- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows Vista, Windows XP
- Date added: March 12, 2009
- Total Downloads: 8,902,510
- Downloads last week: 29,277
- See full specifications
A newer version of Apple iTunes is available.
(Download doesn't provide access to previous versions of this program.)
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 1267 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: Jason Parker on September 21, 2008
Apple's iTunes is the 800-pound gorilla in the music and video jukebox world. The industry standard for more than five years, it has remained the trend-setter because of its connection to Apple's iPods and iPhone. This latest version sports one major new feature and several smaller ones.
In addition to the left sidebar, which was cleaned up in version 7, there's now an optional sidebar on the right. Called the Genius Bar, if you have an iTunes Store account it will offer up song and album recommendations for purchase. The Genius Bar, however, is only a derivative of the Genius Playlist, and that's the real biggie of version 8. To activate the playlist, hit the atomic symbol on the bottom right of the iTunes window while you're playing a song. The Genius algorithm will then create a playlist from the music already existing in your collection, made up of songs that it thinks have some connection to the first track. Since it's not limited solely by genre or other criteria, it can come up with some interesting choices.
Just as version 7 introduced the Cover Flow view, this update sees the introduction of a new art-based Grid view that can be used to look at your collection sorted by artist or album. Mouse over the art to reveal a play-it-now link. Other new features include a new visualization scheme called Magnetosphere, based on the iTunes plug-in of the same name, support for HD video, and the return of NBC to the iTunes Store.
For those unfamiliar with iTunes' base features, it makes video and music playback virtually identical. The iTunes Store replicates this experience, although be warned: it costs more to buy tracks that are DRM-free. Synchronization with iPods can be set to automatic or manual, and right-clicking a video clip lets you render it iPod-compatible. There are also smart playlists, CD burning, label printing, the ability to rip files in multiple formats except WMA, and network sharing. Rounding out the feature set are parental controls, integrated podcasts, and a smart-shuffle option. iTunes is sometimes clunky on Windows, and can cause significant processor slowdowns. Still, it remains a top-notch player and iTunes 8 should find a home on any media junkie's computer.
Watch the CNET video review of Apple iTunes:
Publisher's description
From Apple :iTunes is a free application for Mac and PC. It plays all your digital music and video. It syncs content to your iPod, iPhone, and Apple TV. And it's an entertainment superstore that stays open 24/7.
In version 8.1, iTunes gets a speed boost; the convenience of Autofill works with any iPod, and you can now automatically import music from your CDs as higher quality, 256-Kbps iTunes Plus files.
What's new in this version:
In version 8.1, iTunes gets a speed boost; the convenience of Autofill works with any iPod, and you can now automatically import music from your CDs as higher quality, 256-Kbps iTunes Plus files.
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User reviews of Apple iTunes 8.1
- Average user rating: 3.1 stars out of 1267 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 10 user reviewsSee all 10 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
Version: Apple iTunes 8.1
"Don't get unless you have an iPod"
Pros: -Streamlined interface
-Good quality playback
-FreeCons: -Won't let you manage your music yourself
-RAM intensive
-Laggy
-Only Supports iPod
-Too little testingSummary: Overall, I'd have to say iTunes is my least favorite Apple product after Bojour for Windows.
Apple is known for their quality products, but in my experience their software for Windows is bloated and use too much RAM. It also doesn't detect whe... read more >> -
Version: Apple iTunes 8.1
Pros: Faster startups than previous versions! Atleast when you open it the second time around. Simple, easy and good-looking UI. Good and easy in organizing music.
Cons: Still heavy on system resources. Doesn't auto update library. No playlists while on mini-player mode.
Summary: For me, it's the best music organizer... but not the best music player.
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1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Apple iTunes 8.1
"Mind of its own that doesn't work"
Pros: Nice interface, graphically pleasing, integrates video/movies, music, podcasts, etc.
Cons: Splits CDs as it pleases, not per album. Saves sole-artist CDs to compilation. Doesn't find tracks where they should be after I clean up; doesn't synchronize with changes to I-Tunes music folder; Store defaults to country I connect from, not my acct
Summary: Love my i-pods, hate i-Tunes. Feels like Microsoft control, not renowned Apple user-choice/freedom
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Version: Apple iTunes 8.1
"I like it but wish it was easier to sort out songs"
Pros: Easy to load CD's
Cons: not easy to sort out songs
Summary: It's the only one of it's kind that is free
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Version: Apple iTunes 8.1
Pros: Good database features, a lot radiostations
Cons: very very slow! only supports iPod
- See all 10 user reviews Write review
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