Apple/PAIt’s been a while since I bought an album on CD or MP3, whacked it on iTunes and then loaded it onto my iPod.
Still, the news that Apple is pretty much getting rid of iTunes sends a twinge of nostalgia through me – where am I going to go now to rediscover the playlist I made for summer camp back when I thought Californication was cool?
It may still be cool, but without iTunes I’m not sure I’ll ever go back to rediscover it, as streaming services constantly shove their algorithms in my face and offer a never-ending list of new stuff to listen to.
PAApple’s chief executive officer Tim Cook, and other heads of the company, are set to make a keynote presentation at the Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose, California, later this month. They are expected to announce new updates to Apple’s operating systems, and a new approach to their apps, which involves a shift away from iTunes as we know it.
The updates will also highlight the new generation of Apple devices more than before. For example, Apple Watches will become more independent from iPhones, while new iPads will include software which reduces the need for laptops, Bloomberg reports.
As well as new software, Apple is reportedly announcing the shift away from iTunes by introducing three new apps to replace it, focusing on music, TV, and podcasts. This is said to be in line with the company’s media app strategy on devices.
Matthew Yohe/WikimediaCurrently, iTunes is the default app for music, TV and podcasts on Macs and Macbooks, but not on iPhones or iPads, which offer separate apps.
The new Music app will reportedly offer most of the same functions as iTunes, but with an updated interface and without its outdated features. It will also be more closely tied to the company’s streaming service, Apple Music.
The first version of the app, iTunes 1.0, was released in January 2001. iTunes 2.0 was released later that year to coincide with the first generation iPod.
By separating the app into three separate strands – music, TV and podcasts – Apple is re-branding its entertainment output to be a more multi-faceted provider, meaning customers should be able to manage their gadgets and apps more easily than through the default iTunes app.
If you have a story you want to tell send it to UNILAD via [email protected]
Charlie Cocksedge is a journalist and sub-editor at UNILAD. He graduated from the University of Manchester with an MA in Creative Writing, where he learnt how to write in the third person, before getting his NCTJ. His work has also appeared in such places as The Guardian, PN Review and the bin.