New iTunes Makes Updating Worth It

by Jamal Jackson

This week’s  iTunes update to version 11 has completely revolutionized the user experience, making the application easier and smarter to use. What makes it different from the other software updates is that there are more dynamic and interesting changes. These changes have given a more unique look to your collection of media. There are fewer text tables (this is a good thing). Larger graphics make things better to view. The most interesting feature to me is the “Up Next” option. This allows the user to select songs to play next while a song is currently playing. If you hold down the playlist-specific play button, you will see it immediately switch into a plus sign. After you finish, when you navigate to your “Up Next” playlist it opens and displays songs you would usually see in a neat classic iTunes list.

Overall, I really like what they’ve done with this application.  Everything has been compressed, organized, made more accessible, and simplified for occasional/new/not tech savvy users, thus creating a more intuitive iTunes user experience for anyone to enjoy.

Every time you launch iTunes, it asks you to update the newest version. Mostly likely iTunes users like myself would ignore each update notification, because there’s a lack of noticeable adjustments and it seems like the same old iTunes as of before. But this version is so much better.