I wanna rock —

Apple releases iTunes 11 with “dramatically simplified user interface”

After a month delay, update offers major overhaul to the overloaded media app.

Apple releases iTunes 11 with

Apple released iTunes 11 via Software Update for OS X today. The update was previewed during a special media event in September and scheduled for release in late October. However, Apple delayed release until November in order to "get it right."

iTunes 11 features what Apple calls a "dramatically simplified user interface," with more visually striking views of the library. It also adds a redesigned mini-player and a new "Next Up" interface, where users can see what songs are queued up after the currently playing song. The iTunes Store is getting a reorganization, implementing design features similar to those seen in the App Store and iTunes Store on iOS 6. According to Apple CEO Tim Cook, iTunes should now also have much-improved integration with iCloud.

"We can do Wi-Fi syncing to iTunes," Cook said in September, "and now with iCloud, we can download content wirelessly and back up to the cloud... If you find a movie that you downloaded elsewhere, you can click it and it'll start playing it from where you left off."

Apple spokesperson Tom Neumayer said last month that Apple was putting in a little extra work to make sure iTunes 11 was all it promised it would be. "The new iTunes is taking longer than expected and we wanted to take a little extra time to get it right," he told AllThingsD. "We look forward to releasing this new version of iTunes with its dramatically simpler and cleaner interface, and seamless integration with iCloud before the end of November."

We hope the wait was worth it. iTunes 11 is available for OS X users via Software Update (in the Mac App Store app on Mountain Lion). As of publication time, it doesn't appear to be available as a separate download for Mac or PC just yet. We are downloading the app to Ars Orbiting HQ now. Expect a more extensive review once we have a chance to put it through its paces.

Showcasing Mumford & Sons in the iTunes library.
Showcasing Mumford & Sons in the iTunes library.
Nathan Mattise

Channel Ars Technica