So we have the new version of iTunes 7.0. It has a few updates but basically looks the same (to the uninitiated.) So what’s the difference?? Well, to summarise:

iTunes Music Store is now just iTunes Store (presumably to incorporate the movies and things too and to get away from the “online music store” feel to the more “online media store” which must have a better longevity.)

The iTunes logo is also blue (hmmm… OK.) Green/blue, like whatever… =)

The main difference for me though is a slightly more polished interface, with simple iPod updates - No more do we run a seperate program to update the iPod BIOS, it’s all automatically picked up and updated by iTunes. Also a list of the number of podcasts you are subscribed to is visible, rather than clicking on the link and (god forbid) counting the number of different feeds.. The general feel thankfully is pretty much the same although there is a welcome downloads (within the new store list section) that shows store/podcast/iPod updates seperately. Don’t worry for those playlist whores, during the upgrade, all of your lists are kept safe.

There are a few cosmetic changes that will be welcomed by a few, but generally it just feels, again, that apple has just made things work as it seems they’re so good at doing. If you have the previous version, I’m sure things will feel very similar, although it will be more perfect than before (whatever that means..!)

Also, who could fail to mention the rather sexy iPod section that shows a picture of your iPod with a nice graph displaying used/free space and Update/Restore buttons. Very nice. Check it out if you have an iPod!

Oh yeah, almost forgot, it appears that iTunes does a zero gap search when first installed on all of your music.. Now I can only presume this feature will allow tracks with full volume at the end of the track, to blend seamlessly to the next track, without the cross-fade. This would be logically what it meant, but I haven’t yet tested it.. Will let you know if I’m right.. Download the latest version below to test for yourself:

[link]