Apple Releases iTunes 10.5.1; Launches iTunes Match In The U.S.

[Larry-G]

Apple has just released iTunes 10.5.1.

Though it doesn't seem to be available via Software updates, when you click on the Free download link on the iTunes page, it takes you to the download page where iTunes 10.5.1 is available for download.

Based on iTunes 10.5.1 beta that was seeded to developers, it includes a number of performance and stability improvements for iTunes Match - one of the major features of iCloud.

iTunes 10.5 that was released last month included the following new features:

iTunes in the Cloud. iTunes now stores your music and TV purchases in iCloud and makes them available on your devices anywhere, any time, at no additional cost.
Automatic Downloads. Purchase music from any device or computer and automatically download a copy to your Mac and iOS devices.
Download Previous Purchases. Download your past music, TV, app, and book purchases again, at no additional cost. Previous purchases may be unavailable if they are no longer on the iTunes Store.
Sync with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 5.
Wi-Fi Syncing. Automatically sync your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iTunes any time they’re both on the same Wi-Fi network.




You need to go to the iTunes download page (this link) to download iTunes 10.5.1.

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

Update:

It looks like Apple has also launched iTunes Match service in the U.S.iTunes Match is a new service that Apple had unveiled along with iOS 5 and iCloud at the WWDC 2011 Keynote address in June. It allows users to store their entire music collection (up to 25,000 songs), including songs that they've ripped from CDs or purchased from anywhere else in iCloud.

Here's how it works:

iTunes determines which songs in your collection are available in the iTunes Store. Any music with a match is automatically added to your iCloud library for you to listen to anytime, on any device. Since there are more than 18 million songs in the iTunes Store, most of your music is probably already in iCloud. All you have to upload is what iTunes can’t match. Which is much faster than starting from scratch. And all the music iTunes matches plays back at 256-Kbps iTunes Plus quality — even if your original copy was of lower quality.

It costs $24.99 per year. iTunes Match will initially available only in the U.S. and expected to be available in other countries sometime later.

Apple was initially expected to launch iTunes Match service along with the launch of iCloud and iOS 5, but has delayed it to fix the outstanding bugs.

Via: MacStories

http://www.iphonehacks.com/2011/11/apple-releases-itunes-10-5-1.html