a nice update. I am happy with it.
I have an older iPod 10GB. It works just fine.

I never burnt any CD from the playlist.. so not an issue for me.

Can't wait to see the 4th Generation of iPod and iTMS.

I agree that Party Shuffle is a little strange. It doesn't work quite right if you have audio books or even iTrip stations in your Library. What it needs is an "Exclude Playlists" feature - then it would be quite usable.

Good points:

1) Printing CD labels! This kicks a**, and is one more step towards digital music replacing CDs entirely (something that's long overdue)

2) iMixes: an interesting turn of events. It looks like apple is prepped to start modifying iTMS into a more interactive space. I wouldn't be suprised if IRC-like chat is eventually offered, or features like buddy lists and IMing of friends also looking around on the store. I would go against message boards though- too unrulely.

3) DRM change: I too am bothered by apple's ability to just change the DRM on a whim. I like the change though, so there's not much to that.

4) Party shuffle: I don't see what the point of this is, since we already have playlists and shuffle. I'll have to see how it works before I like it.

5) WMA convert: This rules, if nothing but for philosophical reasons. I've been concerned that it seemed apple wasn't caring about the threat imposed by WMA and not licencing Fairplay. This is a step in the right direction, because now iTunes is not cut out of the WMA game. Still, I wonder how good the conversion process is? Will you hear any defects? If so, then I wish apple would just allow WMA to be played in iTunes without conversion and be done with it (apple probably do that though, because then the iPod would need WMA support, which would harbor apple's push for AAC)

6) Apple Lossless: Sounds pretty cool. 1/2 file size is a big boast though- we'll see how that pans out. Interesting tidbit here. MS had a codec named after their product, WMA, and now we've got AL which is named after apple. It would be neat-o if apple would offer sound downloads in this codec.

What I want to see:

1) Expand the interactivity to eventually have online concerts or chats between artists and fans. Pay to view an "online concert" streamed via QT into iTMS. After the show, you get your own AAC file of the concert. That would rule.

2) You can't download artwork for songs you've already ripped or even CDs you haven't ripped yet. This should really be part of iTunes and not up to some 3rd party.

3) Lyrics! I think apple is really missing the boat here. One of the things that pushed DVD sales is that you actually get something for supporting DVD: extra content. It would totally rock if song downloads were encoded with the lyrics to the song, viewable in iTunes and on your iPod. It also would be nice if apple would offer some options for adding/removing artwork or whatever you don't want in your files.

4) Improvement to iTunes' song encoders. iTunes should really be using LAME for MP3. Similarly for AAC, iTunes AAC encoder is really not all that great compared to even freeware 3rd parties out there. That shouldn't be.

Video trailer downloads should NOT be part of iTunes. iTunes is about music, not movies. If you want to, just add this capablity into iMovie. Or forget it entirely- we already have Sherlock, or just go to apple's website. Why should this be in iTunes?

I keep all of my music on my iPod. Unfortunately, you can't use Party Shuffle with music stored on an iPod....

My mom. ;) Or anyone who wants to share some tracks with someone else who doesn't have or use a software or portable MP3 player (which is the vast majority of people). Or who wants to play it in their car player, or the CD player in the ghetto blaster they have at work - you get the idea.

CDs aren't going away anytime soon. And when they do, I expect another physical medium to replace them (like DVD audio, or something even higher resolution).

"CDs aren't going away anytime soon. And when they do, I expect another physical medium to replace them."

A physical medium HAS replaced them. The iPod ;-)

I don't understand why people don't recognize that the iPod basically makes CDs obsolete. I guess it's the fear factor with most people and just plain ignorance with regard to technology and computers. CDs will likely hang around until the current crop of people that are familiar with them and don't want to change die and leave the world to the rest of us who do ;-)

With regard to DVD audio, I don't think it will ever fly. The transition from Tape to CD was a foregone conclusion because not only was the quality much better but everyone knows that tapes deteriorate. But where we are right now, CD audio quality is pretty damn good, and I don't think most people aren't going to care too much about any improvement over it. Audiophillies will buy because they'll get bonuses like concert video and such. But my guess is that all that extra stuff added in will drive the cost to be more expensive then CDs, and people already think CDs are too expensive as it is. And the people that re-bought their music when they bought CDs are unlike to want to do that again.

Eventually I suppose, the market will force something like DVD audio on consumers in an attempt to get people to pay more money (once again). But that won't be for a LONG time- not until all the hardware transitions over such that DVD players (or the equivalent) are everywhere as much as CD players are now.

The reason why there's no ITMS in Canada is because of those dangerous chauvinistic separatists. They slow everything down. They're retards, kind of. Makes you wonder why they use any Mac... If canadians would only get rid of those frog-eating hippies, they would get ITMS and all the works in no time.

But then again... Maybe W can help them... Separatists are terrorists, aren't they? Need any help, GUYS?

It's interesting how you have to go the website to download iTunes 4.5 and that it is NOT in available via Software Update (Mac OS X).

But it is on Software Update, along with QT 6.5.1 - I just installed it that way.

Here I go!

(rant)

A) Many users reporting extremely low volume with iTunes 4.5
B) Many users reporting that iTunes 4.5 no longer recognizes 1G iPods. 1G iPods cannot install the iPod update because it's only for 3G iPods, and iTunes 4.5 only recognizes iPods with the update installed.
C) iTMS went down shortly after the announcement, as apple obviously underestimated demand

God dammit apple. Don't you QC anything?

(/rant)

Hippies don't eat frogs, you insensitive clod! They're vegetarians.

I was excited to see Apple introduce a lossless codec then disappoint set in.

Let's see, Apple has Apple Lossless Encoder. MS has WMA Lossless, Real has RA Lossless, and then there are the free alternatives out there such as FLAC, Monkey's Audio, etc.

(rant)
15 = # of minutes before an idiotic zealot pipes out and say he or she can hear the difference between the lossless codecs through iBook's internal speakers and Apple's is superior.
(/rant)

Why can't Apple throw its weight behind the open-sourced FLAC which is used by VLC, Rio, PhatNoise, Slim Device, and Roku?

>>I don't understand why people don't recognize that the iPod basically makes CDs obsolete.

The point the guy was trying to make was about burning, not about initial buying. Burning extra CDs is old school.

Network sharing breaks with older versions.
Guess I have to upgrade my server machine to get streaming back.

I'd say this update is mostly about closing holes in the DRM.

I don't use itms (they want a credit card number for the free song- s**** that), party shuffle is useless...
the new encoder is cool. printing playlists is useful.
There's nothing that changes my day to day use like the previous updates.
If you don't upgrade I doubt you'll miss anything.

Anyone know if they fixed the SoundCheck feature? Up until now, it hasn't really worked all that well.