iTunes 8.1 "Coming Soon": Speed Boosts, TV/Movie Genius Feature and More

MacRumors · Mar 11, 2009, 12:29 PM

As noted in its technical specifications, the new iPod shuffle released today requires iTunes 8.1, which is yet to be released. Apple's iTunes download page also includes a note about the upcoming release on the download button itself.

Apple's "What's New" page for iTunes highlights a few of the changes coming in the update, including speed boosts for library loading, iTunes Store browsing, and device syncing, expansion of the Genius feature to include movies and TV shows, and a change in the default audio import settings to 256-kbps AAC.

In addition to the highlighted features, Apple's "iTunes A to Z" features page suggests several additional changes, including updated Parental Controls that appear to add the ability to disable access to the entire iTunes Store while still allowing access to iTunes U content. The page also adds an entry for Autofill, which does not clearly specify what the changes are, although it appears possible that the feature implemented for the smallest-capacity iPods is being extended to all models.

Article Link: iTunes 8.1 "Coming Soon": Speed Boosts, TV/Movie Genius Feature and More

Vandam500 · Mar 11, 2009, 12:31 PM

Speed Boosts is going to be my favorite "feature". The TV/Movie Genius sounds interesting.

TuffLuffJimmy · Mar 11, 2009, 12:32 PM

sweet. iTunes has been dog slow lately

Pixellated · Mar 11, 2009, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vandam500

Speed Boosts is going to be my favorite "feature". The TV/Movie Genius sounds interesting.

Speed under Windows is absolutely terrible. I half think they do it to put people off Windows.

pismodude2 · Mar 11, 2009, 12:33 PM

TV Shows- Genius! I have more TV episodes than songs!

Vandam500 · Mar 11, 2009, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pixellated

Speed under Windows is absolutely terrible. I half think they do it to put people off Windows.

It really is. I don't understand how it is so slow? It's a lag festival. Hopefully this update will fix that

Mykbibby · Mar 11, 2009, 12:35 PM

TV Shows, Movies Genius is excellent... for some reason I never thought about it, but now I really like it! I could definitely use it...

Now for iTunes Replay...

macrockbuddy · Mar 11, 2009, 12:35 PM

I'm terrible, every time Apple releases something new, I want it!!! Here's to the new iTunes

robindahlia789 · Mar 11, 2009, 12:38 PM

finally mac rumors put up some new posts!

Povilas · Mar 11, 2009, 12:40 PM

Who, no what votes negative on software release? Jesus ...

pit29 · Mar 11, 2009, 12:40 PM

so, who of us is going to get it first?

rikers_mailbox · Mar 11, 2009, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacRumors

... expansion of the Genius feature to include movies and TV shows...

Saw this one coming a mile away. Watch for it on an AppleTV near you.

ChrisA · Mar 11, 2009, 12:42 PM

I have a 245GB iTunes library. Mostly it is CDs ripped to Apple Losses. about 12,000 tracks. iTunes is not slow at all on my 24" iMac. The library lives on a 1TB Segate disk connected via FW800. I can scroll through the entire library about as fast as I can move the mouse. searches for a composer or band have zero lag time. hard to see how it could be faster.

Povilas · Mar 11, 2009, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisA

I have a 245GB iTunes library. Mostly it is CDs ripped to Apple Losses. about 12,000 tracks. iTunes is not slow at all on my 24" iMac. The library lives on a 1TB Segate disk connected via FW800. I can scroll through the entire library about as fast as I can move the mouse. searches for a composer or band have zero lag time. hard to see how it could be faster.

Same for me. ~170 GB of Movies and Music - everything smooth.

rikers_mailbox · Mar 11, 2009, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisA

I have a 245GB iTunes library. Mostly it is CDs ripped to Apple Losses. about 12,000 tracks. iTunes is not slow at all on my 24" iMac. The library lives on a 1TB Segate disk connected via FW800. I can scroll through the entire library about as fast as I can move the mouse. searches for a composer or band have zero lag time. hard to see how it could be faster.

Speeds up library *load* times ... not browsing.

sundayx · Mar 11, 2009, 12:45 PM

I seriously doubt there will be performance improvements on the PC version, but thats just me, right?

Melan · Mar 11, 2009, 12:46 PM

Hoping they include semicircles for partially listened to podcasts/tv shows etc as seen on the ipod touch.

sharp65 · Mar 11, 2009, 12:47 PM

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPod; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5H11 Safari/525.20)

I couldnt care less what they add as long as they make the windows client usable.

talkingfuture · Mar 11, 2009, 12:48 PM

If they're expanding genius, a genius suggestions system for new podcasts to try would be good.

alexbates · Mar 11, 2009, 12:48 PM

I can't wait for a speed boost. The iTunes store has always seemed slow loading for some reason.

Ade-iMac-177 · Mar 11, 2009, 12:51 PM

Sweet news on speed boost!

My computer is not exactly slow or low on memory (MBP with 4GB of RAM) but i find that when i plug in the iPhone or iPod while playing a video the video freezes for about 10 seconds.

Sky Blue · Mar 11, 2009, 12:52 PM

I hope Apple TV gets an update for the TV/Movies genius. That'd be grand.

SkippyThorson · Mar 11, 2009, 12:52 PM

They need to fix browsing the Applications. Slow as all get out. Slow to load, slow to scroll, slow to hit a letter and jump. Horrible all around. I sigh whenever I accidentally click on it - I dread the Applications section.

DivineEvil · Mar 11, 2009, 12:52 PM

I'd prefer with iTunes 8.1 to come a fix for the ipod "Compilations/Various Artists" and the Same name albums merging bugs... than movie genues...

Kilamite · Mar 11, 2009, 12:54 PM

Genius for TV Shows would be awesome!

Especially on the Apple TV - sit back, select an episode of Family Guy or something and enjoy..

Mar 11, 2009, 12:29 PM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	iTunes 8.1 "Coming Soon": Speed Boosts, TV/Movie Genius Feature and More As noted in its technical specifications, the new iPod shuffle released today requires iTunes 8.1, which is yet to be released. Apple's iTunes download page also includes a note about the upcoming release on the download button itself. Apple's "What's New" page for iTunes highlights a few of the changes coming in the update, including speed boosts for library loading, iTunes Store browsing, and device syncing, expansion of the Genius feature to include movies and TV shows, and a change in the default audio import settings to 256-kbps AAC. In addition to the highlighted features, Apple's "iTunes A to Z" features page suggests several additional changes, including updated Parental Controls that appear to add the ability to disable access to the entire iTunes Store while still allowing access to iTunes U content. The page also adds an entry for Autofill, which does not clearly specify what the changes are, although it appears possible that the feature implemented for the smallest-capacity iPods is being extended to all models. Article Link: iTunes 8.1 "Coming Soon": Speed Boosts, TV/Movie Genius Feature and More

Mar 11, 2009, 12:31 PM	#2
Vandam500 macrumors 65816 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Stone Mountain,Georgia	Speed Boosts is going to be my favorite "feature". The TV/Movie Genius sounds interesting. __________________ White iPhone 3GS 16GB running 3.1.2 blackra1ned My Top 10 Cydia Apps (Featured on 9to5mac.com) My Orbit Review

Mar 11, 2009, 12:32 PM	#3
TuffLuffJimmy macrumors 601 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Portland, OR	sweet. iTunes has been dog slow lately __________________ "Next PM I get from you about this, and it gets posted as my signature." --LTD

Mar 11, 2009, 12:35 PM	#7
Mykbibby macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Palm Springs, CA	TV Shows, Movies Genius is excellent... for some reason I never thought about it, but now I really like it! I could definitely use it... Now for iTunes Replay... __________________ Mac Soda: Quenching Your Thirst for Everything Apple

Mar 11, 2009, 12:35 PM	#8
macrockbuddy macrumors member Join Date: Feb 2008	I'm terrible, every time Apple releases something new, I want it!!! Here's to the new iTunes __________________ 1 16gb 3G, 2x 8gb iPhones, 2.4ghz/4GB/250GB MacBook Trick'd out mini for an HTPC & a MBA to replace current MB coming soon in 2009

Mar 11, 2009, 12:33 PM	#5
pismodude2 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: MacWorld	TV Shows- Genius! I have more TV episodes than songs!

Mar 11, 2009, 12:38 PM	#9
robindahlia789 macrumors regular Join Date: Dec 2008	finally mac rumors put up some new posts! __________________ Macbook Iphone

Mar 11, 2009, 12:40 PM	#10
Povilas macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Lithuania	Who, no what votes negative on software release? Jesus ...

Mar 11, 2009, 12:40 PM	#11
pit29 macrumors 6502 Join Date: May 2006 Location: The Golden State	so, who of us is going to get it first?

Mar 11, 2009, 12:42 PM	#13
ChrisA macrumors 601 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Redondo Beach, California	I have a 245GB iTunes library. Mostly it is CDs ripped to Apple Losses. about 12,000 tracks. iTunes is not slow at all on my 24" iMac. The library lives on a 1TB Segate disk connected via FW800. I can scroll through the entire library about as fast as I can move the mouse. searches for a composer or band have zero lag time. hard to see how it could be faster.

Mar 11, 2009, 12:45 PM	#16
sundayx macrumors member Join Date: Sep 2007	I seriously doubt there will be performance improvements on the PC version, but thats just me, right? __________________ Blog Twitter Flickr Reader

Mar 11, 2009, 12:46 PM	#17
Melan macrumors member Join Date: Oct 2007	Hoping they include semicircles for partially listened to podcasts/tv shows etc as seen on the ipod touch.

Mar 11, 2009, 12:47 PM	#18
sharp65 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Sep 2007	Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPod; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5H11 Safari/525.20) I couldnt care less what they add as long as they make the windows client usable.

Mar 11, 2009, 12:48 PM	#19
talkingfuture macrumors 6502a Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: The back of beyond.	If they're expanding genius, a genius suggestions system for new podcasts to try would be good. __________________ Futuristical bloggery with a twist.

Mar 11, 2009, 12:48 PM	#20
alexbates macrumors 6502a Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Georgia, USA	I can't wait for a speed boost. The iTunes store has always seemed slow loading for some reason. __________________ 13" 2.53GHz Unibody MacBook Pro: 250GB HD, 4GB RAM 10" MSi WIND Hackintosh: 1.6GHz Atom, 160GB HD, 2GB RAM, Leopard 10.5.7 15" 2.16GHz MacBook Pro: 320GB HD, 3GB RAM Twitter

Mar 11, 2009, 12:51 PM	#21
Ade-iMac-177 macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2007	Sweet news on speed boost! My computer is not exactly slow or low on memory (MBP with 4GB of RAM) but i find that when i plug in the iPhone or iPod while playing a video the video freezes for about 10 seconds. __________________ 2.53GHz MacBook Pro Unibody :-: 17" White 2.0GHz C2D iMac :-: 160GB iPod Classic :-: 1GB 2G Blue iPod Shuffle :-: 8GB iPhone 3G

Mar 11, 2009, 12:52 PM	#22
Sky Blue macrumors 68040 Join Date: Jan 2005	I hope Apple TV gets an update for the TV/Movies genius. That'd be grand. __________________ "The case is so square that it easily stands at attention as if begging for treats."

Mar 11, 2009, 12:52 PM	#23
SkippyThorson macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2007	They need to fix browsing the Applications. Slow as all get out. Slow to load, slow to scroll, slow to hit a letter and jump. Horrible all around. I sigh whenever I accidentally click on it - I dread the Applications section. __________________ http://skippythorson.blogspot.com/ v1 iPhone ~ v5.5 iPod ~ v3 Nano ~ v1 Shuffle ~ 1.25ghz iMac G4 ~ 1.33ghz iBook G4 ~ Airport Extreme

Mar 11, 2009, 12:52 PM	#24
DivineEvil macrumors member Join Date: Feb 2009	I'd prefer with iTunes 8.1 to come a fix for the ipod "Compilations/Various Artists" and the Same name albums merging bugs... than movie genues...

Mar 11, 2009, 12:54 PM	#25
Kilamite macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Scotland	Genius for TV Shows would be awesome! Especially on the Apple TV - sit back, select an episode of Family Guy or something and enjoy.. __________________ - MacBook Pro Unibody 15" 2.8GHz 'anti-glare' - Apple TV 1TB (work in progress) - iPhone 3G 8GB - MobileMe // OS X 10.6.2

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