iTunes 11 has been delayed a month as Apple puts the finishing touches to the new-look music software.
Apple told our sister site in the US that iTunes 11 is "taking longer than expected, and we wanted to take a little extra time to get it right."
"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."
Announced in September alongside the iPhone 5, the restyled iTunes was expected to launch by the end of October.
iTunes 11 has a new look, influenced by the look of iOS software on the iPad and iPhone 5. The focus is on album covers that expand out to show you more songs, whether it's related tracks in your library or songs to buy from Apple's online iTunes music store.
There's a long overdue revamp of the mini-player. And the new software has ditched Ping, Apple's lame music-based social network.
iTunes is also more integrated with Apple's online storage and syncing service iCloud -- which perhaps ironically decreases the prominence of iTunes. Thanks to iCloud, your iPad, iPhone or iPod can be backed up and updated without plugging into a computer, so you pretty much never need open iTunes again if you don't use it for buying music. Previously Apple mobile devices were tied to iTunes every time you wanted to sync, back-up or update.
The launch of the new iTunes comes at the same time as a reshuffle at Apple that sees revered designer Jony Ive take a wider role at the company. Chingford-born Ive now oversees software as well as hardware. I wonder if we'll see any big Ive-shaped changes in iTunes 12?
Are you looking forward to iTunes, or do you go elsewhere for your music? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook page.
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Comments 6
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Jack Kelly 31 October, 2012 10:41
I was really looking forward to iTunes 11 and I still am but I am annoyed that I will have to wait even longer for it
anonymous 31 October, 2012 11:21
If it they released it when they originally planned, and it had a minuscule little flaw, people would throw an absolute fit. Now we will probably hear about how terrible it is to have to wait for it.
anonymous 31 October, 2012 11:42
I'd forgotten iTunes existed
anonymous 31 October, 2012 12:21
Never in the history of the world has anybody said they are "really looking forward to iTunes", in the same way no one has ever said "can't wait for my root canal work next week".
Late8 1 November, 2012 00:01
They need to sort out the stores in iOS6 too. They run horrid compared to the old ones, and this is on the new ipad.
anonymous 1 November, 2012 00:15
Apart from getting iTunes 11 ready (the news is it's a big makeover), the speculation is that the delay is largely to do with the launch of the new Apple streaming service, to compete with the likes of Pandora, Spotify and the new XBox Music service.