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Apple today released a new version of iTunes, iTunes 12.5.1, which is available for OS X El Capitan and macOS Sierra users. iTunes 12.5.1 introduces a new Apple Music design, bringing Apple Music on the desktop in line with Apple Music on mobile devices just ahead of the release of iOS 10.
The update also brings macOS Sierra-specific features including support for Siri, allowing users to ask Siri to play songs on machines running macOS Sierra, and it includes support for Picture-in-Picture, another new Sierra feature.
iTunes 12.5.1 can be downloaded immediately from the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store.
Now with an all-new Apple Music design which brings greater clarity and simplicity to every aspect of the experience.
This update includes support for iOS 10. It also adds enhancements designed for macOS Sierra including:
- Siri. Play music from your Library and Apple Music using your voice. Just ask Siri.
- Picture-in-Picture. Watch videos as you multitask and use different apps. Your video floats above your desktop in any corner of the screen.
While iOS 10 is being introduced today with an all new Apple Music experience that focuses on a cleaner look and easier to use interface, macOS Sierra will not be released until next Tuesday, September 20.
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A little research suggests I'll be inconvenienced but still able to do what I do. iOS 10 testers report that:
- Smart Playlists still work on iOS 10 and respond to star ratings as always.
- You can tell Siri "Rate this song 4 stars" to avoid having to rate from your Mac/PC.
Really hope the on-screen star ratings come back though!
My decade-old system:
5 stars: the VERY best of the best
4 stars: my favorite songs
3 stars: all the rest of the songs I like
2 stars: neutral—but OK to have in shuffle for variety so I don't get as tired of my favorites
1 star: dislike!
0 stars: unrated, need to decide
Then I can devote as much or as little space to my music on each device as I want, by syncing Smart Playlists like "2+ Stars" and "4+ Stars."
There's no reason why iTunes should still be around as the bloated everythingware that it is.
The App Store could manage iOS apps and syncing. iCloud already does backups but for the sake of those who want to plug in, macOS could handle the backup.
For those who still want to buy music rather than stream it, they'll have Apple Music like everyone else but next to each song and album will be a buy button. It'll certainly entice them to pay the $9.99 and get all you can listen to for one flat price.
All that is remaining is a dedicated Movies/TV app for iOS and macOS. Maybe a deal with movie and tv studios for a streaming video service like Apple Music will be reached for WWDC 2017 and we can move on from storing huge libraries of movies and tv shows on our computers and just watch what we want to watch, when we want to watch it.