Apple Working to Update and Simplify iTunes Store and App Store in 2012?

[MacRumors]

9to5Mac reports that Apple is working on an overhaul of its iTunes Store and App Store marketplaces, seeking to simplify the user experience while also increasing interactivity and discoverability. The revamped stores are reportedly planned to launch later this year.

The new design is said to be even simpler and more user-friendly than the current design. Apple is working on ways to enhance the speed and efficiency of finding new content, such as songs, videos, and applications. The cornerstone element of Apple's new iTunes Store is interactivity. As Apple vaguely explained to a number of music labels and entertainment partners, Apple is looking to make the iTunes Store a much more engaging experience.

According to the report, the focus is currently on the desktop iTunes Store and App Store experience as managed through the iTunes application, although it is unclear whether the revamped stores will come alongside a major revision to the application itself. And along with the revamped desktop experience, Apple will also be working to refresh the interface on iOS, although those changes may come somewhat after the changes on the desktop side.

Article Link: Apple Working to Update and Simplify iTunes Store and App Store in 2012?

[Eidorian]

I first thought it was about integrating them.

[adztaylor]

About time, iTunes is in a desperate need of an overhaul.

[Shrink]

And not a moment too soon...

[NOV]

"even simpeler"...well I think it's not that simple to retrieve information. As iTunes is on the forefront of introducing new people to the Apple world it definitely needs an overhaul.

[LWX]

Why is this not on the front page?

[jayhawk11]

I get the feeling this will be part of a completely redone iTunes 11. They've taken so much off the plate of iTunes since iCloud came out that it's now comically bloated. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see a complete rewrite.

[iTim314]

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Will Ping die? One can only hope...

[kikuchiyo]

I have been saying this for years (or at least thinking it really hard) but iTunes needs to be broken down into component parts with a separate app, like Sync, to sync all of those pieces with your phone (and likely now a separate app for Home Sharing). It's confounding that you use iTunes to sync books to your phone and it's even more confounding that iTunes can't be used to view those books!

Apple seems to have some will behind simplifying programs in Mountain Lion (i.e., RSS is out of Mail, Reminders are out Calendar - which is exactly the kind of spin off I'm talking about) so maybe iTunes will see some of that same love.

[LWX]

Originally Posted by jayhawk11

I get the feeling this will be part of a completely redone iTunes 11. They've taken so much off the plate of iTunes since iCloud came out that it's now comically bloated. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see a complete rewrite.

True - and there's much more than Tunes now. If I had to guess, there would be separate apps for Video, Music and Device Management, if the separate music and video apps are anything to go by. Potentially iTunes U and iBooks too? Though that makes things more logical in a sense, there would need to be a simple UI that will integrate/makes these all easy to find and understand for end users.

[Defthand]

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While they're at it, I feel Apple needs to put more effort into improving their iBooks bookstore. It totally lacks "discoverability". I was in a brick-and-mortar bookstore the other day and stumbled on a half dozen titles that I later purchased as ebooks. I have yet to buy a book from iBooks that wasn't discovered elsewhere.

[Kable]

Originally Posted by MacRumors

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9to5Mac reports that Apple is working on an overhaul of its iTunes Store and App Store marketplaces, seeking to simplify the teenagers users on Image]forumteen[/url] experience while also increasing interactivity and discoverability. The revamped stores are reportedly planned to launch later this year.According to the report, the focus is currently on the desktop iTunes Store and App Store experience as managed through the iTunes application, although it is unclear whether the revamped stores will come alongside a major revision to the application itself. And along with the revamped desktop experience, Apple will also be working to refresh the interface on iOS, although those changes may come somewhat after the changes on the desktop side.

Article Link: Apple Working to Update and Simplify iTunes Store and App Store in 2012?

ITunes is a bit too fascist to me. Some major Iphone features like the video player can't even allow you to delete videos. that's heavy

[spyguy10709]

What I see Apple doing is a complete rebrand of their major software as "X"
Apple dropped Mac from OS X, and Quicktime 7 became X a while ago.
iTunes X = redesigned, slimmer, iTunes. Cooked-in cloud support. Everything everywhere will be in sync.
iOS will become iOS X - again - an overhaul, with new features and a cleaner look, with a more functional use of space.
iWork X = an overhauled iWork with iCloud integration baked in.
iLife X = cleaner, easier, more powerful.

I'm not sure what else will become X, but it's the future, I think.

[newagemac]

Originally Posted by kikuchiyo

I have been saying this for years (or at least thinking it really hard) but iTunes needs to be broken down into component parts with a separate app, like Sync, to sync all of those pieces with your phone (and likely now a separate app for Home Sharing). It's confounding that you use iTunes to sync books to your phone and it's even more confounding that iTunes can't be used to view those books!

Apple seems to have some will behind simplifying programs in Mountain Lion (i.e., RSS is out of Mail, Reminders are out Calendar - which is exactly the kind of spin off I'm talking about) so maybe iTunes will see some of that same love.

The problem with splitting up iTunes into a bunch of separate apps is that any time you want to sync your content, you would end up having to open up ten different apps. That would be terrible.

The single app controlling everything works much better. I have my iPhone syncing over Wifi to iTunes on my Mac Mini and I don't have to think about anything. It just syncs on its own anytime I plug it into any charger or anytime I go into Settings on my iPhone and click the sync button.

I can't imagine having to worry about multiple apps when all I want to get is get all my content on my device. And then managing space on your device would require juggling between multiple different apps. It's not hard to understand why its best to have one tool to manage all your media content.

[Lesser Evets]

Apple has been ignoring a lot of their most important programming for a decade. It's like they came up with great ideas, did a great job getting out the first version or two... then they kept patting themselves on the back and taking vacations while we're all wondering why this clunky stuff hasn't been smoothed out to be the ultra-excellence it can easily be.

Originally Posted by Shrink

And not a moment too soon...

Agreed.

[brownpaw]

Originally Posted by Kable

ITunes is a bit too fascist to me. Some major Iphone features like the video player can't even allow you to delete videos. that's heavy

You can in fact do this. Just swipe your finger to the right over the video's entry in the list and the delete button appears. Took me awhile to find it too.

[jackc]

Originally Posted by newagemac

The problem with splitting up iTunes into a bunch of separate apps is that any time you want to sync your content, you would end up having to open up ten different apps. That would be terrible.

I'd imagine they would have a sync solution that didn't involve opening a bunch of different apps

[dgree03]

They need to create more categories, the ones they current have are too vague for the amount of apps they carry.

Maybe even add a "cart" option? I would love to queue up a few apps I want to buy by adding them to a cart?

This would be a very good feature on iOS because I HATE downloading an app and getting bounced out of the app store to watch it download!

[Diode]

Please include the ability for the Apple TV to begin acting as the hub for serving media in the home.

It's been pointed out that that it uses less than 2 watts to stream video - makes much more sense using that then a power hungry laptop of desktop.....

[Icaras]

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Originally Posted by jackc

I'd imagine they would have a sync solution that didn't involve opening a bunch of different apps

Yea I would think so too. I don't see why they couldn't create a separate "iOS sync" app that taps into all your current iTunes media database. OS X allows acces to your iPhoto and Address Books database from other apps so I don't see how this would be a problem.

I do agree that iTunes is bloated and I'm actually liking the idea of separate Music and Video apps like iOS. I'd also assume Apple will create another app specifically for the iTunes store as well.

[testcard]

I wonder if an an option to combine multiple Apple IDs is part of the plan?

[Ieo]

iTunes is aging and bloated. Keeping everything together and organized is one thing, but dumping a dozen complex functions into what should ultimatley be a media organization and syncing app has made the user experience worse. I say separate the itunes store from iTunes. Make one app for me to go to and purchase content....and leave iTunes as a means to organize and sync my media. Combine the mac app store with the iTunes store into one app....call it the Mac Store or something. Anything I buy goes to the appropriate library automatically.

[rmwebs]

Originally Posted by jackc

I'd imagine they would have a sync solution that didn't involve opening a bunch of different apps

Agreed, a simple menu par item (ala timemachine) would be good enough for syncing.

IMO Itunes itself needs some major work. I actually dont use it anymore as I'd rather use Spotify, its a much cleaner and faster interface and it can play your own itunes library.

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Originally Posted by Icaras

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Yea I would think so too. I don't see why they couldn't create a separate "iOS sync" app that taps into all your current iTunes media database. OS X allows acces to your iPhoto and Address Books database from other apps so I don't see how this would be a problem.

I do agree that iTunes is bloated and I'm actually liking the idea of separate Music and Video apps like iOS. I'd also assume Apple will create another app specifically for the iTunes store as well.

I wouldn't bank on the store being moved out of the core music app, as it would lower sales significantly.

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Originally Posted by testcard

I wonder if an an option to combine multiple Apple IDs is part of the plan?

If only! Thats all done server side rather than app side and given Apples quite frankly, crap online services I wouldn't get my hopes up for this ever being done

[hkenneth]

I think they should first update the ugly-looking insufferable iTunes icon!

[bb426]

I gotta feeling fall of this year will be a big year for iTunes/iPhone/iPod/ATV... bigger for the first time in a few years. Finally.