iTunes 12.4 Update to Feature Minor Redesign With New Sidebar, Improved Navigation

Back in February, iTunes chief Eddy Cue promised a new version of iTunes would be coming out with OS X 10.11.4, featuring a simpler design that makes Apple Music easier to use. That update wasn’t included in OS X 10.11.4 and has been delayed, but a source has shared some screenshots of the upcoming iTunes 12.4 update with MacRumors, giving us a look at the changes Apple plans to introduce in the near future.

itunes124
A redesigned dropdown media picker will be used to switch between Music, TV Shows, Movies, and other content, replacing the existing navigation icons. Like the current menu, the new menu is customizable, so sections of iTunes that are not used can be hidden from view. Forward and back buttons can be used to navigate between different sections.

itunesnavigation
A persistent sidebar located on the left side of the app is being added, which will make it easier to access different portions of an iTunes Library like specific songs or albums. The sidebar, like the menu bar, can be edited to show desired content, and songs can be dragged and dropped to playlists.

itunesmainscreen
Menus in iTunes 12.4 are being simplified to make them easier to use, and the available content in Library can be customized using the redesigned View menu. Menus will be "easier to use" updated with new navigation options.

itunesmenus
The mini player will also get some slight design changes, with the Up Next song feature being relocated to the right side of the player where it is more clearly visible.

itunesupnext2
It is not clear when Apple will debut iTunes 12.4, but our source says it should be released within in the next few weeks, putting a launch date in late May or early June.

Rumors have suggested Apple is also planning to introduce significant changes to Apple Music in the iOS Music app in iOS 10, and additional tweaks could be made to iTunes in OS X 10.12 to mirror changes being introduced in iOS 10.

Related Forum: Mac Apps

Top Rated Comments

zahuh Avatar
100 months ago
What has happened to Apple's UI team : (
Score: 92 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AngerDanger Avatar
100 months ago
They could make a spinning-wheel based UI that selects functions at random, and it would be nearly as usable as it is now. Any change is welcome, especially the [S]reintroduction[/S] addition of a persistent sidebar.



Attachment Image
Score: 86 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheRainKing Avatar
100 months ago
So basically they redesigned an app that was already fine, made everything worse, and now they're slowly changing it back.
Score: 69 Votes (Like | Disagree)
brianvictor7 Avatar
100 months ago
I like sidebars. They have great salad and beverages.
Score: 40 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ScottishCaptain Avatar
100 months ago
Neat.

So when's the colour and contrast going to return? This isn't the 1980s, we have wonderful things like bitmapped displays and RGB pixels now. It'd be nice if Apple realized this and started designing their GUIs with a bit of depth again.

-SC
Score: 37 Votes (Like | Disagree)
hfletcher Avatar
100 months ago
The sidebar returns.

It only took them 2 years to realise their mistake...
Score: 35 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

apple wallet drivers license feature

Apple Plans to Expand iPhone Driver's Licenses to These 8 U.S. States

Saturday January 6, 2024 9:34 am PST by
In 2021, Apple introduced a feature that lets residents of participating U.S. states add their driver's license or ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age. Unfortunately, states have been slow to adopt the feature since it was first announced in September 2021, with Wallet app IDs only supported in...
iOS 17

iOS 17.3 Coming Soon With These Two New Features for Your iPhone

Wednesday January 10, 2024 6:44 am PST by
iOS 17.3 has been in beta testing since mid-December, and the upcoming software update includes two new features for the iPhone so far. Apple seeded the third beta of iOS 17.3 this week. The update should be coming soon, with a release likely later this month. Below, we provide additional details about the new features in iOS 17.3 so far. Stolen Device Protection Earlier this year, T...
blue ipads

Amazon's New iPad Sale Has Up to $170 Off iPad Mini, iPad Air, and 9th/10th Gen iPad

Wednesday January 10, 2024 8:06 am PST by
Today we're tracking a few iPad discounts on Amazon, including the 9th and 10th generation iPad, iPad mini, and iPad Air. These deals include multiple all-time low prices on Apple's tablets, matching the prices we tracked over the holiday season. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep...
M3 MacBook Air Feature

New MacBook Air Models Launching This March: 5 Features to Expect

Tuesday January 9, 2024 6:50 am PST by
The existing 15-inch MacBook Air arrived in June 2023, which is not that long ago in terms of Mac update cycles. However, Apple released the current 13-inch ‌MacBook Air back in June 2022. It is now the oldest Mac in Apple's current crop, having not been updated in over 550 days. But rumors suggest that is unlikely to be the case for much longer. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple...
Apple Vision Pro Dual Loop Band

Apple Vision Pro: Here's Everything You Get in the Box

Tuesday January 9, 2024 3:17 pm PST by
Apple has announced the launch date of Apple Vision Pro, its much-touted spatial computing device. The mixed reality headset starts at $3,499 and will go on sale in the U.S. on Friday, February 2, with availability in Canada and the United Kingdom expected to follow later this year. Apple has not yet revealed all the details about the device's configuration options ahead of pre-orders, which ...
iOS 17

When Will iOS 17.3 Be Released?

Wednesday January 10, 2024 4:22 pm PST by
Apple is working on an iOS 17.3 update, and has seeded three betas to developers and public beta testers so far. The update isn't quite as large as the prior iOS 17.2 update in terms of new features so the testing period won't be as long, and we are expecting it to launch before the end of January. In terms of timing, a launch the week of January 22nd might make the most sense. We've had...
apple vision pro chips

Apple Vision Pro Features 16GB of RAM and Likely Up to 1TB of Storage

Tuesday January 9, 2024 9:53 am PST by
Apple's upcoming Vision Pro headset is equipped with 16GB of unified memory, according to files related to the device in Xcode 15.2. Our finding in the latest version of Apple's app development tool confirms a June 2023 report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman that said the Vision Pro would be equipped with 16GB of RAM, and that is also the same amount of memory that was included in Vision Pro...
iPhone 6s MacRumors YouTube

Apple Agrees to Pay Canadian Customers Following iPhone Throttling Controversy

Sunday January 7, 2024 4:18 pm PST by
Canadians may soon be eligible to receive a payment from Apple following the company's iPhone battery throttling controversy in 2017. Apple has agreed to pay up to $14.4 million (CAD) to settle a class action lawsuit in Canada that alleged the company secretly throttled the performance of some iPhone models, and the British Columbia Supreme Court will decide whether to approve the proposed...