iTunes 9 announced: iTunes LP and better app management

Steve Jobs, present and correct at the Apple music event in San Francisco today, announced iTunes 9: the latest version of the Apple jukebox, and inside it is a completely revamped iTunes Store.

Other new features include a vastly improved app-management system for arranging applications on the iPhone and iPod touch, and the ability to browse other iTunes libraries on your home network and copy their music and videos into your own.

The new iTunes Store has an improved navigational interface and a much slicker look and feel. But the biggest new feature is iTunes LP. Like the CMX music format we've discussed in the past, iTunes LPs are full-album downloads that include all album tracks, plus extras such as lyrics, music videos and liner notes. And of course a whole gallery of artwork. It looks slick -- much like a music DVD's menu, actually.

You'll be able to download iTunes 9 free from today, and we'll have a full hands-on report -- with opinions and a good deal more detail -- very soon.

Update: You can now read our full iTunes 9 hands-on report and download it from Apple's Web site.